Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1902-07-04

J ana the whole of Fairfield wants TO see
a fair Gay, today, for the two ball
teams come together for the first time
| of the season and every one wants rlie
conditions to be as favorable as posi-
bic. A bit of rain will spoil the pleas
ure of q great number and a hand
some price would doubtless be paid for
| 4 good day, if it We're possible to PR
chase one.
The first game will be played on the
college field at 1890 in the forenoon.
All the enthusiasts of course remem-
Der that first game. last gear, when
is innings were played without q de-
cision. 1t looks as if both towns had
stronger teams this year than last and
this first game is expected TO be the
hottest of the hot. Fairfield will of
course be down in force. If the day
is fair a smallpox quarantine couldn't
keep them at home and Waterville is
just about as bad. The game has been
talked up for weeks and even months.
ard the teams have been sized up and
compared man, by man, time after
time. Any Fairfield man can show
you clearly just why Watcrville will
be unable to win and any Wateryille
man can show you just as clearly how
Fairfield can't win.
Money has been changing hands
pretty freely during the past few days
and the bets have gone into fair sized
numbers. Fairfield has had 5000 in
readiness for several days for any one
who chose to cover it, and il is doubt
less cared for by this time. Men have
no 10
river with big wads and left them,
while big wads have gone up the river
and Staid there.
All sorts of bets have been made
but they have been for The most part
even. odds have been given only IL
rare instances and usually on some
peculiar wager. A straight wager on
the winner has usually been for even
money. Both teams have been Loyalty
backed and it looks as if the pocket
books of one side or the other would
be rather slim at sunset, tonight
Coombs and Mcconnell will probably
do the box work for Waterville, and
BUshey and Hamilton for Fairfield,
the former taking the first game down
here. 1t will be Coombs chance to
win his spurs, as this VIII be really
his first big game. WaterVille is con-
fident that he can do it, While Fair
hcld is pretty sure she can make
things extremely interesting for him
in q few innings. Mcconnell is tried
and TUE. He hasn't been up against
Fairfield, this year, but Waterville is
trusting him. Hamilton is another
experienced man with 4 big backing
in Fairfield. Bushey is of course
known to every one. He is in fine
condition, this year, and it remains
to be seen whether Waterville can
solve his mysteries. The four pitchers
are all well known and all have Il big
backing. There promises to be a heap
of hard work ahead for all of them,
TODAY.
Cowing and Dennison will make the
other end Of the W2terville batteries.
Fairfield is handicapped by the loss of
her star, McBain, rs he is laid up with
an injured hand and will probably not
be able to go into either game. His
place will be taken by Dobbins, who
was tried out by WaterTille, this year.
The remainder of both teams will
probably he the same rs they have
been in the last few games.
There probably never WAS greater
interest in any ball game ever played
in this vicinity than in this one. The
fever has been raging for weeks now
ana finding new victims every day
Men VINO in years past wouldn't go
across the street to see game are
now sizing up the players like voter
ans. The rivalry between the towns
is intense, having come over from last
season. Fairfield hes the advantage
of having been the winner, last year,
and Watervillc that of liked resolve
to tuln the tables, this year. Both
teams have been selected with great
care ana are probably the strongest
in the State, today. The pace set Is
RED hot one and gilt edged ball must
be played to win.
There promises to be = huge crowd
at both games and the Tagging from
both sides will be fierce from start TO
finish. 1t will be win or iii" with Doth
teams, with no let up until the last
ball is pitched.