The Oskaloosa herald., 1904-05-12
3A49aaaaA14ssaaaAasa
The Grand Opening.

OInclally Oh rIludy dLlSAhOOn ~ 49,
clubs of the Iowa State League, Games
were played in two of the cities of the
lesgue. The weather was Threatening
aud the attendance was disappointing.
Good Lall was played however and the
indications point to a successful sea-
son.
oskaloosa will have a season at
home for a time, playing with each Of
the tour northern teams before leay-
ing home.
The weather in oskaloosa was
threatening, but the enthusiasts were
out for the occasion ana as the rain
that started about one o'clock ceased,
the ball teams headed by the Iowa
Brigade band were sent about the city
on the lines of the street railway and
the announcement went forth of a
game to be played. And the game
was played. About five hundred peo-
pie gathered at the new base ball
park in southeast Oskaloosa to wit,
ness the opening Of the schedule sea,
son. The crowd was much smaller
than had been anticipated on account
of the threatening weather.
Following the warming up practice
of the teams, Mayor J. G. Williams
was called upon to introduce schedule
play. He made a brief but pointed ad,
dress fitting the occasion and then
started the game by pitching the first
ball.
The game was as pretty an exhibi
ton of the national sport as one would
care to see, barring perhaps the militi
plicity of home runs that were knock
ed during the game. The fact Is pc
tent that the field fences are too close
Four scores made every time a ball is
knocked over the fence on fair ground
is not ball playing and the crowd In
attendance do not approve Of it. Thai
fence will have to be moved. Aside
from the home u feature of the
game the pitchers attracted the mos
attention. Bridges for the Oskaloosa
lads struck out no less than tifteer
batsmen and From of the visitors fan
ned nine of the Oskaloosa fellows. The
home team did better hitting and mort
frequently than did the visitors
| Bridges ave the visitors but five SAT
hits and it was a matter of good for
tune to them that each of the hit
should be 4 home run. Three of then
brought in another base runner. Os
kaloosa's home runs were made will
empty plates. Fort Dodge certainl!
did play in excellent fortune.
THE GAME.
The play was started with For
Dodge at bat and the visitors Tailed
two runs. Middletown lifted thu
| sphere over the fence and brough
| Slear home also. Bradshaw Tor tn
home team took up the stick and me
the first ball pitched for a two-bagge
and the crowd yelled its approval
Tiley and Evans struck out but Rud'
singled, Bradshaw stole home and Os
| kaloosa also had tailed in the first in
ming. FIT. Dodge did not score again
until the fifth inning when two NOR
| home runs made four more scores. Os
kaloosa tied the score in the second o.
a pretty fly by Anderson that wen
over the fence. Anderson is a new
man for the home team and he did Ell
fective work yesterday at short an
then at third. Hobbs made a score il
the fourth and .Oskaloosa was in tn
lead. Bradshaw again distinguish
himself in the fifth by tallying again
Neither side scored in the sixth. Mic
dletown of the visiting team mad
their lead one more in the seventh b
another home run while the HON
team famed out. Fort Dodge aid tn
same in the eighth while OskaIoos
made her second home run wit
"Buce' Evans. From of Fort Dodg
made his second hit off Bridges an
scored another home run. Oskaloos
had one more chance to get eve bu
went out in three straights and frs
game of the season had gone TO Fol
Dodge.
The game was umpired by Fran
Quinn. official umpire of the League
and the gentleman knows his bus
ness.