The daily morning journal and courier., 1904-05-17
YESTERDAYS BALL GAMES
BLUES OPEN BALL SEASON HERE
 MOST AUSPICIOUSLR.

Defeat the Meridens-Grounds at savIn
 Rock Rapidly Getting Into shape
 When Completed Will be the Best in
 the state-sIx Home Runs Could Not
 Win for HoIyoke.
 Attorney Danaher of Meriden, saw his New Haven hopefuls win their first home game of the season yesterday af- ternoon. Their opponents were from Owner Danaher's home city and went down before the Blues to the tune of ! Il to [. The score does not indicate the play, by any means. It was very peculiar though somewhat picturesque game
 i By dint of much hard work the con- tractor who is filling in the ground managed to get enough sand dumped into the marsh to make an intield of generous proportions. Center field was half water and outside of each foul line was the marsh, just as wet and sloppy as when Goffe, Whalley and Dixwell played '.one-o'-cat on West Rock.
 The management showed an enter prising spirit that is to be commended, and deserves a most successful season. Knee deep in the right field foul terri tory was the tenth player, equipped with rubber boots. No less than half a dozen times he was called on to wade after the ball. In center field a colored man, armed with hoe, was sent after the ball when it landed in the quag- mire.
 By the time the game was half through center field was filled in, and tomorrow will see the entire field in good shape, while by Saturday it is ex- pected to be in condition that will rank it far above the old field as a ball ground.
 The opening contest yesterday was witnessed by over four hundred people. Mayor Studley and several other city and county officials took oco oasion to run down to get a line on the field and the players. Many, believing the field would not be in condition, stayed away, and in so doing missed a treat.
 The game was replete with all but home runs, and these were practically impossible owing to the ground rules ladopted. In yesterdays game if the tball went into the water only one base Iwas allowed.
 Meriden had the first chance with the stick and failed to make good. Smoke proved a good target and went down to first rubbing his arm. Larkin went out, pitcher to first; Altizer was thrown out at first by Bannon, and Harrington died at the same bag on IHayward's S clean handling of a warm lgrounder.
 The Blues put themselves solid in the first inning. Eight men swung the stick. Three scored singles and Cap tain Canavan pounded out 8 two-bag- ger, only to meet Napoleonic fate on the second bag.
 Jerry Cornell negotiated a good lehance in nice manner and got down Ito the initial bag with ease. Hayward fell victim, dying at first, but ad- vancing Connen one bag. Ramon drew Ia pass and Fitzmaurice got in safe bit that showed Connell and Bannon along lone bag each.
 Golden drew a second pass, forcing lin Connell for the first run of the sea ison, but was thrown out at second. Jope followed at the stick and on Short Stop Larkins error he got first, Ban- tnon scored and Fitzmaurice got his sec fond.
 Captain Canavan did the right thing at the right time by scoring a two-bag- Iger that cleaned up the bases. Ander- son went out at first retiring the side with four runs for the Blues.
 New Haven scored two more in the second one in the third and four in the fourth, while the Meridens tallfed one in the second, ore in the fourth, two ir the fifth and three in the ninth, making the final score Il to in favor of the Blues.
 Umpire McLachlan did not win any friends by his work, which even to tht casual observer seemed to be rather be. How the average Meriden pulled hard luck by having thirteen men left or bases and scoring nineteen hits, six more than the New Ravens could pound out.
 The score:
 I