Waterbury evening Democrat., 1907-04-26
THE DIAM o ND
THE HOME TEAM
 TAXES THE FIRST
In . Well Played Game Waterbury
 Defeats Bridgeport Attend ance Good.

good start yesterday, about l,2OO people finding their way to Reidyille, where they saw the Waterbury team. under the leadership of Kid" Nich- ols, neatly dispose of the Bridgeport outfit by the score of s to 4. The game, considering the atmosphere the players have endured during the practice exhibitions, was very good,
 with just enough hitting and error
 making to be interesting for the spectators. Though it is yet early
 to get line on the teams, the Water
 burys at this stage look better than the Orators, though it is evil dent before many days have, passed there will be some changes in the
 local lineup.
 Though Mayor Thoms left the cen- ter in one of the automobiles which carried the players to the grounds, he did not take the full ride, conse-
 quently he was not on hand when
 the game was to be called. Many of the spectators before the game
 started used their optics to see if he
 were in the vicinity, but neither the
 mayor nor the senator from the fifth were visible. Still "Gillie"
 Daily was conspicuous in seat on
 the bleachers, though for some req
 son he had nothing to say during the
 game.
 After the usual warming up, the
 Bridgeports, in their old gray uni
 forms, which appear as antiquated as their manager, and the Water
 burys in their white suits, fresh from the bath tub, Manager Durant pre- scented Umpire Mackey. who, by the way, was not any too good yesterday, with three new horsehides, and the lump" meandered toward the plate. It took him but a moment to an lrnoufee- the batteries, and a minute later Schincel was giving Bronkie, the boy who was in fine fettle, the
 signal for the. first shot.
 'Ghimmie" O'Rourke, Jr, was the first up and after he had a ball and a strike he connected with one of Bronkie's shoots and sent it along to McAndrews at third. The latter was not prepared to accept chance so soon and as he fumbled, allowing O'Rourke to reach first, some of the knockers let out groan. But dur king the remainder of the gaNe Mike Imade no more fumbles, anal though his arm is not in very good shape, he got 'em over to first quickly enough to retire the runner. Sawyer sacri- feed, but O'Rourke, who endeavored to steal third--the nerve of him
 was nailed by yard. Phelan, who
 bites at an outcurve like fish grabs
 at bait, received a free pass, but he died like a dog as he tried to pilfer
 the halfway station.
 Waterbury went to the front in her opening round and set the fans in a happy frame of mind. MeAn- drews s'bummed" his way down. but
 was later caught mapping at first, at
 least Mackey thought so. This de-
 cision caused a howl of disapproval.
 and Mackey's troubles began. But
 Waterbury was not to be denied and
 "Braggo" McEnroe was safe on a Texas leaguer in back of second base, Land, Hi Ladd almost bit hisi tongue Itryihg to kill the hit. Lachance cracked out single and McEnroe
 ambled to third, completing the cir
 cult when Phoenix did not take care
 of Woelfle's throw to catch Lachance at second. Lachance died trying to make third on Nichols's infleld hit. When Tom McNellis. the Waterbury |youth. stepped to the plate In the first inning. he was presented with | a handsome gold watch. the gift of his many friends fin this city who have been impressed because of the game Brick" has been playing at second and to show him that they have the best wishes for his success. Mac" played good game and each time he went to bat he was given a
 round of applause. He tried for a hit, but Ladd got his bread hooks
 on 1t and the inning was ended.
 Ladd. who can run like hippo potamus. went out from Bronkie to
 Lachance in the second, as did
 Hughes. Phoenix. the cratic short
 stop. placed a safe bingle between
 second and short. but was left, as
 Keefer died at first, Bronkie and Ward each having an assist on the
 play. The ball was skimming along
 and Bronkie. who played finely in
 the field. giving pitchers an excellent
 lesson as to how to field their posi- ton. stuck out his glove. which the ball hit and rolled towards Ward.
 who hustled it to Lachance. Ward,
 Curtiss and Schincel were easy outs
 in waterbury's half. but Bridgeport
 made the fans remember last years opening game by their onslaught in
 the third. woelfie was first up and
 famed. after almost breaking his
 back to kill the ball. Tracey walked
 and 0'Rourke laid a pretty bunt along third. Bronkie was after the
 man at second. but he was safe by a hair and o'Rourke received credit
 for his scratchy hit. Both runners hustled across the plate when Sawyer met one of Bronkie's twisters and sent it to the left field fence. IL was good for two bases and he took the three-quarter station when PheIan was retired. Bronkie to Lachance. The run getting should have ended here. but Ward made a mess of LaddIs grounder and Sawyer regis tered the third talley. Ladd vas able to ambulate fast enough when Hughes banged out the second two baezer of the inning. but the latter ended the festivities as he made an attempt to purioin the third szcker- The waterburys vent right after lacey in the third Bronkie. who in 'nu probability will be uaed fin the