Waterbury evening Democrat., 1908-04-18
THE DIAMOND
BIG CROWD AT
 THE FIRST GAME
Waterbury Defeated Springfield in Close Game-All the Other
 Results.

When 2,OUU 1ans Wlllstdke all kinds of chances to catch pneumonia and other kindred ills ,Sas they did yesterday out at Reidville,. 1t can be put down emphatically that Water bury fans have not lost any interest in the old national sport, base ball. They were there withtthe knock and the boost, too, even though the weather was too cold to. x play the game with any degree: If accuracy. The umpire, MT, Rorty. vas praised and knocked just about as the mood seemed to hit the fans. It was evi- dent that the rooters were anxious to get the kinks out of their voices, just as were the ball players eager to straighten out their winter, tied muscles. The grounds presented a pretty sight and no playing field in this league has anything on Reid vile. The diamond was as flat and
 smooth as q billiard table, while the outfield was as free from humps and holes as the most even golf lot. The new stand will be the Mecca of most of the fans, who frequent the grandstand, for the present at least, for the sun warns it mp in good shape The bleaclIer shouters will have to say things to the left fielder now and the poor battery may get a rest Rooters by the hundred congregated ill the enlarged space back of first base and this spot looks as if it will be made rooters' row. The original grand stand did not fill up as rapidly as on other holidays, owing to the increased seating capacity and yet the crowd was large, larger even than was an- ticipated. r.,+t '-t .-e- . Waterbury won the game because her players hit the ball on the nose, in the first two innings in particular. Warren Mclaughlin was on the firing line for the visitors and in the first inning he was touched up for base on balls and an error by Me- Laughlin himself, netted US three runs. We slammed out three more singles in the second and two errors by Luby and Waite helped two more men over the home plate. q. Then Mclaughlin settled down to business and but one more hit was scored off his delivery. while he :enlained im the game. Garrett took ais place in the sixth and this chap looks pretty good. We scored two runs more in the seventh on three singles, but a bad error by Waite in right field helped along the damage. That was the extent of our scoring.
 Bronkie began the work for our side and remained at his post for three innings. Three hits vert made of his delivery in that time, but fast fielding saved my scoring Lien took his place. He had curves, plenty of them and looked to the fans as if he might make good. but the bad playing behind him, some what put damper on the chap and sent him sailing skyward. McNulty took his place in the seventh and, while bit awkward in ais delivery, he held the Springfields in check and escaped with but two hits and no runs. Springfield did all her scoring off Lien and made q good try to win out in the final innings, but fell down. -e,
 Close attention was paid to the at short seems, to fill that hole in pretty good shape. He handled grounders cleanly. but made one bad throw to first. His two bagger in game, was we'll placed. McEnroe at third will not do. Ray Barrett, who took Eddie Swander's place in left, after Eddie had stopped one of Jer- retSs swift ones in the seventh, will probably get his release to-day. Dasher Kelly succeeded Nichols in the eighth. and did all he had to do we'll Wiggins, who occupied Sehin- cells position after the fifth inning made a good job of it and handled the stick well. .4s ... .-..
 When Captain Frank Fitzpatrick came to the bat in the first inning, time was called and all the players on both teams surrounded him. The sporting writer of the Democrat, in ! behalf of Fitzpatrick's comrades 1 in the finishing department of l the 'New England Watch factory. 1 then presented the ball player | "ieh hohusOihE HOiu NdtCH. Ell | graved on the back was the one in- l itial "F." The back ground had the | grand stand pictured out in clever | style. while bat and ball occupied i conspicuous position. Captain | Fitzpatrick responded to :he call for a speech. but what he said will never be written. The score of the game was as follows: