Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-04-08
A Base Ball Story
Christy Mathewson

Copyright. 1910. BY r. J. Bodmsr. O.


Gibbie came across with the needed
long fly to Warcford in left. and Hal
brought in the tying run.
Black, next to bat. made a hard try
to hit one of the three balls that Mellen
pitched him, but he missed all three of
them. and as he picked up his glove and
walked into the box Hughie said: That's
the way, old boy save your wind and
strength for pitching
captain manager Church was first at
bat. and he hit one on Arthurs left which
both Delvin and Hagner went after. 1t
was too fast for Arthur to get his hands
on, but Hans made quick lunge and got
1t fifteen feet back of Delein and threw
quickly to first. where Hal made a neat
pickup and retired Church. Hollins tried
to bunt the first ball pitched and missed
Then he struck hard at the second one
and missed. and with his mind on nothing
but fooling the Lowell infield by his
change Of tactics, he forgot all about the
rules when he saw the Lowell boy plavine
back. and hunted the next bail. which
rolled foul. and he was called out
La JOY made one Of his mighty efforts
after getting two strikes, and il went out
to left field. where Capt. Larke caught it
after long run close TO the foul line
1t began to look as if each inning would
be practically the same, for the Lowell
half of the third was also short. Ever
son batted one to La Joy. which was easy
FOR him, and then Larke and Talkington
were both retired by Hollins and Church.
In the Jefferson half of the fourth the
fun began anew
Warcford fouled off the first two over
the stands. and when Black offered him
another one he didn't do any waiting
either. but raped it far out over to right
center in Robb's territory Ty picked it
up after stern chase and relayed it to
Hal, for Sam was already we'll on his
way to third, and Ty played to catch him
at the plate in case he tried to get home.
Things looked little better. however.
when Twitchell went out on a pop foul
10 Glbbie. Black. thinking OF the near
inning, walked him, thinking to get Mel
zen and possible double play. but Big
george knocked out beautiful sacrifice
ny to darlington, which scored Warcford.
IRIS saw that he couldn't get the runner
on third, and quickly threw to Everson
on second, catching Brest between the
bases He was finally run down by john
ny and Hal. the latter getting the put
This made the score three to two in
Jeffersons favor. and it was up to Low
ell to do a little better
Rooo missed one and fouled off another.
Inc third one was also a foul. a tip. and
noser heid onto it. making a strke-out
and. crouching in his accustomed manner
watched TWO go by-One a strike and the
other ball. The third one he hit On
beautiful line over Hollins' head between
t neach ana Warcford. Beach got it and
threw to third. as Hans had already
passed second. He, however went hack
When he saw that the throw would beat
him. ~ e"'
Hal came up and. giving the signal to
Hans, hit fast grounder tn the loft ut
the pitchers box which went toward
second like a shot and was we'll f1elded
by Holins. Hans was, however almost
home by this time. and all Hollins could
90 was to catch Hal at first, which he
out Delvin made the third one bv
knocking fly into Warcford's hands.
1t had been nip and tuck between the
two teams up to this time. with the ad-
vantage OF a lead, when there was any.
always with Jefferson, and LcwelIs hest
efforts were used to keep even
The strain was beginning to tell on
both teams. and Black buckled down to
outguess Laird. the first man up in the
fifth. But Laird was the better guesser
and got a base on balls when Miner
failed to put the third one over. Tommy
Beach made a beautiful bunt down the
third base line. and as Laird had a
good lead off first he got all the way
first and Beach was out
Church, at bat. signaled Laird for an
other squeeze play, and Harry did his
part all right. but Jeffersons captain
missed the ball and Gibbie touched Laird
out at the plate. Then Church hit a fast
bounder to the left Of Arthur, who made
great stop and throw to Hal, retiring
Church.
Gibbie came to bat and singled to
right. and there was great hope of Low
through all right SO far as Miner was
concerned. as he sacrificed, and Gibbie
reached second.
This brought Johnny to bat. and he had
the hard luck to touch one Of Mellens
twisters for foul which fell into Rog.
ers big mitt, and there were two out
Capt Larke tried to knock the ball out
OF the diamond, but the best he could do
was an easy roller to La Joy, who, how
ever. made a mess of It with two at
tempts Of picking 1t up before getting it
and by that time Larke was safe on first
and Gibbie on third.
Larke started for second to draw the
throw for the double steal. but Roger
place, and Cap got credit for a steal
Having struck out Robb before, Mellen
walked Talkington, filing the bases, and
Ty knocked a fly to the fence in center
neid, but when 1t came down Beach was
there waiting for 1t.
Hollins, the first batter for Jefferson in
the sixth. ought to have been out as he
knocked liner direct into Robb's hands
Ty dropped 1t, however. and Hollins hus-
tied to first. The error upset the boys a
little, and when Hollins started to steal
second Gdbbie made a poor throw and
the Jefferson shortstop was safe.
La Joy waited and got his base on balls.
which was good judgment on Black s
part. as 1t later developed. Warcford
came to bat and struck viciously at the
first ball and missed and the infield
guessed that Sam was bound to hit it out
All but Hal did, at any rate. for when
Miner pitched the next ball, Hal started
on his bunt fielding run to the plate and.
making quick stop. he threw to Delvin
al third. forcing Hollins.
Then with Warcford on first, Twitchell
hit a fast one to Case. who made one
hand stop. threw to Hans. who covered
second. and then hustled back to first in
time to receive Hans return throw, COM
pleting quick double play and retiring
the side.
Hans came up in the Lowell half and
got another double. Hal sacrificed him
to third and it again looked as though
Lowell might take the lead. Delvin made
what ought to have been a hit, for he
drove a fast liner toward first, but Church
stabbed it after mighty leap, into the
air. and there were two out. Then the
Lowell hope died down once more when
Gibbie hit to Mellen. who threw him out
to Church.
Brest struck at three fast ones and
missed all Of them. Mellen went out a so
on q grOunder that was very easy for
Hans and Hal. Laird came along with
caught stealing. Gibbie to Hans.
In the Lowell half Black hit one be-
tween first and second, which Church
fielded nicely and threw to Mellen. vino
covered the bag.
Everson hit bounder to Hollns who
let it roll between his legs. and johnny
was safe Larke hit one which La Joy