The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1912-10-12
BALL TWISTED BY
WIND ENDS GAME
Cyclone Proved Disastrous
for Flatville, According
to a Kansan.

Two interested spectators were
watching a big league ball game in
Chicago. One was a Chicago business
man. the other a Kansas, who had
decided to see the Chicago team play
before he returned home. says a Chi
cago exchange. Drawn together by
the camaraderie spirit in the air at
all ball games they began a CONVEX
! sation.
Pretty windy today, amt 1t.
friend" volunteered the Kansas.
Well, 1 should smile." responded
the C%hicagoan.
"sorter reminds me of a ball game
swept across the diamond Just at the
end of the game" said the Kansas
fan.
Tell us about it," suggested the
~Chicagoan.
"Flatville and Hooptown were play
Championship" began the Kansas.
The game had beer played to the
ninth inning, with the Hooptown team
one u to the good. F1atville was
to have their last chance at bat.
the Flatvilie players faced the
Hooptown pitcher with grim deter
thai Tor everything depended on
in that inning. Finally one man
reached third base. There were two
outs when Red Ryan. the big catch
er, stepped to the plate with blood
IN his eye: The pitcher wound up
the ball shot from his hand. Red
swung on the ball with savage fury
n ran for first base. Flatville fans
rose up and cheered. but their cheers
turned to groans when they saw that
the ball had popped almost straight
up in the air and the Hooptown
catcher was crouched directly be-
meath it as 1t descended. It seemed
only an instant when the ball would
PUNK safely into his big mitt.
Suddenly it was seen that the ball
a hesitated in its descent and was
veerfng toward the pitcher. The
pitcher then braced himself to catch
the ball. 1t could now be seen by
the crowd that 1t vas going beyond
tell, but it all happened in a minute
or so. The shortstop and second base
man ran behind the pitcher to back
him up should the ball pass over his
head. Then the ball again hesitated
IN its fight as a terrific gale Of wind
swept across the field.
Ball Performs.
THE wind tossed ball now sailed
over the heads Of both the shortstop
and second baseman and the center
fielder turned and legged like mad for
deep center while the right fielder
raced diagonally across the field be-
mind second base to attempt to cap
ture the still flying sphere. The run
ner. who had been on third base, had
long since crossed the home plate and
Red was now speeding past third.
The entire crowd was up watching
%inrently the ball, too surprised to
shout and apparently oblivious OF the
gale which whistled around them with
such force as to we'll nigh carry them
off their feet. On and on the be-
over the head Of the painting right
fielder just as Red Ryan passed
safely yer the home plate. The ball
still flew on, seemingly buoyed up by
a strange wind pressure from be-
meath. Further and further into
deep center the center fielder raced.
eye was fastened on the fast flying
fielder and the fast dropping bail. A
yell went up, it's going over his
head!
LAT last. with the expenditure Of
every Of strength. the speeding
fielder leaped into the air and threw
his gloved left hand high above his
covering his balance as he came to
earth. He held the ball above his
head as evidence that the game was
over. Mingled sounds Of v%ociferous
JOY and deep sorrow were borne away
upon the wind as the Hooptown fans
rushed upon the field and carried the
hero center fielder away on their
shoulders. Red Ryan stood on the
side lines with his hands on his hips
and an expression Of extreme wonder
ment and detection upon his face.
Deed that was some game" nm
ished the Kansas. but the Chicago
man was already three seats away and
still beating a rapid retreat, casting
ever n amor an apprehensive glance
over his shoulder.