The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-07-05
Ry REuBEN A. LEWIS

BY REUBEN A. LEWIS
Scintillating with sparkling fielding and
brilliant pitching, the afternoon game
was annexed by the Barons, to /, after
the Gulls humbled Moleys gallants in
the opening fracas, 10 to 0. Heaving in
sensational form, Wee Willie Prough held
the threatening Gulls to four safeties.
while the Barons bingled timely on Camp
bell and Hogg. The defensive display
of both clubs was fast and accurate
and sensational when the Gulls Negotiated
a triple play.
Appearing as a bunch of dubs in the
opening melee, the Barons found their
form in the latter setto and electrified
the tremendous crowd with the start
ling plays. Never in danger, Prough
twirled one of the best games in his
career and incidentally boosted his total
to 12 won and lost.
Fighting fiercely with the lead threat
ened by the Billikens. the Sea Gulls re-
sponded to the leaders spurs but were
unable to solve the darting slants of the
elongated Prough. Campbell initiated the
proclivities for the Finnmen but retired
after the Barons solved his offerings with
apparent ease and snappy zest. Hogg
relieved the southpaw on the mound in
the fourth and experienced better fate.
Serving the raving enthusiasts with a
thrilling performance in the box the
Barons added delight to the occasion
by fielding remarkable game and were
assisted by the Gulls In the opening
inning two infield Founders permitted
Marcan and Messenger to occupy first
and second hassock. Mcdonald, keen of
eye, drew largess from Southpaw Camp
bell and congested the cushions. Kniseley
rolled to Sentell who attempted to force
Mcdonald at second but Milton Stock
fumbled and Marcan tailed.
Quaking in his boots, Campbell faced
the dangerous Mcbride and shot a fla st
one on the inside. Mcbride belted the
offering and lined to AL O'Den. The Gull
third sacker was startled by the slashing
drive, but recovered by touching third,
retiring Messenger, and threw to Stock
who retired Mcdonald and the side The
brilliant triple operation was performed in
such a brief interval that the fans scarce
iy realized the downfall of the rally.
On the firing line, Wee Willie Prough
was master Of the bout. Dazzling the
league leaders with his smoke and perfect
control, the lad from Indiana was an en-
byro of major star. Distributing but
four sparse safeties to the anxious op-
ponents, he. was never in danger, and
merited the cheering of the fans. who
waxed warm in lusty whoops. A caprice
l1tal oil Dab
on a slow roller to the infield In the first
Paulet slap4ed fierce grounder at Nc
Donald in tire third, but Mcdonald failed
to retain the sizzler
With these two scratches the Sea Gulls
registered two clean hits. In the fifth
canto, Paulet singled cleanly to left
while Schmidt doubled in the eighth to
the sunfield, but fast fielding would have
checked the receiver at first.
Outside Of this quartet of safeties
Prough did not yield a semblance of a
safe drive. His control was near unto
perfection, for the puissant whip respond
ed to its masters bid in all trials save
one. Hogg drew the lone contribution in
the eighth session.
After the triple negotiation checked the
rally in the first, Billy Campbell retard-
ed the willow welding in the following
round, but the activities broke out anew
In the third. Prough reached the ter
minus at first when Sentell's stop of his
drive past second was outspurted by a
close margin. Marcan dropped a neat lit
tie advancer to the pitcher, while Bob
Messengers simmering liner to left dis
patched Wee Willie to third. Eddie Nc
Donald inserted the timely wallop'' and
Prough romped to the platter. Kniseley
and Mcbride smote Campbell's offerings
sharply to the gardeners, and at this
juncture Manager Finn decided the south
paw was off color and dispatched Bradley
Hogg to the mound.
The last of the trio was annexed in
the seventh when Wee Willie Prough un-
corked drive into the overflow crowd in
right field. Marcan sent Prough ambling
to third on roller to Stock. while Mes
senger unraveled his fourth safe hit and
advanced Prough across the platter,
boosting the count to 80.
The marathons around the hassocks
weakened Prough in the eighth for white
Hope" Schmidt opened with a line drive
to the sunfcld. Fast fielding would have
stopped the ringstcr at first. but Schmidt
reached they keystone on the wallop.
Prough frightened up and forced Paulet
and Clark to ground out to Marcan. The
grounders advanced Schmidt to the rub
ber and saved the Gulls from a shutout
The walloping of Bob Messenger had a
perfect mark in the latter battle. for four
times Messenger connected safely out of
the same number of trials. Besides bat
ting fiercely, Bob annexed a stolen base
In the afternoon set to and duo In the
morning struggle. He fielded well. too
Administering a 10 to q drubbing to
Foxen and Boyd, Mobile took the pre-
mier struggle with ease. Pug" Cayet
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(Contlnued on PAGE Ten.l