Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1913-05-20
THAT NINTH INNING.

The old story of Casey at the bat
would have had a different ending if
its author had received his inspiration
from last Sundays game between
Wansau and Racine. Not one of
those 1000 fans that saw that game
ever saw a more sensational ending
and it was just as unexpected as it
was sensational.
The game had dragged along for
eight innings with little comfort to
local fandom. Our batters could not
hit the ball and our fielders seemed to
have temporary paralysis whenever
tie ball came near them, and deep
gloom had settled everywhere.
Gresel was playing second base in
stead of his usual back yard center
and if he was looking for anything,
he was looking for high flies instead
of hot grounders for he and JUL
drew four costly errors which had
practically given the game TO the Wis
itors and the score at the last half OF
the ninth inning stood six to four
with Wausau on the down hill side.
Everybody got ready to go home
A few disappointed fans with yellow
streak in them somewhere had al
ready left. Racine drew a goose egg
in the last half of the ninth and with
many of the spectators standing ready
to go home, Malloy sent McDaniels as
'pinch hitter" to bat in Juuls
place. The 'pinch hitter failed to
hit-the Racine pitcher got two
strikes on him and got them quick
and right there the balloon got ready
TO go up, for the Racine pitcher went
up in the air and heayed four wide
balls-the ''pinch hitter critically
scrutinized them and went to first on
balls. Old man Malloy slid up and
got into the TWO strike hole before he
got his cap properly adjusted and his
hands properly sanded but with these
necessary preliminaries arranged he
then banged the next ball for one
base and there we were, two men on
bases two needed scores to tie and
nobody out and with those 20O0 fans
setting up racket which fairly ended
in continuous roar which was heard
for two miles.
Mr.. Curley Bewer, under sealed sail
ing orders, laid down a little bunt
and these two base runners skated to
2nd and Bird and the roar from the
crowd increased. The Menominee
Indian Chief, Williams, next came on
the stage and he seemed to look good
to that crowd. Two strikes sobered
down the noise somewhat and with
everything quiet and calm, a ball
started over the base and the big red
man landed it hot and low into right
field fence for safe one base hit.
Big Williams knows base ball, in fact
he knows heap of base ball, he is
well read up on the subject. He
knew Malloy had two bases to go to
tie this particular game and not too
much time to do it in, so Mr.. Williams
did not stop at first base but coasted
on toward second with every yard of
canvass spread and he drew the
enemies fire from Malloy just as he
should have done. While the Chief
got caught at second Malloy came
safely to port and the score was tied
and two men were out-and there was
big noise from the rejuyenated and
half-frozen crowd.
Next entered Squire Gresel who has
been hitting balls into the far pastures
for Wausau this season. He had
made those three costly errors today
trying to disguise himself as an in
fielder. He would square himself if
he could get around those bases now,
and right nOC and those fans wanted
that game. Did he square himself
Did he get around those bases and
did roar go up from that crowd
such as Wausau never before heard
Why folks if you ever tell your chill
dren about this ninth inning which
was played between Wausau and
Racine during the year of the big
floods, just tell them that this tender
foot Gresel landed on that ball, and
as true as it can be told, that ball
went so high, SO wide and so far, that
it became tiny speck and finally
faded into the clouds. 1t simply
went out of sight towards Marsh all
hill, Nobody went after it. Nobody
wanted it and Wausau was tied for
third place. HANK SCHURMEYER.