Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1915-06-30
WINS
BUT BIG RAPIDS
FANS ARE HAPPY
\ GREAT CROWD SAW THE LID
RIPPED OFF THE 1915 BASE
BALL SEASON

In commenting on the base ball
game in Big Rapids last Thursday the
Big Rapids Courier-Herald of Friday
had the following to say:
Base ball season was accorded a
rousing welcome at Riverside park
Thursday where several hundred en-
thusiastic fans, nearly 200 from out Of
the city. watched with noisy interest
the Big Rapids Independents and
Belding professional champions
battle nine rafting fast innings of as
good a brand OF base ball as has been
uncorked in this city in some time
When the dust of the conflict blew
away. for il was battle every minute,
victory rested with the visitors from
the city OF silk, by a score of to .
True Big Rapids was defeated but
it left no sting. 1t was the defeat of
the fighting man who battles gamely
TO the end only 10 go down before the
more exacting science and effective
hitting of the fighter trained to a finer
edge. 1t was the kind of defeat which
is mitigated, perhaps gloritied in the
admiration and sympathy which red
blooded sporting men bestow upon the
vanquished.
Belding won as she should have
won, because her men were in the
pink of condition, because they have
played together for two months and
individual playing has given away to
team work. Big Rapids lost not
through lack OF ability, but through a
lack of experience and training which
a little more practice and a couple
more games is bound TO eradicate.
Twice Big Rapids had victory with
in her grasp but twice the timely clout
which would have sent scores across
the pan was not forthcoming. Failure
to hit i'm pinches alone cost the Inde-
pendents the game, bat ii was a hard
fought battle and the issue was in
doubt until the final inning.
Franck hurled a pretty game and
with the exception to two bad frames
he pitched brilliant ball Noss, the
Belding mound artist and for two
years the mainstay OF the Manstee
club Of the Michigan State League
was touched for seven clean smashes
He was inferior to Franck in control
land several times he pitched himself
into trouble. However, when he found
himself i'm a hole he steadied down and
retired the side before damage result
ed. He sent eight men over the
strike-out route 10 the seven famed
by Franck.
Both Of Big Rapids counts We're
due 10 the hitting of Nan Horn and
Frey. Martz starred In the outer gar
dens although a sensational return by
Morrissey in left field resulted in a
double play which was feature Of
the contest.
Belding took the lead almost from
the first. In the second inning with
one man down, Pfab went 20 first base
ON balls. Gould singled into center
pasture. was thrown out at the key
stone sack when he attempted to
stretch il and Pfab trotted across the
pan on the play. Noss cracked a sizZ-
/ ling grounder through third base and
/ Gould scored
In the third, fourth, fifth, sixth and
seventh innings Big Rapids loaded the
sacks and threatened to score hard
| any time. In the third the Independ-
ents flashed Morrissey around the cir
cult only TO have the run nipped at
the plate by a hair Morrissey rolled
an easy grounder between second
I baseman Pfab's legs and roasted on
the middle station before that individ-
ual recovered the errored horsehide.
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