Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1918-05-13
HARLANS GET AWAY
TO A FLYING START
Bethlehem Steel League Nine
Wins Opening Game From
Lebanon by 4 to Score.

That Wilmington is hungry for big
time baseball was very evident from the
turnout at the opening game of the
Bethlehem Steel League, nj South Side
Park, on Saturday. when Harlan began
its season IN most suspicious manner by
trimming Lebanon, last years champions,
bV / to 2 score, IN fast and decidedly
interesting game.
Ii has been many a chCese-likc moon
since the fans of the city have turned
out in such "A horde rs on SATURDAY.
There were fully 5000 people at the game.
every available seat was taken and the
crowd bulgcd over along both foul lines
INTO the field, while sort of Il baby
Coogans Bluff behind the left field
hlcachcrs furnished dead head, stand
up seat for bunch of citizens who were
outside looking in And how that
crowd under the lone tree east of the
CauSeway stuck to their crap game while
the rooterS rooted and the ycllers yelled
and the bugles buglcd is a sight more than
those who perceived them can under
stand What red-blooded American
wants TO grovel over a crap game when
real baseball is on within listening dis
tanCc'
1t was a typical Wilmington baseball
crowd too, because II ''panncd' every
PLAYER who made misplay and then made
him king when he redeemed himself.
This was especially true of Lake. the
Harlan catcher, who caught DumOnt.
the former Washington pitcher for the
first time At the start of the game Lake
had several passed balls which allowed
runners 10 reach second. and a great
number of those present started to
roast the player But when in the fourth
inning he came through with "a long double
against the left field fence. the longest
hit Of the game, ne was rs great a man AS
Pershing. This kind of small town stuff
IS what has caused a great number of
players wearing local uniforms to play
hall below their standard and it would
he better if the fans put away the
hammers and bring out the horns
Special ceremonies featured the game.
There was the large Harlan band TO furnish
music, Mayor Lawson raised the Stars
and Stripes, 10 the tune OF The Star
Spangled Banner" then he pitched the
first bail The Harlan management had
promised the local fans first class ball
with big lcaguers-as stars on both teams
and this promise was fulfilled and the
play was fast and snappy throughout.
After scoring in the first inning Lebanon
held the locals safe until the fourth. when
a real Sensational batting rally sent four
Harlan runs across Dumont. while
tapped for nine hits. kept them we'll
scattered Ritter kept payne nine under
control in ali but the fourth inning
The only Wilmington boy To play on
either team was Wingate Of County
League fame Tony Marhefka.
former Chick, played his usual good game
at shortstop. He had the only error Of
the game, but this was due to his attempt
TO cover the earth from Claymont to
Delmar, and he missed difficult try.
Owing to FRIDAYS rain, the field was
heavy, which made easy chances hard
Mcdonnell and Lodensi ger put up classy
games around wet second base. Wagner
pulled a sensational catch in left field
that drew applause The game was
featured with three double plays
Mike Mowry, the former Brooklyn
star, who was to have played with Lebanon
disappointed the fans when he failed to
put IN his appearance Mike Is out Of
the game with a badly wrenched knee
Announcement was made by the Harlan
management that work would start
Immediately on the erection Of addition
bleachers 10 take care Of the crowds.
Two more general admission gates viii
also be built II Is also likely that the
fences IN right field and left field will he
moved back as they may prove an easy
mark 10 the heavy sluggers who will
play here. ScorCS: