The Clio messenger. (Clio, Mich.) 1907-current, 1920-06-10
NoRTH-SIDERs TRIUMPH

Well, the big game has become
matter of history. A monster crowd,
as large, probably, as ever witnessed
a contest of the kind within the con-
fines of Clio, gathered to behold the
decisive defeat of the south-siders
and the hilarious triumph of their
? opponents But at the outset, let it
said, that both sides were little over
confident in their published state
ments which preceded the great bat
tie, for that is what it proved to be
all the way through. The south-sid-
ers were elaborately dressed for the
occasion, most of them wearing regu-
lar base ball suits, while Manager
Hopkins and M. G.. Doyle wore clown
suits of gorgeous hues. They were
also led by darkey mascot, the real
article, specially procured for the oc-
casion, as black as the ace of spades,
who was made nice and shiny by
liberal application of Mica Axle
Grease to his shaven head and face.
This parade made famous showing
and was warmly welcomed on its ar
rival at the grounds.
The north-siders got together an
impromptu martial band and with
big flag flying at their head marched
to the grounds. Manager Reed, dis
tinguished by a huge crimson bow
tie, with Bob Jones carrying the
colors, led the van. This parade was
also enthusiastically cheered on ar
rival at the ball field. The crowd
was evidently unbiased and was per-
fectly willing to divide it's honors
equally.
The north-siders won choice of po-
sitions on the toss-up and the south
r siders went to bat. The first inning
resulted in goose egg for both
sides. In the second inning things
began to happen. The southerners
got to Huff's delivery in great style
and run in seven scores. The oppo-
sition was jubilant and danced the
hootchie puroochie in anticipation Of
tremendous and easy victory.
Gloom seemed to settle on the north
ern camp and there seemed to be
silent and deep sentiment that "a
little too much territory" had been
taken in through the acceptance OF
the challenge and the editor who had
been suspected of it's authorship, not
withstanding it was signed by the
committee, prepared to be mobbed
at the conclusion of the festivities,
with a serenade in the evening. But
at this point fate interposed. The
northern boys braced right up to
the work before them and in their
half ran in eight scores. First off,
in this inning, Crane made a home
run for the northers and with three
men on bases, Hartman batted long
drive to center field that brought ev-
erybody across the plate, including
himself. Waggoner also made a
home run during this half and Crane
repeated his first performance.
Andrew Littlefeld was on the mound
for the southerners in this inning and
while he was sadly out of practice,
he demonstrated that he had been a
regular ball player But, anyway
the transition from gloom to gladness
was too much for the northerners
and even the aged and decorous
among them hoped around and
yelled in a way that threatened dis
aster to rheumatic legs and wheezy
bellows. Alternately, the southern
ers took to serious considerations
and made less noise.
A tragic thing happened after the
first half of this inning, a thing to
which Manager Hopkins attributes
is decisive defeat. His mascot, who
marched proudly at the head of his
column on the way to the ball
ground, and who needed to be on
hand every minute in order to exert
the beneficial influences that a mas
cot is supposed to exert, when he saw
the north-siders romping home like
a close finish in a foot race, conclud-
ed he had gotten in wrong and quiet
ly and ungraciously walked away in
a new pair of shose that had been
a new pair of shoes that had been
purchased for him to stand around
and mascot in. Manager Hop
kins was too busy counting the scores
the north-siders were making to not
ice this disappearance until the jinX
was on and from that time forward,
although he encouraged his men he
roically, and prespiringly, it was all
off, and the best they could do was to
run in two additional scores. After
the game was all over the recreant
mascot was found quietly snoozing
under a tree on Mill Street where he
was serenaded by the martial band.
This clearly proves that we should
not put our faith in mascots, and a
! lady friend of ours furnishes us the
further information that black cat
always brings bad luck.
In the succeeding innings, up to the
first half Of the ninth, the southsders
accumulated two more runs, as above
stated, and north-siders six more. In
the first half of the ninth, with Crane
on the mound, one man struck out and
two went out on flies, finishing the
game, the score standing Ia to 9 in
favor of the north-siders. Great and
prolonged applause greeted the con-
clusion of the game, the losers being
game and apparently getting as
much fun out of it as the winners.
The martial band marched back to
the city with great eclat and sup
ported by mighty pride.
The umpires were Smith and Jones
who did their very best to umpire a
game in which the rooters were so
numerous and so aggressive.
Trombley caught for the South
siders and the following pitched
Pratt, A. Littlefeld, E. Miller, Fock-
Ter, L. Houghton, Brown, Cook and