The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1922-08-18
FISHER FOUGHT
FIRE WITH FIRE
Ten Inning Battle Went to Ocala By
The Close Score OF One
to Two


timely head work. Early in the game
the Ocala batters began to complain
that Scharding was using emery on
the ball and asked the umpire to put
p stop to it, but Ryan was not in the
humor to stop anything yesterday so
he refused to make any investigation.
Finally Fisher told Sir Buckles that he
would show the Leesburg sluggers a
little about the art Of throwing an
emery ball. He started his little dem
onstration in the fifth innin" and used
Scharding had rubbed on the ball. For
four innings only twelve men faced
him and seven of them famed. six
of which strike-outs came in row.
By that time Scharding decided that
it would be better not to use the en-
cry ball since he had to let Fisher use
the same balls when he was pitching.
Osser was carrying the sandpaper fo1
the Leesburg lads. At the beginning
of each inning the ball would go to
Osser at short for minute and then
it would be put in play. Several loyal
Wildcat fans became suspicious of this
unusual circumstance and kept their
eyes on Osser. Each time he returned
the ball to Scharding he would take
something out Of his glove and put it
in his pocket When the fans got so
hot in behind him that he was afraid
he would be searched he dropped the
sandpaper on the ground behind Sec
ond base and then later moved it a
little further out in the field but un-
fortunately for him sandpaper is
white and floats a little when it falls,
so the watchful fans sent Leon to the
spot and captured the trough stuff" +"
After this open exposure and the sue
cessful way in which Fisher was MAX
ing use of the ball which they so
kindly roughened for him the Lake
county boys decided to play with a
regulation ball.
In another instance Fisher beat the
other fellows at their own game. Their
coach on the first base line was steal
ing Overstreet's signals and tipping
the batter off so that he knew what to
expect. Fisher learned that this was
going on and framed up double sig
nails with Eddie. From then on the
batters made monkeys of themselves
when they obeyed the tip from the
coaching box. They would strike at
the worst kind of balls and let the
prettiest strikes go by because they
were looking for something else.
Aside from the strategic moves h.
made during the game Fisher pitched
a regular game of ball, too. He fan
ned nine and only let up five hits il
ten innings. Scharding tossed a gooc
game for the visitors with five strike
outs to his credit and only five hit!
against him.
Eddie Overstreet caught a gooC
game for Ocala, making some prett!
stops and some good pegs in spite O.
the wet ball. Medlin hauled in a no
one from the bat of Francis tina
ought to have netted nice littl
single for the st. Augustine lad. Leol
handled two redhot ones during tn
game and secured for himself a plac
in the baseball hall of fame Fishe
and Taylor made nice play in tn
seventh when Fisher covered first fo
Taylor to field hot grounder off tn
bat of Medlin.
Leesburg drew first blood and for
while it looked like they had the onl
blood of the game. Porter led tn
game off with a single down the thir
base line. Gillespi sacrificed him t
sectnd and he scored on another he
one down third base that Kerlin start
ed on its way. Kerlin tried to max
second base but Rymer threw him ou
From then until the ninth Leesbur
did not threaten. They made one MOI
hit in the third but did not get beyon
second.
Ocala was unable to do thing wit
the offerings of Scharding as long q
he used the sandpaper. 1t was tn
sixth inning before the Wildcats wei
credited with a single hit and the
they were unable to help the bate
on around the circuit but in the eight
they took advantage of a couple (
free passes and an error to put aero:
the tying run. Bracken led off wit
a base on balls. Wood sacrificed hi
to second. Overstreet flew out to Il
pitcher but Fisher hit a hot one
Stewart on sh. t and Stewart let it s
through his le IS to center field, SEQ
ing Bracken. Francis walked b.
Taylor struck out and retired the sid
Leesburg was unlucky in the loss
Osser from the game in the sixt
Stewart took his place on short but
was Stewards error that lost the tyir
run for the visitors Osser sprain
his ankle and it is hoped that it W
be well at an early date for the i
in snappy "short-stopper."
In the ninth the Ocala fans near