The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1943-05-08
SAILORS NOSED
ARTILLERYMEN In
CLOSE BATTLE
SOLDIERS TIED SCORE ONLY
TO LOSE OUT IN NINTH.
TRIPLE AND SINGLE DE.
cIDED GAME


Diamond contingents of the Ma
val Operating Base and the 50th
Coast Artillery of Fort Taylor
staged valiant struggle last night
before the largest crowd of the
year. A triple and a single with
one out in the last frame provid-
ed a spectacular climax to the
crucial clash as the league leading
sailors won out by a 5-4 score.
Although the vastly-improved
soldiers were four runs behind in
the second inning, they refused
TO concede thing and with big
explosion in the fifth stanza they
knotted the count at A with the
stands in an uproar.
At that time the Army appear
ed to be getting hotter every min
ute and the MOB showed signs of
cracking at its inner defenses. But
supporters of the soldiers failed
to reckon with the pitching mas
terry of husky Ralph Barbary,
Simpsonville, S. c., converted MOB
catcher, however, because he pol
ished off the job ina magnifi-
cent style.
Harry Harrison, sailor right
fielder from Pensacola, touched
off the final innings TINT of the
present pace-sette-s when he
smashed out a laundering drive
which was aided by strong wind
and rode into deep right field for
q triple. Dixon, shortstop, then
raped his second single of the day
to score Harrison with the victor
ious run.
1t was thrilling clash from
start to finish but Barbary deserv-
ed better fate. The soldiers got
four scores-but Barbary gave up
only two hits and one of those was
of the scratch variety.
In the Army's tremendous four
run stanza he yielded but one
blow, a double. The rest came on
three misplays and two fielder's
choices. Anyway, the chances came
and the fighting soldiers took adj
vantage of every opportunity.
Fielding gems were numerous.
AL Lyles of the sailors, made a
spectacular running catch in left
field of long fly riding hard on
a strong wind in the fourth. JUL
Belli, stellar Army second sacker,
revived memories of "Jumpin'
Joe"Dugan of the old Yanks, as. he
leaped high into the air and made
a one-handed fstab of, a vicious
drive by Joe Justice, MOB catch
er.
Fireworks started in the first in
impressive style for the sailors.
With two away Red Bogart, third
baseman, dashed out terrific
triple, Barbary singled and Cor
nelius, centerfielder, connected for
long triple. Ken Stone, first
baseman, climaxed the frame with
a double for three runs.
In the second, also with two
out, Dixon singled and came all
the way home on long one-base
hit by Justice.
ALI was well for the sailors
for while-but the soldiers start
ed their offensive in the fifth when
Hank Sprawka, catcher, gained
first on a fielder's choice and Po-
andl, fine shortstop, doubled.
Sprawka scored in a close play
on a fielder's choice and Jack Fo-
ley, Army hurler, gained first.
Then Benny Rizzi. third sacker,
lived on a fielder's choice as
Poandl slid into home safely. BY
that time Foley was on third. Rizzi
promptly stole second; no one was
there to take the peg and both
runners scored to knot the count.
Thus, all was fine-the Army
was hot and had visions of a
startling upset and the league
leaders, some of the fans thought,
were beginning to crack. However,
Harrison's triple and Dixon's
single settled all that and the MOB
weathered the fifth inning storm
for their 54-4 victory.
Dixon was the only victor to get
two hits in four trips. Poandl got
the only two bingles for the en-
tire Army team.
Tonight at $50 the Coast Guard
second place team in the Amer
lean division, opposes Boca Chica.
Monday the Sound School crosses
bats with the MOB and Tuesday
the 50th Coast Artillery faces
Boca Chica.