The Waterbury Democrat., 1946-06-26
This Sporting. World
Ireland May Be He0Oen, But Not On "The HIP
By JOHN A. CIuNEY

0J uoLuIdl ulSIlLlCC LklAt mas IL roots in that tight little isle acros the sea, when the Kerrys and th Queenies get together for anythin from a St. Patrick's Day parade t Donneybrook at a picnic; the oc casion, must ineed, be of moment out importance. Like all of us, the have had enough of war, shillelal singing, dornick throwing an plain, two-flsted belaboring; so the take 1t out on each other in tn most enjoyable manner you coul imagine SOFTBALL, no less, b the mighty right arm of Finn Mo Cool, him that can hold himself a arms length. So great is hi strength that he could break bundle of BLACKTHORN sticks a though they were made of spaeh etd.
 All of which is a bit long -winde, but explanatory, I hope of the fol lowing note:
 Dear John
 Wed like to have your judg ment on the following play:
 Last night at the old Mil Street playground, Moynihans Kerry Blues played Keefe's Queenie Foxes in the first game of a Nar- rowback Inter County series. In the seventh and final inning the Kerrymen were leading by one run when the Foxes came to bat for their last Ticks With two out, Charlie FitzPatrick singled Bill McQuinn's first pitch. Ker- win was hit, lon purpose, begorra) and Paul Doran walked. Ray O'Toole, the -Queenie cleanup man came to the plate.
 Tn the meantime, Messy Shea, the Kerry left fielder had taken the water bucket to Mike De- laney's Grill for a refll-and perhaps for a schooner of brew. He being tired, you know.
 Messy returned with the brim- ming bucket, O'Toole hit a tre- mendous clout to deep left field. The ball travelled in high, long arc and came to rest with a splash in Shea's pail. .s.
 Shimmers Sheehan, the umpire, being a Kerryman, immediately called OToole out ending the game and giving as a basis for his decision the fact that the ball had not hit the ground.
 The Queenies protested, arguing that water buckets are not or- dinarily used as gloves even if everyone concerned agrees that Messy Shea could use one at all times.
 We finally decided to submit the problem to you and both parties have consented to abide by your decision.
 No coercion will be employed but after you release your opin- ion it would be advisable to keep off of Baldwin Street until a cooling off period has elapsed.
 900
 By advice of counsel, who hap pens to be a well-known Queeni lawyer-about-town, am con strained to say that the hit, mad, by Queenie batter and caugh in pail by Kerry outfielder i obviously fair ball and the run ner, if he is able to break into bet ter than 6 Reardon run (snail pace. is entitled to all the bases he car put his two left feet upon whil' in transit. On the other hand, tn, Kerry outfielder, Shea, must re cover the ball and return it to thu infleld; before or after he drink the beer; but have yet to SCI the Kerryman who prefers a base ball of softball to a pail of beer so a fair catch cannot be allowed unless Shea handles the ball-no the pail or the beer.
 On the other hand, I believe yo, should check on the Queenie base runner to see if one or both lief feet failed to touch the bags ol the way around the bases; for imagine the sight of Shea carry ing the pail of beer would distrac the attention of Brian Boru him self, no less. Your choice of "Shim mers' Sheehan as the umpire o the game is a bit puzzling, for tn Queenies must have been dream ing of a little spot in Ireland t. allow a Kerryman to umpire game in which they played, know ing full well that any Sheehal would not give any one or all o them the RIGHT TIME if he ha, SIX WATCHES and two alarn clocks.
 From 8 standpoint of the rules the game is a Mexican standof and must be played over again; 10 time was automatically called whel Shea walked on the field, pail il hand-for when is softball to b preferred against beer on a ho night at the old Mill Street play ground, scene of my childhoot days?
 New York (DeXter Park)-OJP