Black Stockings Rising!
Bay City hosts Akron Carroll Park, Bay City, MI May 30th, 2009 Black Stockings Rising Akron 12, Bay City 8 The Bay City nine rose near dawn to ready the greenery of Carroll Park for yet another season of home matches played in our scenic little town. This home opener would be unlike any other in the five year history of the Independents, as they would play host to two clubs on this day, the Akron Black Stockings and the La-de-dahs of Greenfield Village. Both clubs are very highly regarded and have been much decorated throughout their respective histories. The first match on the day would see Bay City take on the boys from Ohio and after winning the coin toss the Independents took to striking. The first four Bay City strikers would all make their first, and there would be three runs in the innings for the Independents before the third hand was lost. The longest clout of the innings belonged to Butterfly Beceril who blasted a howitzer to the long field, and made his second while driving home the matches first run in the person of Tanner LeRoux. The Black Stockings would put two runs in the ledger thanks to Mr. Blasick, and a three bagger by Jason Zedak. At the end of the first innings the Bay Citys held a slender lead at 3-2. The clubs would trade whitewashing in the second innings, and the Stockings even skunked the Bay Citys in the third as well. The Independents couldn’t hold off the Stockings in their third though, and they put two tallies in the books to grab a 4 -3 lead in the contest. In the fourth innings the Bay Citys would knot the match up when Tom LeRoux pounced on the pill, drove it deep into the garden, and then deftly took his third as the out fieldsmen wound up to toss the ball to the in field. LeRoux would later score when Dean “Sawmill” Koch drove him home with a safety of his own. The next striker “Shoeless” Jeff Dinauer would drive Koch to second with another fine blast, but with two hands down the Akron right fielder made a fine sliding catch from the bat of Captain Johnson to end the innings. After ending the Bay City threat the Black Stockings took to apple mashing in fine style. They would tally 7 times before making their final out and now held a commanding 11-4 lead in the contest. The Independents would not go down quietly and put another run on the board in the fifth innings, and then skunked the Akrons in the fifth innings. The Black Stockings would return the favor in the sixth innings, and then put one more run on the slate thanks to Mr. Incorvati’s two bagger, and Mr. Russell’s safety. The match stood then at l2-5 in favor of Akron, but Bay City would lead one more valiant charge in the seventh innings. At the head of the column was the young Irish lad “Buttons” McInerney who made his first and was followed by another clean hit by Branden “The Rope” Revette. Both gents would tally on yet another long drive by LeRoux the elder, and this time only a timely throw would hold the spry, Bay City infielder to two bags. LeRoux would also score in the innings on another single by “Shoeless Jeff” Dinauer. However much like the charge of the rebel, General George Pickett up Cemetary Ridge the Bay City offensive was hopeless and the Akron’s defense proved as true as the battlements held by old General Meade, and the contest would close in favor of the Dark hosed gents at 12-8. So once again the Akrons and Bay Citys played another fine match that was as marked by gentlemanly play as it was by the ginger displayed in the field. Perhaps they will meet again someday, and put another chapter in this fine, friendly rivalry. Total Bay City 3 0 0 1 1 0 3 8 Akron 2 0 2 7 0 1 0 12
