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Infield dust flies high as Apple Jacks overthrow Afton, bow to Roosters
The La Crescent Apple Jacks walked off Abnet Field on Saturday afternoon with a commanding 7-3 victory over the Afton Red Sox. The Jacks’ defense shined, while the bats were steady, giving the home team some overdue recognition after losing to the Roosters of Olmstead County 9-3 in the opener. The Red Sox bested the Roosters 4-2 in the second match, earning each vintage base ball club one win and one loss on the day.
The Jacks and Roosters began the first game with one ace (run) each and the tie continued through four innings. The Roosters broke the game open in the seventh inning with seven hits and five aces. Matt “Kerosene” Carter and Corky “Goose” Gaskell accounted for six of the club’s hits and four of the nine aces. The Jacks’ aces were tallied by Paul “Swiss” Geronime (at bat below) and brothers Benjamin “George” and Erik” Stretch” Deetz.
The final game between the Jacks and Red Sox showed off the players’ physical agility and calculated hitting. Jason “Weasel” Pericak astounded the crowd as he stretched to nab well-struck balls in left field, and Kevin “Mover” Geronime pulled several infield flies out of the air. Benjamin “George” Deetz had four hits and one ace (run), while brother Samuel “Slim” had three hits and an ace, as did Dan “Lucky” Geronime and Joel “Hefty” Affeldt (pictured running to third). Afton’s pitcher, Ray “Stache” Hanson vexed the Jacks hitters with his uncanny knack for snagging their soundly hit balls. At one point, Hanson caught a foul ball after it had hit a tall fence and bounded off another; he flew through the air, landing on the ground with the ball firmly in his hand amid a whirlpool of dust. Sir Peter Petersilie, the Jacks’ umpire, duly grabbed a whisk broom and brushed off Hanson’s soil-encrusted uniform.
The intense performances continued as both Red Sox and Jacks dove for balls and aimed daisy cutters into the open field. After nine innings, the dust settled as handshakes and smiles replaced the slap of the ball against bats.
Bill “Ho-hum” Ohm, the Jacks’ captain, welcomed the victory and gave a slap on the back to the La Crescent nine for their vigorous play and sharp fielding. The game wasn’t without a twist or two, however. At one point Prince Peter, unable to see second base submerged in the grass, used a coin toss to determine whether a runner was safe. And, Lady Joan Ohm, the tallykeeper, reported a surprising $5 in fines collected for a range of minor discretions by players ("Big Weas" scored an ace and added a few quarters) and a few spectators. Nonetheless, the camaraderie among the Roosters, Red Sox, and Jacks outshined the blue skies and bright sun. It was, indeed, a great day for base ball.
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