July 6 at Rochester

In base ball terms, a “muffin” is an inexperienced player, but the Ohio Village Muffins contradict that definition. Founded in 1981 by the Ohio Historical Society, the Muffins ball club remains one of the country’s premier vintage base ball representatives. On Saturday, they edged the La Crescent Apple Jacks 7-5 at Rochester’s Schmitt Field, as part of a barnstorming tour that also took them to Dyersville, Iowa, and Hobart, Indiana.

Although the Jacks were less experienced, they seemed physically well matched to the Muffins as the score seesawed in the early innings. The tone of the match intensified as the Jacks Captain, Bill “Ho-hum” Ohm, reached first base and then advanced to second on an overthrow. Spectators cheered vigorously, which buoyed the players’ spirits. A few plays later, Ho-hum tallied an ace and Andy “Ziggy” Anderson, in his debut as an Apple Jack, followed suit, helping La Crescent secure the lead, 5-3.

Impervious to the 92 degree heat and the threat of the energetic Jacks, the Muffins’ bats came back to tie the game in the fifth inning and then go ahead by one ace and then another. Their deft ball handling and strategic hits helped them hold on the lead and emerge victorious.

The Jacks’ infield play was noticeably snappier on Saturday. Looking like veterans, Jim “Scoop” Schupbach used his long arms to snare balls at first base and Joel “Hefty” Affeldt [pictured at right] displayed steady infield play and adroit hitting. Ziggy used speed and an eye for catching the ball at shortstop. Steve “Whitey” Geronime kept a steady rhythm to the pitching, shared those duties with Ohm. John “Rook” Wilkie held steady at catcher.