August 2 at Reedsburg

Apple Jacks get plenty of hits, but nicked for three losses

Only a few weeks ago, the La Crescent Apple Jacks swamped the Lanesboro Excelsiors 16-1, confirming the Jacks’ consistent hitting and sharp ball handling. Fresh off that victory, the Apple Jacks traveled to Reedsburg, WI on Saturday where they vied with four other vintage base ball teams. The sunny skies and crowd of spectators were welcoming, but the final scores disappointed like a barn dance without a fiddler.

On a day when every team struggled to score, the Jacks lost all three of their low-scoring games. With dew still on the grass, the Jacks took the field at 9 o’clock and were edged 4-3 by the Menomonie Blue Caps. At 12:30, the Mankato Baltics managed a 1-0 victory over the Jacks. And, in the third game at 4 o’clock, the Rum River Rovers from Anoka, MN overcame the Jacks, 5-0. The Milwaukee Cream Citys also participated, but teams were limited to three 9-inning games.

According to captain Bill “ho-hum” Ohm, the Jacks’ pitching and defense were stellar and, even though the hits came, they were sparse. Against Rum River’s 20 hits, for example, the Jacks tallied 18 well-struck hits, leaving many a man stranded at second or third base when the inning ended. The Jacks rarely completed an inning without getting men on base, ringing up 14 hits against the Blue Caps and 13 against the Baltics.

Each of the Deetz men— Benjamin “George,” Samuel “Slim,” and Dan “Skunk”—had 6 hits on the day. At shortstop, “George” drew hoots and hollers from the spectators for a daring catch that led to an out, while “Slim” initiated a double play. “Skunk” had a stellar day at catcher; his speed and anticipation drew the admiration and observation of catchers from the other teams.

Ohm pitched the first game and Joel “Hefty” Affeldt used accuracy and control in the other two match-ups. Adding to the defense was the deftness of right fielder Paul “Swiss” Geronime and left fielder Jason “Weasel” Pericak, trapping fly balls like the jaws of a black bear.

No injuries were reported and no fines were collected as the games were conducted in gentlemanly fashion without an umpire. Spectators, having attended a workshop the previous eve, were well versed in the rules of the game.

The Jacks are now 4-5-1 on the season.

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Webb Park in Reedsburg was an outstanding location.

Kudos to Matt "Hurricane" Carter for the arrangements and for conducting Friday night's workshop.