June 7, 2014
Apple Jacks slog through wet field for two victories
The cold and rain were chilling, but the hits felt like warm sunshine as the La Crescent Apple Jacks won two games against well-matched opponents on Saturday at Phelan Park in Menomonie, WI. In spite of the physical challenges of a rain-saturated grassy field, the Jacks held off the Afton Red Stockings 9-7 and edged the host Blue Caps 7-6. The Blue Caps and Red Stockings played to a 17-17 tie in the other game of the day.
When the games commenced, rain had already soaked the park and created a 20-foot-wide pond in center field. The ball refused to bounce once it hit soggy ground, and few hits sailed in the air. The games were also conducted without an umpire. Conditions, while daunting, gave way to flexibility. The game ball was exchanged every few innings and gentlemanly agreements held forth on foul balls and close calls at home base. Quick and accurate throwing was critical.
Geese flying overhead in a V formation were a portent of the Apple Jacks’ triumph in the first game against Afton. The Jacks quickly found a hitting rhythm, and the crowd of spectators cheered for any hit ball that was a “splasher.” After a downpour in the 4th inning, both teams struggled to score in spite of accounting for 25 hits apiece.
By the time the Jacks faced the Blue Caps, the players’ normally crisp white shirts were
mud-splattered and their shoes waterlogged, but they did not relent. In fact, they began with an agreement to play 7 innings, but went the full 9. The Blue Caps accumulated 32 hits to the Jacks’ 31, but the wet conditions proved to be another defensive player. The Jacks rallied in the 8th inning and held on to take the win.The Deetz men had an excellent day at bat. Samuel “Slim” tallied 7 hits and 2 runs, while Dan “Skunk” had 5 hits and 3 runs, Benjamin “George” had 5 hits and 1 run, and Erik “Stretch” tallied 4 hits and 1 run.
The Jacks’ captain, Bill “Ho hum” Ohm, credited pitchers Joel “Hefty” Affeldt and Gary “Big Weas” Pericak for accuracy and control with a sodden ball. “Hefty”also had a powerful day with 6 hits and 1 run and "Big Weas" had 5 hits.
Noting the difficulty of running in swampland, “Ho hum” cited Jason “Weasel” Pericak, Dan “The Man” Johnson, and Andy “Ziggy” Johnson for their speed not only running the bases, but also racing in from the outfield to nab fly balls. All three players had a good hitting day as well.
The Jacks’ Jim “Scoop” Schupbach saw a good deal of traffic at first base. He left the second game with a leg cramp, but is otherwise tip-top. No other injuries were reported.
Photos
Top: Karen Geronime's photograph captured the wet field.Middle: The back of Dan "Skunk" Deetz's shirt. The ball makes a splash in front of Jason "Weasel" Pericak.Left: Skunk's shield, complete with muddy ball prints.
Bottom: Crisp and clean before the games began.
Scorekeeping for 2 games