May 16 vs. Lanesboro

Apple Jacks’ 12^th season begins with crack hitting, fielding

Dark clouds loomed overhead, but the mood at Abnet Field was bold and hopeful. The Apple Jacks Base Ball Club of La Crescent snatched victory, 21-10, from the Excelsiors of Lanesboro, Minnesota. It was an amiable match-up and the first of four planned meetings against the Excelsiors during the Jacks’ 12^th season.

The game got off to a jack-rabbit start with La Crescent notching 10 aces (runs) in the first four innings, surprising the nimble Lanesboro nine. The Excelsiors, buoyed by a gallery of spectators, did justice to their reputation with six aces in the fifth inning, closing the gap on the Jacks. Unfazed, the Jacks relied on their snug fielding to send the Excelsiors to the grass, while nailing together more than a dozen hits in the eighth and ninth innings. In total, the Jacks tallied 44 hits for their 21 aces against the Excelsiors’ 26 hits and 10 aces.

The Jacks’ captain, Bill “Ho-hum” Ohm struck out two and shared pitching and first base duties with Gary “Big Weas” Pericak. Both men also scored an ace each.

Erik “Stretch” Deetz led the Jacks with 7 hits and 5 aces, followed by both Scott “Sails” Pechacek and Mark “Wingnut” Walters with 7 hits and 5 aces. Jason “Weasel” Pericak tallied 5 hits and 5 aces, and John “Rook” Wilkie made 5 hits and 4 aces.

Defensively, the Jacks grabbed the leather in style. Their throws were crisp and accurate with nary a muff or misdirected toss. Most of the Jacks’ hits were zingers, skipping the infield and bounding into the outfield, where the Excelsiors found them as slippery as pond frogs. Similarly, the Jacks were vexed by the spin on “Pops” Tindall’s pitches and the deftness of catcher “Lefty” Loney, leading to several foul tips.

Regardless of the outcome, play was respectful. The Reverend Mr. Umpire James Cumming oversaw the game, and Lady Joan Ohm served as scorekeeper. Both praised the comportment of the players, and no fines were assessed. Spectators cheered for good play from both sides. A total of $5.25 was collected from appreciative spectators.

Photo 1 (top): The Reverend Mr. Umpire addresses the players and spectators at the start of the game. Photo 2 (Middle): Dan "Skunk" hits safely, bringing John "Rook" Wilkie home (Photo 3).