Submitted by "Dangerous" Dan Groman, Icon base ball reporter
The Shannon Sodbusters base ball team gathered at the Bluffton village park following the Bluffton sesquicentennial parade on July 2.
In 1860, the village was still known as Shannon, and the rules were put together for a new sport known as base ball.
With temperatures in the 90s, and with clear skies, a light breeze brought a lttle relief from the afternoon heat.
The Sodbusters prepared for a battle against the Wyandotte Ghost Riders, traveling from Upper Sandusky in Wyandot County. Bleachers promptly filled wtih spectators, and the teams prepared for the match.
The Arbiter (Umpire) explained the rules, and both teams agreed to the rules. A large coin was tossed high into the air, with Club Captain Dan Groman calling "heads" and winning the toss. The Sodbusters would strike (bat) second.
Both club captains announced the team players and the Sodubsters took the field first. Dressed in period attire, the Arbiter explained that this was to be a Gentemen's sporting event.
"Professor" Dave Bracy started pitching for the Sodbusters, and pitched the whole game, using the underhand pitching format set forth in 1860. Nobody used gloves, as these were not permitted until six or eight years later in base ball. You had to be tough to play in those days, and those were the rules agreed upon.
Wtih the Ghost Riders up to bat first, it took some getting used to watching balls that in today's play would clearly be foul balls were deemed fair balls, with the point that the ball hits the ground first determining if the ball is fair or foul. Catching a ball with no glove can be a bit painful, so the 1860 rules permitted one "bound" (or bounce) and if then caught, it was still considered a dead hand, or a dead striker (out).
The Ghost Riders took an early lead, but the Sodbusters persisted, and eventually tallied some Aces (runs) of their own. With each Ace came the opportunity for the player who scored to go to the Scorer's table to ring a cow bell, announcing an Ace for their team.
The battle went on through the heat of the afternoon. Concessions were being sold, offering hot dogs, popcorn, peanuts in the shell, Crackerjacks, lemonade, and water.
The Sodbusters had several diving catches, with David "Rip" Glick and Steve "No Muff" Yarnell making some diving one-bounder catches from the "behind" position (catcher), while Evan "Twinkletoes" Skilliter made a diving catch for a ball near first, and Joel "Rod" Groman made a diving catch of a well hit ball to the second bag.
A number of Sodbusters hit 3 for 3, knocking in runs, filling the bases, and setting up the score.
Clay "Off-the-Wall" Wannemacher, a "Wrong-hander" (left handed batter), hit a nice hard ball toward first bag, but the Wyandotte Ghost Riders had been working on a some fancy defense.
First bag was being covered by a young gal, who was, of course in 1860's attire. For a young lady, that meant a long skirt was worn. That skirt proved to be too tough for Wannemacher's hit, and the ball was knocked down by the young gal's skirt, and she easily picked up the ball and stepped on the bag.
Because of the heat and the toll it was taking on the players, it was mutually agreed to cut the game short of its normal 9 innings after completing 7 innings.
At the end of the game, the Arbiter proclaimed that the Sobbusters scored 14 Aces, and the Ghost Riders "didn't have that many." The final score was 14-9.
The Sodbusters (1-0) will put their undefeated record on the line when they travel to the Allen County Fair to play the Solar Refiners in another 1860s era match.
As Bluffton continues to celebrate their 150 year anniversary throughout 2011, the Lima Refinery is celebrating their 125th anniversary of refining crude oil in Lima. This will be played at the Allen County Fair on Sunday, Aug. 21 at 1 p.m. inside the West Entrance off of State Route 309. Come on out and cheer on the Sodbusters.
