"SURE HOME!"

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2260, 21 September 1914, Page 9

"SURE HOME!"

BASEBALL AT THE BASIN AMERICA & NEW ZEALAND The sun departed too early on Satuiday. With the bright sunshine and blue skies of the morning the keenedged northerly breeze was quite pleasant, but- a smother of grey clouds came up at noon, and thereafter the day was dull and the wind became spitefully raw. That was a pity for the afternoon had been set apart for a patriotic baseball match on the Basin Reserve between teams representing New Zealand and America—and baseball is a summer game. About 400 or 600 people were present, including His Excellency the Governor and the Countess of Liverpool, the Hon. F. M. B. Fisher, and His Worship the Mayor. On His Excellency's arrival at the ground the band played the National Anthem, and. there was applauso from the crowd. Mr. Luke acted as first pitcher after which the ball was sold at auction by Mr. Nicoll, the sum of £3 10s. being realised. The buyer was Mr. E. J. Proud, brother of the Sydney baseball expert and referee. "Hip'ray! Hip'ray! Hip'ray! shouted the "All Blacks." "Ra-ral Ra-ral Kara! Now Zealand!" yelled the "All Whites" (America), and the game commenced, with America at the home base. "Play ball!" signalled the hollow-voiced referee, who stood beside the pitoher. With cunning side action the pitcher hurled the ball at the man with the bird-cage over his face and the padded apron,'known as the catcher, whilst the batsman made furious swipe at_ the hurtling sphere. ' He generally missed, but when a hit was made it was "some hit." Baseball is "rounders" adapted to the male adult, only that three men out (of the team of nine) is all, out, so tljat each innings is usually brief and merry. The batsman stands at ] one point of a marked triangle, and a hit that does not traverse the triangle is a "foul hit," and whilst a man running between the bases may run for a miss, by the "catcher," he cannot do so for a foul hit. Further, the batsman must strike at 'every ball that passes over any portion of the home base above the height of his knee and below the level of his shoulder. He is only allowed three smites—if he misses all he is out,' but if he hits one he can ruii to. the first base. As a hardthrown ball can travel faster than a man he has to hustle along to get there before the catcher or fieldsman throws it to the first baseman. Providing the latter holds the ball and can touch the man before ho reaches the base the latter is out. There are three bases, marked by white "bags," and the total distance round the diamond is 120 yards. These, are the purest rudiments of the game—to pick up the real technic of baseball ono must play the game or become a devoted "fan." The crowd at the." Basin Reserve soon acquired a superficial knowledge of the game, and evinced the liveliest interest in what proved to be an exciting finish. : What adds to the zest of the game— and what is particularly un-British—is that anyone is allowed to say anything at auy time. Particularly rude remarks reflecting on a player's style or bis dress—anything, in fact, that may tend to disconcert him. "He's got a glass arm!" yelled one of the "ins," referring to the pitcher of the "outs." "That's so, Stan., break it I" was the gentle obfuscation. "Or-right, lad — hold your wooden head up!" was an ohcourager to a croucher "on the box" (home base). "Get along—dy'e want to camp on the bag!" was rasped out at a-'slow baso-runner. ''He's got a swing like a barn-door!" was flung at the pitcher, and when a runner did the 120 yards without a touch he was "sure home" or "safe home."

The game played on Saturday was one of seven innings (nine is the usual number), and a. complete round of the bases counts one run. Runs are difficult to get. The better the fielding the more difficult are they to get. On Saturday tho fielding was not up to the "White Sox" mark, but there was enough spirit in the players and interest among the spectators to justify tho existence of the Wellington Baseball League (of which the Hon. F. M. B. Fislior is president). The game was an exciting one. America looked like "cake-walking" over the "All Blacks" up to tho last innings, when the latter put up the sensational score of 11 runs (the highest of tho fourteen innings played), and pulled three ahead of America's total, but the latter had an innings to go and managed to notch five, gaining a two-run win. The innings scores were as follow: — Side. 1234567 Tl. America .... 5033335 22 New Zealand 0 1 3 3 1 1 11 20 The detailed scores were: — AMERICA. At Base, Hits. Runs. Malloy 6 2 2 . Wadman 4 10 Jensen 4 2 3 Harrison (capt.) 5' \4 • 2 P. Thompson .... 5 i 3 Grimshaw 5 3 3 Johnston 5 3 3 Cobb 5 4 3 M'Clintock 5 2-1 Westerholm .... 2 2 2 Totals 46 29 22 NEW ZEALAND. At Base. Hits. Rune. Ross 5 3 3 Morris 4 1 0 Wallers (capt.)... 5 2 1 Alexander - 5 5 4 A. Thompson .... 5 3 3 Lloyd 6 5 3 Moore 4 3 2 Willis 6 2 1 Shaw 4 '2 2 Land 1 1 1

Totals 45 27 20 Harrison (America) and Walters (New Zealand) pitched throughout the gamo, and Mr. L. Moriarty (with gloves, walking-stick; and cigar) was referee.