Last weekend, the three clubs of the Delaware County Vintage Base Ball were in full-swing playing 1864 rules base ball across the region.
The 1864 twin bill for Polecats Vintage Base Ball Club featuring The Hamden Nine home opener was deemed a success by the clubs. Despite the Hamdenites plating 10 in the fourth and commanding a 20-15 lead, the M.A.C.s visiting from Fleischmanns with determined bats, rallied late plating six (all with two outs) in the bottom of the eighth frame and hanging on in the ninth to notch the victory 21-20.
In Game 2, a seven-inning affair, the expert pitching and stellar defense of the local nine with Hamden in bright letters across their chest, captured the hearts of the throngs of fans in their lawn chairs as they rooted their local club to victory by a score of 8-4.
The game was umpired wonderfully by fellow ballist from the Brooklyn Atlantics, Mr. “Average” Joe Jaffe, who recently relocated to the hamlet with his family and who also provided battery to the Nine during the matches.
Further east into the Hudson Valley, the Bovina Dairymen jumped out to early leads in their twin bill with the Kingston Guards. The hosts efforts to claw back were hampered by a crisp Dairymen defense that turned five double plays on the day.
Bovina went on to win both games, with every Dairymen hitting safely in each game. Devin “Wagon” Truman led the way for Bovina with eight hits on the day.
The next affairs for our local clubs are: Saturday, June 6, the Polecats head to historic Wethersfield Cove Park in Connecticut to battle the Providence Grays. On June 7, the M.A.C. will celebrate Jay Kirke Day with nine innings of 1895 rules ball at Fleischmanns Park versus the Albany River Frogs of the NY Sandlot Collective, with first pitch at 2 p.m. At 5:30 p.m., Friday, June 12, the Bovina Dairymen will square off with Kingston Guards on the grounds of the Rhinebeck Aerodrome.
Follow each of the Clubs on social media and visit delcovintagebaseball.org for a full schedule of events or to contact teams for bookings, as well as interest in playing and umpiring.