Grangers Make Second Trip To Mackinac Island

 

By Douglas “Moonlight” Otlewski/Special to Suburban Lifestyles

 

  

Mackinac Island, MI - By land and by sea the Rochester Grangers traveled to the diminutive island of Mackinac to engage the hometown Never Sweats Base Ball Club in a gentlemen’s match of base ball.  Nestled at the confluence of Lake Michigan and Lake Huron, the islanders played host to the Grangers for the second year in a row at the little diamond standing in the shadows of Fort Mackinac.  Upon disembarking in the early afternoon some ballists immediately availed themselves of that new-fangled invention, the bicycle, while others elected to traverse the territory by the more reliable means of horse and buggy.  As the appointed hour approached, a band of Grangers were greeted by cheering throngs and a brass band as they marched en masse to the Fort.  After introduction of the players, the match got underway under cloudless skies and pleasant temperatures, with the blue waters of Lake Huron clearly visible from the striker’s line.

Owing to a full year of rehearsal in the fundamentals, the Never Sweats presented a different club then the one beaten the previous summer by the Rochester visitors.  Starting on the hurl for the islanders was John “Ratso” Hiller, a professional of some legend and repute in these parts.  The Grangers countered with Pat “Barnraiser” McKay at the hurler’s line, who, in a pre-game rodomontade, had warned his Rochester stalwarts to expect a stern test.

The Grangers had barely digested their fudge when the Never Sweats loaded the sacks in the first inning with none out, bringing to the striker’s line Ken “The Bambino” Hayward.  Demonstrating the aptness of his nickname, “The Bambino” quickly unloaded a long strike betwixt the outfield scouts which cleared the sacks to stake the hometown club to an early advantage. The Rochester strikers, though similarly motivated, were unable to display their usual long clubbing due to the unique brand of hurling proffered by said Mr. Hiller, who was fined a day’s wages by umpire John “Cowpie” Soma for unabashedly accepting compensation for his performance.

The middle innings of the match were distinguished by sterling fieldmanship on both sides, as aces became as scarce as clouds in the sky.  The cranks were treated to an acrobatic catch by local legend Phil “Pops” Porter at shortstop which put to death Paul “Coot” Hunkele’s careening smash, as well as the flying retrieval by Anthony “Goodfella” Prasatek of a ball deposited into a Douglas fir.  The play of the day, however, may  have been the work of  Dave “Safety Pin” Mallman, whose lifesaving skills on the fire brigade were lent to the injured occupants of a horse-drawn carriage run amok.

Clinging to a 4-3 lead to begin the ninth inning, the Never Sweats did justice to their nickname by putting down a final Rochester rally, thus laying claim to a well deserved victory while avenging last year’s lopsided loss to their mainland visitors.  Ever the gentlemen, the Grangers  complimented their hosts on a match well played, once again earning praise for their comportment both on the diamond and off.

 

 

Douglas “Moonlight” Otlewski contributed this Granger update in the writing style used in the late 1800s.