Norway High School - Caduceus Yearbook (Norway, ME)

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THE CADUCEUS 19 ball when it is hit by this bat here. Now here is how we play, and he went on giving the rules and showing them how to play the game. He fixed up a diamond, using bags full of dirt for bases. The men began to like the game, although they couldn't play very well, partly on account of lack of gloves. Thus the morning passed. Each man gave Perkins some money to buy some gloves, baseballs, and bats, also the catchers equipment. The owner of the general store was given the order, and two weeks later the articles came. Then, one day when they were not work- ing, the men practiced baseball. Some pre- ferred to play outneld and others liked the infield better. They were beginning to like the game, though they could 11ot yet play very well. The outfielders were not having such a good time. They and the infielders were always getting hit by the ball. For instance, there was Chuck Wig- gins on first base. Here came a grounder hit by the coach, who by the way, was Hen- ry Perkins. Mr. VViggins watched each bounce carefully. He put a glove in front of it, it struck a small pebble, hit his eye or his nose, and the damage was done. The outfielders couldn't judge a ball either and it went over their heads, in front of them, or came into contact with some part of their bodies. g Mr. Perkins, however, was having the time of his life. He hit. balls into the most difficult places and then leaned on his bat and laughed and laughed. After a little of this practice, two teams were organized Hlld a game scheduled. One team was captained by Chuck Wiggins and the other by Red Eastman, who had chosen the honorable position of short- stop. A new field was made for the game. It was not very smooth and woods lined both sides of it. Just behind the center field was a river, not very deep, but with a very swift current. The day of the great ball game had come. A few people from nearby places, particu- larly from Black Rock, began arriving. There was more interest in the outcome than Henry Perkins had thought. About the time the game was to begin, one hundred and fifty people had lined themselves along the third and first base lines. The crowd was made up of cowboys, ranch owners, and people from the town. The players were all strewn around among the crowd, talking. At a signal from Per- kins they came out in the field and began practising. The first team to begin prac- tice was the one captained by Red East- man. Their fielding offered the crowd many a chance for laughs. After a ten- minute practice the other team was called to the field. At three oiclock the umpire announced the batteries as Sam Johnson, pitcher, and Bob Shawley, catcher for the Rangers , that being Chuck'l Wiggins' teamg a11d Don Randolph and '4B.londy Emerson for the Crows There was no regular batting order. Bob Shawley was to bat. He struck three times and then sat down. The pitcher and then the first baseman followed his example and the Rangers retired. Emerson was up, missed the first two balls and then hit a weak pop-fly into the hands of the first baseman who, being right u11der it, and sure of it, missed. Meanwhile, Sam Johnson was having a grand time. He had a fast ball and the batters were all afraid of him. He threzv the ball near the batter, who drew farther away from the plate each time after the ball had whizzed past him. The Crows' pitcher was at bat. The first ball over, he swung hard and hit a foul grounder into the crowd. After a moment of waiting, some of the players started to go hunting

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18 THE OADUOEUS It would be two stories high, made of mar- ble and granite, and the trimmings match- ing the schoolhouse. It would contain a saixnming pool, a basket ball court and bal- eony, locker rooms and an indoor baseball field. Going to the back of the Gym, we would find tennis courts and an athletic field and bleachers. Observing the surroundings of the school- house, we would find them very tidy with hedges, shade trees and grassy lawns. Ilerels to N. H. S. seventy years from now! -Maxine Richardson, '33, A Wild West Ball Game Near a little town called Black Rock, which hid itself in the southern part of Wy- oming, th.ere were a number of ranches. The town itself was not very large-though large for that kind of town-consisting of about four hundred people, not counting those on the ranches. Fifteen miles away was the largest ranch in the vicinity, owned by Oscar Larkspur, a very rich cattleman. During the busy season, that is, during the round-up, he em- ployed about thirty men, not including those sent by other nearby ranches. As this was not the busy season, about twenty cow- boys were, as you might say, taking things easy, hanging around the bunkhouse. Only a few were needed to tend cattle. This was about the middle of July and the cowhands were planning to have some A friend of the boss, a dude, was com- fun. ing to visit the ranch for his health. As far as the men were concerned he would be in great health when he left. In the afternoon, what cowboys there were, were looking eastward for a sign of the arrival of the dude. Red Eastman had gone to meet him with an extra pony at the station in Black Rock. Soon a little dust proclaimed the welcome person was coming. The nearer he came, the funnier he looked. His face did 11ot show a sign of happiness in being glad that he had arrived, but an expression of pain. He did not seems to like his first ride on a horse. His hand was on the saddle horn, his feet kept sliding out of the stirrups, and all i11 all he was not having a fine time. The men burst into laughter at seeing him in this predica- ment. . Then he was introduced. The cowboys, unlike those in the East, had the queerest names. If one was red-headed he was called Red or Reddy'l, if he was blonde, Blondy was a name for him. lf one was short, of course, Shorty should be his nickname. One was called Bowlegged Pete. For several days the man from the East--Henry Perkins-just roamed around enjoying the picturesque scenery and mak- ing himself familiar about the ranch. He was not able to go far as he had not quite fully recovered from his first ride, though afterwards he learned to ride and visited many far-away places. The men had been busy fixing up the ranch and had had no time to fool with the dude. But one morn- ing, they were all talking and doing notl1- ing. Finally the dude said, Let's play baseball here. There is a good field over there. Aw g'wan, said one Baldy , H That 's just a kid's game. We 're no kids. Oh, no, this isn't a kid's game. Don 't you ever read the papers? Why. men get thousands of dollars a year to play. They have big teams who play all the time. It 's a lot of fun. Come on, why don 't you try it? How d'ya play it, first? asked another. Wait a minute and I'11 show you, Hen- ry answered, and then ran into the house, soon coming back with a bat, ball and a glove. See, exhibiting the ball, This is what we play with. This glove is to catch the

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20 THE CADUCEUS for the ball, but couldn't find it. Another ball was put i11 use and only four balls were left as they had used one new one for prac- tice. After hitting that foul Randolph struck out. The first baseman got up and was hit by the ball. Ile started after the pitcher but Mr. Perkins restrained him, saying that he would be put out of the game. So he went to first, putting Emerson on second. The second baseman swung at three, missed them by a foot and a half and sat down. Red Eastman hit a hard one into the right field. Chuck Wiggins began to look for the ball but failed to find it even after a few others helped him in his search. Meanwhile Eastman had started for the home plate, chasing Emerson and the Crows' first baseman. There was an argu- ment about how many bases Red could have on that hit because the ball was lost. Finally they gave him two bases, bringing Emerson home and leaving a man 011 first and third. The Crows were ahead 1-0. The next batter struck out, ending that inn- ing. There was no change in the score by the seventh inning but-physically, there was a change in the men. The fielders had sore backs. Both pitchers had sore arms and were perspiring freely. Red Eastman had a bruise over his left eye. It must have been a grounder which did not bounce into his glove, as he wished. Also the equipment was sadly battered. Another baseball had been lost in the woods-only two left-and one bat had been broken. It was the first of the eighth inning. Bob Shawley was at bat for the Rangers He had hit the ball only once before and that had struck Eastman in the eye. This time he was determined to hit and hit hard. As he swung, away the ball soared over center field, and splashed right into the river. The center fielder rushed into the Water and waded out as fast as he could, but the ball, in midstream, was being caried downstream at a fast rate. So Bob got two bases. The pitcher hit a grounder to first. It passed between the first baseman's legs and was stopped by the right fielder, but not in time to prevent Johnson from going to second and the Rangers from scoring. The score was now a tie. The first baseman hit an easy grounder to first for the put-out. The next batter struck out. The shortstop hit a foul over the catcher's head and after making a complete circle, Emerson finally caught it, retiring the Rangers. VVith the Crows up, the center fielder was the first batter and, after having ticked two balls, struck out. Emerson hit a ball into left field. The fielder intentionally ground- ed the ball with his foot, and Emerson got two bases on a '4lost ball. Only one ball was now left, and in the growing darkness, it could scarcely be seen. The batters now struck out as fast as they came up to the plate. The score was still a tie in the ninth in- ning! The Crowsiwere batting, the second baseman was up. By luck he hit an easy one to third. At first, the third baseman did not see it. Then he spied it rolling along easily to third base. As he ran along he thought fast. The score was tie-only one ball was left-so giving a little kick under the base, he pretended to hunt for the ball. On account of darkness the trick was not seen. The whole team began hunting as they wanted to finish the game-that is, the Crows did. But no one thought of looking under the innocent-looking third base. So the game was called-a tie! -Albert LaFrance, '31. Kidnapped!! One day three summers ago, when Betty Walker was attending a summer camp for girls, Billie, little son of Mr. Downes, the ou ner of the camp, had disappeared. There