Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 19, Number 92, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 26 July 1898 — Sheldon 5—Colts 4. [ARTICLE]

Sheldon 5—Colts 4.

Rensselaer Defeated In a Close Game. The best game of base ball that has been played in Rensselaer this year was the game Thursday between the Sheldon team, the champions of eastern Illinois, and the Colts the champions of northwestern Indiana. Truly it was a battle of champions, too, and barring a few errors, which could be easily over come by even a little more practice. Rensselaer played the nicest game of ball ever seen in the city. One thing is demonstrated more clearly every game. The team needs work. We have the material to make a winning team, if the boys can only get time tp do enough practice. “Practice makes perfect,” and nowhere is that adage better exemplified than in base ball.

The gaihe itself throughout was the prettiest exhibition of ball ever seen in Rensselaer. Neither side scored in the first two innings, but some great ball was played. Marshall being the only man on either side getting to third base. In the third Butler, who is a fine sprinter, crossed the plate for Sheldon, and the}' nearly went wild over the fact. Narin made a a neat catch in this inning running away back in center field and making a catch. The Colts failed to connect in their half but went one better in the fourth, scoring two on a little hit by Miller and a home run by Narin over the left field fence into the river. In the fifth Sheldon sent two men in, and kept us down, and the fifth inning closed with Sheldon 3 and the Colts 2. In the sixth Hawkins caught a pretty fly that Mathews sent out, and caught H. Bishop runner asleep at first and Merica caught Willis’ foul tip. The Colts failed to connect in the sixth seventh or eighth while Sheldon made one in both the seventh and eighth innings. In the ninth with the score 5 to 2 against them the Colts sent the Sheldon boys out in 1-2-3 order, and then went in to win the game. The Rooters came in on the finish well and Sheldon went up in the air Narin and Marshall both scoring. Merica rapped a pretty one out with Narin and Marshall on bases and Brinley out. In fielding the ball it was thrown wildly to the plate and the ball went into the crowd. Narin, Marshall and Merica all crossed the plate but before the Sheldon boys could get the ball some enterprising youngster had picked up the ball—making it a blocked ball, and sending Marshall back to third and Merica to first. Two other outs were easily made. The Colts made some few errors, and when they did they were costly, but played much better ball than ever before. About three hundred witnessed the game. The Colts were licked but we have no kick. They played a strong game and the kind that wins more often than it loses.