On a sunny afternoon at the Smithtown Historical Society, the Atlantic Base Ball Club met the Providence Grays in an underhand/overhand doubleheader. The first match, played by the rules of base ball as they were written in 1864, was umpired by the ever impartial 'Dirt' Fioriglio of the Mutual BBC. Atlantic pitcher, Richard 'Tree' Ness, kept the Grays off the scoreboard for most of the game limiting them to only three aces scored. The Grays placed Charlie 'Suds' Dryer between the pitching lines but his outing would not be as fortuitous. The Atlantic bats scored two aces in the first inning on a triple by Dean 'Dreambucket' Emma and after the Grays scored two aces in the 4th, the Atlantics answered with seven hits and five aces in a 5th inning rally. Although the Grays tallied a lone ace in the top of the 8th inning, the Atlantics answered back with four more aces on three hits to seal the 12-3 victory.
After a short break the clubs endeavoured to play a second match. As was the case in 1884 with the advent of overhand pitching the catcher began wearing protective equipment. The Grays batted first and scored four quick aces but the Atlantics responded by matching them with four of their own. This high scoring affair was a back and forth battle between the the teams. The Atlantic offense struck often scoring eleven total runs in support of pitcher Frank 'Shakespeare' Van Zant. However, the Grays offense was better as they relentlessly tallied fifteen runs. The Grays Pitcher Scott Olsen struck out five Atlantics in a complete game effort.
Greg 'Hawk' Dengel led the Atlantic offense on the day accruing five hits, followed by Dreambucket and Anthony 'Willy Mo' Stelmach with four hits each.
The Atlantics next play on Saturday April 21st at the Smithtown Historical Society against the Olneyville Temperance Cadets from Rhode Island at 11AM.
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