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Show Page Four THE CENTERVILLE NEWSETTE Timer Looks Back Not-So-O- ld Fans still chuckle when they ll the time Fritz Rich got hit on the elbow by a pitched ball in a baseball game at Centerville in the twenties. When the umpire waved him to first re-te- base, Fritz started down there with a decided limp, and holding his hurt elbow with his right hand. Some mischievous fan hollered out, Hey Fritz, you got not the leg! hit on the arm Wotcha limping for? Fritz, looking very sheepish, made it the rest of the way without a limp! Cal ( Sheep) Wooley attempted to bunt one day. The ball glanced off the side of the bat, Boom! it struck Cals and proboscis and broke that organ. Blood spurted, but Cal finished his time at bat before they hauled him off to the doctor. This same Cal used to be about the fleetest thing afoot around these parts. He once stole 7 bases in a single game! When Cal came back from his mission, however, he had added which many inches to his girth always slows up a man considere ably. Meanwhile Loyal had become Centervilles Cal number one fast man. wouldnt believe that anyone could usurp his speed title, and so challenged Bet to a race around the sacks. Poor Sheep! Churn his short legs as hard as he could, he had to eat the dust kicked up by Loyals flying spikes. Elmer Barber was so good as a pitcher that, even 10 or 12 years after his retirement he could still throw them past the Centerville batters in batting practice. His blazing speed was gone, but he still had his savvy and deceptive delivery, his sharpbreaking curve, and. to a great extent, his marvelous control. Elmer used to be the idol of the young boys hereabouts. He was also the teams greatest gum chewer. Many a small boy used to bring a package of gum to the games in the hope that his offering would be accepted when his hero asked who had a stick -- Bet-tridg- of gum. For a season or two a mighty mite by the name of Russell Millham used to spend his sumat the Brandon mer week-end- s home so he would be eligible to play ball for Centerville. Milly walked with a distinct swaggering waddle which half the kids in town would try to imitate whenever they got a ball glove in their hands just as they faithfully went through every motion of Elmer Barbers windup and delivery when they played catch. Dave Roberts could throw such a fast ball that, while he had nothing on it but speed, it was considered good strategy to put him in the box late in the game if the other pitchers were unable to hold the opposition in check. Dave could usually throw em past a few baters, too. One time Centerville traveled to West Point for a game. The usual crowd of rooters went along. In the late innings the West Point batters were starting to hit the Centerville chucker rather hard, so Dave went in to pitch. While he was taking his warm-u- p pitches, Wally Coombs was heard to remark, Ill bet $5 that the first batter doesnt get a hit! Whereupon a rough looking, heavily-buil- t individual strode up and said, Brother Ill just take that bet! and one Both produced of the local yokels held the stakes. Dave cut loose and the batter was thrown out on a very weak grounder. The tough guy grabbed the two fivers from the willing stake holder with the announcement that I win, because the batter hit the ball! All arguments to the contrary, Wally could not make him agree that a hit ball is not necessarily a hit especially if the batter gets thrown out at first base. While the argument was in progress, someone asked what the trouble was. Wally answered, This crook wont give me back my five dollars which he didnt win! The rugged character took exception to being called a crook, even though everyone present except his friends thought the name applied very well, and he 5-sp- ots half-invite- d, half-insiste- d that Wallace go around back of the school house and settle this thing. About this time the inning ended and Dave Roberts stalked in off the mound. Seeing the confusion he asked, What goes on here? When he heard the explanation, he forthwith milled his way to where the belligerent fellow was still acting bellicose. Without any formal introduction, Dave demanded give this guy his five dollars back, you so and so! The fellow started to ask what business it was of Daves, but about this time Dave had started a wicked right swing in his direction. The blow didnt land, but the wind from it warned the rough man that the next one might so he decided that discretion might be the better part of valor. He very meekly agreed that maybe he hadnt won, after all, and forked over. Probably one of the greatest thrills ever dished up to Centerville fans took place in the Deseret gym. Centerville First was playing Ensign ward in a tournament game. The game was tied with only seconds reup, maining. Les Walton got the ball in the center of the floor as the timer raised his gun. While the sphere was still in the air the timers gun spoke out, but the ball sped in a long arc toward the hoop and dropped through with a swish! Final score, 5 for Centerville. Year, about 1927. Another standout for thrills was a ball game with 15-1- 5, 17-1- 13-inni- ng September, 1945 Beth Adams Married The marriage of Elizabeth Ann (Beth) Adams to Sgt. William Penberthy is announced by her parents, Mr. and Mrs. John Q. Adams. The ceremony took place last January. Sgt. Penberthy is stationed at Madison, Wisconsin. Beth has been released from the W A C and is at present at home. ELIZABETH ADAMS Service News & Notes gey has received an honorable From page three tem. Cpl. Thomas Junior Williams was medically discharged, as was Harlo Randall of the Coast in Rheims. After being there a while he went from Rheims to Paris, where he spent two weeks in a hospital. Following a couple of disappointments, he was aboard a 4 from Paris to New York. And then to Denver where he is C-5- Civilians Again The fading months of the war have brought discharges for three Centerville servicemen, and one who is not a Centerville native, but is living here: Warren (Barney) Tin- S-S- gt. Clearfield about 12 years ago. Clearfield made 4 runs the first inning. Centerville kept picking away, a run at a time, until by the last of the ninth, it was 4 for the southerners. The northern team made a run in their half of the ninth and no more scores were made until Bert Sheldon in the 13th. crashed a home-ru- n Centerville made a couple more runs before the side was retired, but it was that homer that broke the enemys spirit. That was the year that Bert Sheldon and Ves Harrison, batting one-tw- o in the lineup, established a string of 19 consecutive times for the pair to get on base. 5-- o SING ON RADIO Under the sponsorship of the Salt Lake Recreation Association Shirlene and Margery McIntyre and Susie Mitchell sang two numbers over the radio on August 25th. discharge through the point sys- guard. Frank (Cactus) White, hus- band of Melba Haacke White, received a medical discharge. Furlough Tidbits Also among those home on furloughs, leaves, or delays en route were: Tommy Randall, Kenny Nessen, Bob Major, Ed White, Reggie Coles and Sub Clayton. Kenneth Nessen Promoted Kenneth Nessen has been promoted to the rank of first lieutenant at La Junta, Colorado. Ken has been in the air force since Ken Nessen March, and has been stationed at Green v i 1 1 e Army Air Base and instructed at Mather Field, California. 1942 Honor Roll Latest young man to enter the service from Centerville was Carnell Bettridge. He left last month for the naval training station at San Diego. Mr. and Mrs. Horton H. Evans have received the Purple Heart medal which was awarded posthumously to their son, Second Lieutenant James C. Evans. |
