BELCHERTOWN, Massachusetts – For more than a year now, the Newtown Sandy Hooks vintage base ball team has been living history and last Saturday some 10 ballists had a chance to find out what that really meant during Living History Days in Belchertown, Massachusetts.

The annual event is a Civil War re-enactment and as part of the festivities in 2006, an 1861-era base ball match between the Hooks and the Essex Nine at Parson’s Field.

And the Hooks – to that point struggling to an 0-12 mark in their second season – took advantage of the opportunity and showing no signs of fatigue from the long ride pinned a defeat on Essex to the tune of an 8-0 score.

Whether it was the speedy work of Doug “Pops” Pendergist on the basepaths or the defensive magic of Rory “Shoeless” Dieckman at third or Randy “Pudgey” Dieckman at short, or the tantalizing pitching of John “Rock” Zulli the Hooks displayed skills heretofore unseen in the short annals of Newtown vintage base ball.

The two clubs met at the Belchertown Common around noon and to the delight of a hundred or so people put on a short display of vintage base ball fundamentals, engaging some local fans in games of pepper. The Honorable “Greybeard” Peart, who would serve as arbiter of the match, helped explain the game to those watching.

The actual match was scheduled to be played on the Common, but it was readily apparent that the small confines of the grassy field would not suffice and so the two clubs – along with a hundred or more “cranks” – made a short walk down the hill to Parson’s Field for the match.

“As the two clubs met at high noon on the designated battlefield/playfield looking down the barrels of rival Union and Confederate artilleries, it was clear New York Rules base ball would require more substantial ground space to be portrayed accurately. The New York game utilizes a significantly livelier ball (although still ‘dead’ by today’s standards) that would surely raise havoc with all within range, damage public and private residence windows in buildings surrounding the field, and do sure harm to numerous horseless carriages (that didn’t exist at that time) roaming the village byways surrounding Belchertown Common. The organizers jumped into action at this point and suggested an alternative pitch down the hill from the village, that just might fill the bill.” – Ray Shaw

Abraham Lincoln, the 16th president of the United States, tossed out the ceremonial first pitch (and later batted, striking a base hit) for the game. The Hooks quickly got on the board, scoring an ace in the top of the first inning, and then steadily added to that as the afternoon wore out.

The Essex Nine, undermanned and engaging the aid of a local crank, was unable to muster much offense against Zulli, who pitched a complete-game shutout. The “Rock” was aided, though, by spectacular defense by “Shoeless” Dieckman at the third sack, by “Pudgey” Dieckman at short (spearing one hard smash and doubling off a runner at first) and “Pops” Pendergist in left, whose speed enabled him to eat up a lot of territory in the cavernous confines of Parson’s pitch.

“Cool Papa” Harmon even made a couple of put outs behind the dish, snaring a couple of foul tips off the bats of Essex strikers.

One of the most exciting plays for the Hooks, though, came when “Pops” accidentally overran first (a no-no in 1861 ball) and managed to turn the play into a double. Another came when an Essex striker attempted a fair-foul hit (in 1861 ball, a ball that hits fair is fair whether or not it runs into foul territory) and “Rock,” bounding out of the box, made a sprawling grab and flip to Dennis “Muhl” Snyder at first for the out.

Scott “Hammer” Orlando, Jim “Sparks” Marcucilli and Tony “Mudcat” Albano all had a hand in the win and the Hooks hope to craft some momentum when they host the Hartford Senators in a double bill on the Fairfield Hills asylum grounds this weekend.