The Arrowhead Loggers and Crestline Highlanders will face off for the Heritage Cup this Sunday at Harich Field at 4:30 p.m. (File photo by Rhea-Frances Tetley)
Championship vintage baseball match this Sunday in Twin Peaks
By RHEA-FRANCES TETLEY
Staff Writer
This Sunday, October 23, the championship game of the Southern California Vintage Base Ball League is being played at Harich Field in Twin Peaks between the Arrowhead Loggers and the Crestline Highlanders.
These two teams have beaten all the other teams of the league to come into the final game of the season to determine the league championship and winner of the Heritage Cup trophy. The Loggers have the league record for this season of the most runs scored.
Vintage base ball is played by 1886 rules and uses replica 1886 equipment. The Arrowhead Loggers are known for making their own 41-ounce wooden bats to the criteria of the era, which is heavier than modern bats. Their gloves are more like leather gardening or driving gloves, not anything like modern mitts at all, so few fly balls are caught. The ball is handmade and gets softer as the game progresses, as they try to use only one ball per game. Unfortunately, at Harich Field many times the balls get lost in the forest if hit out of the park, or fouled over the fence, although they do send kids to go look for them.
The community is invited to attend this unique championship game between local teams and being played locally for the Southern California championship. Attendance is free, parking is free and it is family friendly, as no cussing is allowed and they play seriously to win, but as gentlemen. The umpire is referred to as the “Sir” and his decisions are respected, not argued.
The playoff games were being followed by the Los Angeles Times with wide coverage of the league throughout Southern California. They were using an 1880’s camera and profiling all the league teams. It is anticipated the Times will again be sending reporters and photographers to this championship game.
The Arrowhead Loggers are one of the newer teams in the Vintage Base Ball League, as they were formed from members of the Highlanders, when the game and team got popular and larger. The Highlanders have played for the championship position the last two seasons against the Riverside Smudgepots.
The Highlanders want to finally win the championship but the Loggers have a better win/loss record this season. Despite being friends off the field, both teams promise a hard-fought game to win the championship.
The championship game time is at 4:30 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 23 at Harich Field, 675 Grandview Road in Twin Peaks. There is bleacher seating on both sides of the field or fans may bring a chair and sit on the sidelines. Because of the later afternoon start time, bring a shade hat and a jacket. It is hoped a large crowd comes out to see the game.
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