On Saturday, July 10th, the Tippecanoe Canal Jumpers hosted the Columbus Buckeyes to the fine sport of base ball. The Canal Jumpers were victorious playing their first ever match at the Tipp City Park. The final score was 9 aces for the Canal Jumpers to 5 aces for the Buckeyes.

The Tipp City Park proved to be a respectable site for a vintage base ball match. The cranks (fans) enjoyed the shade from trees while the ballists (players) suffered through the heat of the day. The match was governed by Logan “White Lightening” Rogers, the law at Tippecanoe’s home games. Mr. Rogers explained the match well to all in attendance while keeping his keen eye on the play reminding both clubs to “mind your bases.”

The match featured the debut of Chad “Ace” Beam. Mr. Beam played a fine center field and had some mighty strikes with the bat. Mark “Mad Dog” Mabelitini hurled 9 exhausting innings for the win. The Canal Jumpers played a strong defense throughout the match highlighted by Captain Steven “Swifty” Pope’s play at behind (catcher), strong right field play by club founder Reed “Worm Burner” Spencer and explosive play of Glen “Wolf Pack” McMurry as the third-base tender. The offense was led by Rod “The Vacuum” Martino whose day included several trips around the bases.

The Tippecanoe Canal Jumpers is a project of the Downtown Tipp City Partnership. The Canal Jumpers next match will be Sunday, July 18th at the Willowtree Inn. The Blue Ashlars of Worthington will be traveling to Tipp City to participate in “Masonic Day” at the ball field. Spectators are encouraged to wear their finest 19th Century wear and bring a picnic lunch.

by Mike Woody

The Tippecanoe Canal Jumpers split their two weekend matches, both of which were tightly contested.

A heart stomping defeat was dealt to our gallant lads, by the Clodbusters on Saturday, June 19, but the next day, a victory was secured against the North Baltimore Cyclones.

In the first match,  played in fields of Fairborn, the Canal Jumpers were in control throughout the first eight innings against their arch-rival the Clodbusters. However, their good fortunes were short lived as the lead was snatched away in the Clodbusters’ final turn at the plate.

Courtesy of the solid hurling by Phil ‘Curly’ Cox and some timely well – struck balls by Craig ‘The Cannon’ Seeman and Adam ‘Ricochet’ Blake the Canal Jumpers were ahead 5-3 after seven.

A key at bat occurred in the eighth, thanks to Mike ‘Big Papi’ McDermott a.k.a ‘Benedict’ who chose to play for the opposition, when it was discovered they were short a player.  The turncoat Big Papi betrayed his team by loading the bases with a hit, which continued the dreadful inning and allowed the Clodbusters to secure a lead. Big Papi was originally called out, but the umpires call of a fair ball was reversed, thus allowing the inning to continue. By the time it was over, the Clodbusters had scored three aces and led 6-5.

The Canal Jumpers were retired quietly in the ninth, with the final ball caught by none other but the suddenly sure- handed Big Papi in center field.

Despite the outcome, it was a well played game by the Canal Jumpers who remained gentleman amidst the sorrow of defeat. A slight commotion was stirred when Ricochet was issued a fine of 25 cents by the umpire for spitting on the field and was made to apologize to the female cranks.

With no time to sulk, the Canal Jumpers readied for another match on June 20 at the Willowtree Inn with the North Baltimore Cyclones. A combination of  well-struck balls and stellar assured the Jumpeers  were 10-5 victors.

The gallant offensive attack was led by Kevin ‘The Inn Keeper’ Lett with a pair of base hits, one of which soared over the fence into the corn field, and Rod ‘The Vacuum’ Martino whose fleet-footed base running generates lightening speed.

It was a back -and -forth match, but the fine hurling of Mark ‘Mad Dog’ Mabelitini was able to keep the Canal Jumpers close, until they erupted with five aces over the last two innings to secure the victory.

The Cyclones struggled to string together a series of hits due, in part, to the cannon ball arm of Glen ‘Wolfpack’ McMurry at third, who effortlessly made the throw to retire runners at first. And behind the plate, Steven ‘Swifty’ Pope was splendid, recording four straight put-outs by catching foul tips.

One exception to the near perfectly played match by the Canal Jumpers was the Inn Keeper made to apologize to the cranks for throwing down his bat in frustration. Once match was completed in honor of Father’s Day, children in attendance were permitted to play.

The Jumpers are a much improved club from the beginning of the season and will attempt to establish their first two game winning streak in team history when they meet the Columbus Buckeyes on Saturday, July 10 at the Tipp City Park beginning at 1:00 p.m.

Saturday, 6/19 vs. Clodbusters BBC

On Saturday, June 19, the Canal Jumpers will be playing at Central Park in Fairborn for Fairborn’s Heritage Days. The game will be a rematch with the Clodbuster Base Ball Club who shellacked the might Canal Jumpers by the score of 17-0 on June 9.  Match time is 1 pm so come out and join the fun!  2010 Heritage Days Passport Flyer

Sunday, 6/20 vs. North Baltimore Cyclones

The Sheriff and Umpire aka Logan “White Lightening” Rogers wants to remind all you cranks about the Canal Jumper’s match at the Willowtree Inn this Sunday, June 20 at 1 pm. It’s Father’s Day so we’ll be doing a special father’s day toss with the kids. Come out and cheer on your home town base ball club!

The Canal Jumpers will be playing a week-day match next week, June 9th at 7 p.m. against the Kettering Clodbusters. There will be no charge for this evening match, to be held at Carillon Park, and there will be ample free parking near the game location. Come on out and join us for a great game!

In their last game, the Canal Jumpers bested the Norwood Highlanders Base Ball Club with 6 aces (aka runs) to 3, marking their first win of the 2010 season. Well-played, Gentlemen of Tippecanoe! Go out and visit them or catch a home game at the Willowtree Inn to see their authentic circa 1860 uniforms and to experience the National Pasttime from a bygone era. For more information, including the 2010 Match Schedule and pictures from previous matches, please visit their website at www.tippecanoecanaljumpers.com.

The Tippecanoe Canal Jumpers WIN HOME OPENER 6-3!!! In a well fought match with the Norwood Highlanders Base Ball Club, the Canal Jumpers scored 5 aces in the 5th inning to best the Highlanders. A perfect day for base ball, Tippecanoe didn’t disappoint the hometown cranks (fans). Our next match is Wednesday, June 9 at Carrilon Park in Dayton and will be against the Kettering Clodbuster Base Ball Club. Well played Gentlemen of Tippecanoe!

Also at our home opener we premiered our NEW LOOK 2010 Canal Jumpers circa 1860 uniforms, featuring our new red shields, which are custom-made, hand-sewn plastrons that are attached to white dress shirts with 10 buttons each.  This is more authentic than our 2009 uniforms, which featured red suspenders.  We hope that our new plastrons will be the envy of ballists near and far.

The Gentlemen of Tippecanoe Club Nine would like to express our sincere thanks to the Willowtree Inn for hosting this great Home Opener, and to Ms. Andrea Nay for sharing her wonderful photos of our beloved Canal Jumpers. We would like to express our sincere appreciation for her photographic talents.  For more information, please visit our website at www.tippecanoecanaljumpers.com or follow us on Facebook!

The Opening Day Game for the Tippecanoe Canal Jumper Vintage Base Ball Team is May 16th at 1pm at the Willowtree Inn – see you there!  The Canal Jumpers will be playing the visiting Norwood Highlanders, traveling to play us from Norwood, Ohio.  Tickets will be $2.00 and there will be ample free parking at the Willowtree Inn.  Come on out and join us for a great game!

The Tippecanoe Canal Jumpers had a well-played match but, alas, suffered a defeat on Sunday’s to the Belle River Indiana Ball Club.  Although the match was lost by a despicable margin, I feel we played admirably.  The River Belle’s of Rising Sun have proposed a re-match in Tipp City on October 17^th.  We have accepted the rematch so please put this on your calendar for a single match starting at 1 p.m.

Our next PRACTICE will be on Wed, 4/28 at 7 p.m. at Mr. Spencer’s home.  The team shall work on the running of the bases, striking and catching the ball on the fly, just in case teams ask us to follow non-1860 rules.  Please plan to attend!  Ample horse parking will be provided to the south of the Spencer home, but please bring your own feed.  Respectfully, Worm Burner

Tipp City, OH – The Tippecanoe Canal Jumpers Vintage Base Ball Club kicked off their 2010 season with a trip to the Vintage Base Ball Association’s national convention. Club co-founder, Reed “Worm Burner” Spencer and Captain Steven “Swifty” Pope represented the Canal Jumpers in Port Huron, Michigan. The Canal Jumpers, a project of the Downtown Tipp City Partnership (DTCP), have 12 matches scheduled for this season. Home matches will be held at The Willowtree Inn and the Tipp City Park.

The Vintage Base Ball Association (VBBA) was founded in 1996. The mission and purpose of the VBBA is to preserve, perpetuate, and promote the game of base ball as it was played during its formative years in the nineteenth century and other historic eras. The annual convention featured a vintage all-star match, educational training and an awards dinner hosted by the Welkin Base Ball Club of Port Huron. “The all-star match was awesome,” said Pope, “It’s great to see all the different uniforms and playing styles used throughout the country.”

The Canal Jumpers were presented the “Newest Club Attending” Award at the VBBA dinner. The Canal Jumpers played their first match on August 16, 2009 at the Willowtree Inn hosting the Clodbuster’s Base Ball Club in front of 500 cheering cranks (spectators). “This was a wonderful opportunity to learn more about vintage base ball,” said Spencer, “We are looking forward to implementing what we learned into our club which will help us put on a great show for the cranks.” The Canal Jumpers were founded by Spencer and Greg “Buster” Enslen to offer a fun and unique way to promote downtown Tipp City.

Come cheer on the team at their 2010 home opener on Sunday, May 16 at 1 pm at The Willowtree Inn.

For more information about the Canal Jumpers or the VBBA, please call 937.667.0883 or visit www.tippecanoecanaljumpers.com. Sponsorship opportunities are available.

The Tippecanoe Canal Jumpers are back for the 2010 Season and better than ever! We’re still putting together our 2010 Match Schedule, but check out the page for the list of games so far. And here are some highlights:

• Opening Day – Sunday, April 25 at 1pm away game against the Belle River Ball Club.  Game to be played at the Rising Sun Casino in Indiana.
• Home Opener – Sunday, May 16 at 1pm home game against the Norwood Highlanders BBC Home.  Game will be at the Willowtree Inn!
• Ohio Cup – Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 4,5 games against teams to be determined.  The Ohio Cup is held annually at Ohio Village in Columbus (more info on the Ohio Cup)
• Inaugural Tippecanoe Base Ball Cup - Sunday, Sept. 25 against several teams and held in conjunction with the  Tipp City Mum Festival Weekend.  Location and times still being determined.

Stay tuned for more information!