From the Tipp News Daily:

Our local vintage baseball team, the Tippecanoe Canal Jumpers have been invited to Ohio Village in Columbus on Sunday, September 5 to play in three tournament-style matches.

Canal Jumper Match Times and Opponents

• 12:00 vs. St. Louis Perfectos
• 2:00 vs. Pittsburg Franklins
• 4:00 vs. Wyandotte Ghostriders

The Canal Jumpers have never played these three teams, so be prepared for some good spirited, gentlemanly match play.

This is a family-friendly event at the Ohio Historical Society so bring your family and friends and expect a festival atmosphere. Sunday will be a day of family fun marking the largest gathering of vintage base ball clubs in the country. More than 25 clubs from across the Midwest and beyond square off on fields around the Ohio Village to celebrate base ball “the way it was meant to be played.” No gloves, no spitting, no swearing-no kidding! Family, food, and fun in the sun close out the Muffins’ season at home.

Admission: FREE

Location – Ohio Village is located just off of I-71 on 17th Avenue (exit 111) about four miles north of downtown Columbus in Franklin County. After exiting I-71, take the first right off of 17th Avenue, make a slight right almost immediately into the Ohio Historical Society parking lot and continue along the perimeter road to the northside of the Ohio Historical Center where the Ohio Village is located. Please note that online directions using the Ohio Historical Society’s address below will take you to the back of the Ohio Historical Center and Ohio Village. There are no public entrances to either facility from Velma Avenue.

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.