June 2, 1943

Rockford Register Republic

Night Game Saturday to Open Softball Team's Home Stand

Opening day ceremonies in the traditional baseball style were being arranged today for the first home game that Rockford's entry in the All-American Girls softball league will play Saturday at the 15th avenue stadium here.

Originally booked as an afternoon contest, the game today was rescheduled as a night affair. Mayor C. Henry Bloom will be invited to toss the opening pitch at 7:30 p.m.

Music, a flag raising ceremony and the introduction of the players to the fans are other features of the opening night program.

Meanwhile, today, as Melvin Shaffer, business manager of the Rockford team, was arranging details of the ceremonies. Eddie Stumpf, field manager, had his squad at Kenosha, Wis., for the opening of a three-game series there today. Stumpf has just about made up his mind as to the personnel of the lineup he will display here in Saturday's opener, indicating that he will start as his pitcher either Olive Little or Marjorie Peters. 

Miss Peters pitched four-hit ball last night as Rockford wound up its series at South Bend with a 2-1 decision. Rockford won two and lost three in the visit to South Bend.

The victory gave Miss Peters some solace for her 13-inning defeat in the opener at the hands of Margaret Berger, hurler for the South Bend Blue Sox, who again opposed her yesterday. 

Shortstop Terrie Davis, who handled ten chances at shortstop without a flaw, scored the winning run for the Rockford Peaches. She opened the sixth inning with a single, went to third on Dot Kamenshek's single to deep right field, and scored on an infield out.

While Rockford is at Kenosha, Racine, Wis., will open a three-game series with South Bend tonight.

After concluding their own series at Kenosha, the Peaches will come back to Rockford for their first home appearance on Saturday and on Sunday will play the season's first double-header. The first game will start at 2 p.m.

TIME OUT

By RICK DAY

The Rockford team's first home run in the All-American Girls softball league won't go into the record book. Lillian Jackson, the rightfielder from Nashville, hit one at South Bend ... but neglected to touch second on the way around and the umpires wouldn't count it.

Manager Eddie Stumpf, in a telephone conversation from South Bend yesterday, said the girls were nervous in their first three games, but began to steady themselves in the fourth. They won that one.

Attendance at South Bend has encouraged league officials to hope for the best. Despite holiday attractions there, a thousand fans turned out the first day, Sunday, and 1,200 were in the stands the second. The weather was anything but pleasant, either.