June 11, 1943

 Rockford Morning Star

Rockford Peaches Defeat Kenosha By 7 To 2 Score

Olive Little Hurls No-Hit For Winners

2 Teams to Windup Series Tonight At Stadium

With Olive Little, the Rockford Peaches star hurler from Canada, tossing a no-hitter at the stadium last night the Rockford team took the edge over the Kenosha Comets in the present series with a 7 to 2 victory. The win gave Rockford two wins and one defeat in the three games played here so far. The two teams end the series at the stadium tonight with Rockford going to South Bend for four games, a doubleheader on Sunday.

Both of Kenosha's runs came as gifts, the result of walks, stolen bases and an error. To start the game Little walked Jameson who promptly stole second and third, scoring when the Rockford pitcher cut loose with a wild pitch. Little struck out the side in the second inning but started the third with another walk to Jameson who again pilfered second and third, registering on Davis' error. After that the visitors never threatened to score on Little, she having the game well in hand the rest of the way out.

The Peaches scored a run in the last half of the first on four hits by Jackson, Burmeister, Warwick and Fritz. They came back with two more in the second on hits by Green, Warwick and Davis mixed up with a stolen base and an error.

Held scoreless for the next for innings the Peaches broke into the win column in the seventh on a single by Warwick, a stolen base and a bingle by McCreary. Rockford's big scoring frame was in the eighth when Green walked, Little singled, Jackson drew a life on an error with Burmeister cleaning the bases with a booming triple, adding three runsto bring the Peaches' total to seven. Warwick and Davis swung the big war clubs tonight, each getting three hits, one of Burmeister's going for three bases.

BOXSCORE
Kenosha (2)						Rockford (7)
	AB	R	H	O	A		AB	R	H	O	A
Jame'n cf	2	2	0	2	0	Jackson lf	5	3	1	4	0
Ruhnke ss	2	0	0	1	1	Bur'ter cf	4	1	2	2	0
Har'tt 3b	2	0	0	5	2	War'ick 3b	5	0	3	1	2
Mick'n rf	3	0	0	0	0	Davis ss	4	1	3	2	0
Hunter 1b	4	0	0	5	1	Fritz rf	4	0	1	0	1
Holle lf	3	0	0	1	0	M'Creary 1b	3	0	1	8	0
Lester 2b	2	0	0	2	3	Wueth'h 2b	4	0	0	0	0
O'H'a 3b ss	3	0	0	3	1	Green c	3	1	1	10	1
West'n c	3	0	0	5	1	Little p	4	1	1	0	1
Ben-tt p	3	0	0	0	1
Totals	27	2	0	24	10	Totals	36	7	14	27	5
Score By Innings
Kenosha ..................... 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 - 2
Rockford ..................... 1 2 0 0 0 0 1 3 x - 7
Summary:
Errors - Davis McCreary, Lester, O'Hara, Westerman, Bennett (2).
Three base hits - Burmeister.
Left on base - Rockford 10, Kenosha 3.
Double play - McCreary (unassisted).
Wild pitch - Little.
Balk - Bennett.
Base on balls - Little, 5; Bennett, 2.
Struck out - by Little, 8; by Bennett, 2.
Sacrifice hits - Burmeister, Fritz.

June 10, 1943

Rockford Morning Star

Kenosha Evens Series By Defeating Rockford 7-5

Victory Puts Comets Ahead Of Local Team

Two Teams To Clash Again Tonight At Stadium

Rallying after the Rockford Peaches had taken a 2 to 0 lead, to bunch hits in four innings the Kenosha Comets evened the series with the local team by grabbing off last night's decision 7 to 5. Rockford won the opening game of the series 11 to 8 Tuesday night. The same two teams clash in the third tilt of the series tonight at 8 o'clock.

After three scoreless innings Rockford broke into the run column in the fourth frame, scoring two runs. A single by Jackson, who promptly stole second, following by a three-base smash by Warwick, counted the first marker. Warwick registered when Nicol uncorked a wild pitch.

Kenosha came back to tie it up in the first of the fifth on hits by Jameson, Ruhnke and O'Harra, a stolen base by the latter and a sacrifice hit by Nicol, counting two runs. Hunter tripled to start the sixth inning, scoring on an infield out to give the Comets a one-run lead. They widened the margin in the next stanza when hits by Mickelson, Hunter and Holle, along with an error by Davis and three pilfered sacks gave them three more markers and a 6 to 2 lead. A walk, a sacrifice hit, a stolen base and an error gave Kenosha its final run in the eighth.

The Peaches barged back in the eighth to count twice, scoring on hits by Jackson, Warwick, Davis and Nelson and free transportation to Burmeister. Rockford added its last run in the last of the ninth when Nelson doubled and scored on Ruhnke's error.

Dorothy Hunter, Kenosha's first baseman, was the batting star of the tilt with a single, double and triple to her credit. Warwick led the Peaches with a single and a double.

BOXSCORE
Kenosha (7)						Rockford (5)
	AB	R	H	O	A		AB	R	H	O	A
Jame'n cf	5	2	1	2	0	Jackson lf	5	1	2	2	0
Ruhnke ss	5	0	1	1	2	Bur'ter cf	3	1	0	1	1
Mick'n rf	5	1	1	1	1	War'k 3b	4	1	2	3	5
Hunter 1b	6	2	3	6	0	Davis ss	4	0	2	2	2
Holle lf	5	0	2	2	0	Fritz rf	4	0	0	0	0
Lester 2b	5	0	2	2	3	Mc'y 1b	4	0	0	11	0
O'Hara 3b	3	2	1	5	0	W'rick 2b	4	0	0	3	1
West'n c	3	0	0	6	0	Green c	2	0	0	3	1
Nicol p	3	0	0	2	2	Nelson c	2	1	2	0	0
						Skokus p	1	0	0	1	2
						Cook p	2	1	0	1	1
Totals	41	7	11	27	8	Totals	35	5	8	27	13
Score By Innings
Kenosha ..................... 0 0 0 0 2 1 3 1 0 - 7
Rockford ..................... 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 2 1 - 5
Summary:
Two base hits - Hunter.
Three base hits - Hunter, Warwick.
Wild pitch - Skokus, Nicol.
Stolen Bases - Ruhnke, Westerman, Holle, Nicol.
Struck out - By Skokus, 3; by Nicol, 4.
Bases on balls - Cook, 1; Nicol, 2.
Hits - off Skokus 9 in 7 2-3 innings.
Double plays - O'Hara to Lester.
Umpires: Ullenberg and Porter.
Time - 1:35.

November 25, 1947

Rockford Register-Republic

2 Peaches on All-Star Team

Kamenshek and Harrell Picked by Managers

Two members of the Rockford Peaches, Dotty Kamenshek at first base and Snookie Harrell at shortstop, have been named to the 1947 all-star team of the All-American Girls Baseball league, it was announced today at league headquarters in Chicago.

The all-star team, selected by managers in the league, named Doris Sams, Muskegon pitcher who doubles as an outfielder, as "player of the year." The complete list of all-stars

1b - Dotty Kamenshek, Rockford.
2b - Sophie Kurys, Racine.
3b - Mary Reynolds, Peoria.
Ss - Snookie Harrell, Rockford.
OF - Erythe Perlick, Racine, Audrey Wagner, Kenosha, and Jo Lenard, Muskegon.
C - Ruth Lessing, Grand Rapids.
P - Mildred Earp, Grand Rapids, Anna May Hutchison, Racine, and Dottie Mueller, Peoria.

Directors of the Peaches held their annual business meeting last night, and, as predicted, elected a new president to succeed Harry M. Hanson, who has headed the club for four years. The new president is Attorney Wilbur E. Johnson, an active figure in the Rockford club for several seasons.

Other Officers

Dewey W. Lundquist, president and general manager of Blackhawk Furniture Company, is the Peaches' vice president: Arthur Lundahl of State-Madison Recreation, was reelected secretary, and Phillip Peterson, president of Third National bank, was reelected treasurer. Carl Glans was reelected business manager.

New directors include Bill Edwards, who finished out last season as team manager, and Raymond M. Alden of Globe Imperial. Returning directors are Hubert Brauning, vice president of operations for the Central Illinois Electric & Gas company: Del Hilvers of the firm of Hilvers and O'Connor, real estate brokers and tax consultants: Andrew Charles, vice president of National Lock, and Elmer Bergren, Bergren Plumbing and Heating Supply company.

Selection of Edwards as a director was taken as evidence that he will not manage the Peaches on the field again. Edwards, who obtained a temporary leave of absence from the utilities to fill in during an emergency last summer, brought the Peaches out of their slump so effectively that the club has indicated it would be glad to have him back on the job next summer. Edwards, however, has expressed unwillingness to leave his utility post again.

Allington May Return

Whether Bill Allington, who managed the Peaches to one pennant, will be back is conjecturable. He is another whom the club would be glad to have, but last year was unable to leave his regular job in the movie industry on the west coast to return here.

Hanson, the retiring president, has headed the Peaches since the franchise was turned over to local interests, but for two years has been asking to be relieved of the job because of the press of his own business at Damascus Steel, of which he is president.

June 9, 1943

Rockford Register-Republic

Rockford Peaches Share Second Place in Girls' Pro League

Meet Kenosha Again Tonight

11-8 Win Over Comets Moves Rockford Team Into Tie With Racine

STANDINGS
	W	L	Pct.
South Bend .......	6	5	.545
Rockford ...........	6	6	.500
Racine ..............	4	4	.500
Kenosha ...........	4	5	.444
RESULTS TUESDAY
Rockford 11, Kenosha 8
South Bend at Racine, postponed
GAMES TONIGHT
Kenosha at Rockford
South Bend at Racine

By Dick Day
(Register-Republic Sports Editor)

Now sharing second place with Racine in the All-American Girls professional softball league, Rockford's Peaches tonight renew hostilities at the 15th avenue stadium here with the Kenosha Comets, whom they licked, 11-8, last night in a free-hitting contest, which from the standpoint of all-around performance and flights of oratory, ranked as the best offering presented on the local field since the league produced its Rockford opener last week-end.

Rockford has now won six games for a .500 average, an identical percentage to that posted by Racine on the strength of 4 wins and 4 losses. Racine's game with South Bend at Racine was postponed last night.

Meanwhile the Rockford girls and their Kenosha guests were putting on a rousing exhibition that included 25 hits, five of them for extra bases, and several displays of elocution. As a result of one of the debates, Rockford Manager Eddie Stumpf and his third baseman, Mildred Warwick, watched the last two and two-thirds innings from the aisle leading to the dressing rooms.

Umpire Wins This One

Mildred thought that she had put the ball on Pitcher Elise Harney as the latter stampeded into third, and so did Stumpf. Umpire Charles Ullenberg couldn't see it that way, though, and in a few seconds he was surrounded by a bevy of chattering girls. As usual the umpire won the decision, and the discussion ended with Kenosha scoring three runs in that inning, the seventh.

Those three runs, however, failed to balance the 11 runs that the Peaches had plucked prior to the seventh. Outfielder Lillian Jackson opened the Rockford scoring by getting hit by a pitched ball in the first and coming home on Betty Jane Fritz's single to left. In the third the Rockford girls picked up a cluster of three runs as the result of a pair of triples by Eileen Burmeister and Warwick, coupled with a double by Gladys Davis and a sacrifice by Ethel McCreary.

The fourth was a tough inning for Kenosha's Harney, for the Peaches touched her for five hits and stole a couple of bases to garner five runs. Two more runs in the fifth saw the end of the Rockford scoring for the evening.

Comets Score 3 in First

Rockford's Marjorie Peters had her own troubles, too. Kenosha touched her for four hits, one a triple by Mickey Mickelsen, in the first inning and collected three runs. The Comets went scoreless from then on until the aforementioned seventh, however, when they netted another trio of runs. In the ninth, with a pinchhitter operating for Pitcher Harney, they collected four more singles and two runs, but Peters put a period to the rally by marking Mabel Halle hit to Fritz in short right field for the out that ended the game.

Determined on holding the advantage that last night's win gained for his team in the league standings, Stumpf was believed likely to lead off tonight against Kenosha with his Canadian star, Olive Little. If Olive, who won a 5-4 decision from South Bend on Monday, is not ready to go Josephine Skokan, the slow ball artist from Chicago is likely to get the call.

Manager Josh Billings of Kenosha probably will nominate either Catherine Bennett or Helen Nicol to do the Comets hurling.

BOXSCORE
Kenosha (8)						Rockford (11)
	AB	R	H	O	A		AB	R	H	O	A
Ja'son cf	4	1	1	2	0	Jack'n lf	4	3	2	3	0
Ruhnke ss	2	1	0	1	2	Bur'r cf-ss	3	2	2	1	1
Mick'n rf	5	1	2	1	0	Sawyer cf	0	0	0	1	0
Koehn 3b	4	0	1	2	1	War'ck 3b	4	1	2	3	1
Halle lf	5	0	1	1	0	Davis ss-3b	4	2	1	3	3
Lester 2b	4	0	1	2	0	Fritz rf	4	1	2	1	0
O'Hara 1b	4	2	2	9	1	M'Cre'y 1b	4	0	2	10	0
West'an c	4	1	1	5	2	Wuet'h 2b	4	0	1	2	3
Harney p	3	1	2	1	3	Green c	3	0	0	2	0
Hunter x	1	1	1	0	0	Peters p	4	2	1	1	2
Totals	36	8	12	24	9	Totals	34	11	13	27	10
x - batted for Harney in 9th.
Score By Innings
Kenosha ..................... 3 0 0 0 0 0 3 0 2 - 8
Rockford ..................... 1 0 3 5 2 0 0 0 x - 11
Summary
Errors - Koehn 2; Westerman, Harney, McCreary, 2.
Two base hits - Davis, McCreary.
Three base hits - Mickelson, Burmeister, Warwick.
Left on bases - Kenosha,3 ; Rockford, 7.
Struck out - by Peters, 1; by Harney, 4.
Baes on balls - Peters, 1; Harney, 4.
Double plays - Wuetrich (unassisted: Lester to Koehn; Peters to Warwick.
Stolen bases - Jackson, Warwick, Wuetrich, Peters.
Sacrifice hits - Jameson, Ruhnke, Burmeister, Fritz, McCreary.

June 8, 1943

Rockford Register-Republic

Kenosha Comets Open Series at 15th Avenue Stadium Tonight

Rockford and S. Bend Divide

Rockford Girls Lose Windup After Taking Opening Game, 5-4

By Dick Day
(Register-Republic Sports Editor)

Unable to lift themselves above the .500 level in the percentage column since their recent four-game winning streak was snapped just before their return to the home ball yard, Rockford's Peaches make another bid to regain lost ground tonight when they open a series with Josh Billing's Comets from Kenosha at the 15th avenue stadium here.

Winners of five out of eleven games and down towards the bottom of the standings in the All-American Girls softball league, the Rockford Peaches hope to use the Kenosha series as a stepping stone to front rank position. They won two out of three from Kenosha in an appearance there last week and, due to the tightness of the league race, are only one game out of first place right now.

They might have been even nearer the top today but for a bad second inning last night in the windup of a double-header here with South Bend. The Rockford girls won the opener, 5-4, but after yielding 5 runs to the Blue Sox in the second canto of the afterpiece, never recovered their poise and ended up on the short end of a 12-2 count.

Outfield Star

The green-clad Comets are likely to give the Peaches some trouble with their comeback plans tonight, too, for Billings, the old Cleveland and Detroit catcher and former farm manager for the Giants, has assembled a slick aggregation at Kenosha.

One of the real "stars" of the Comet lineup is the smallest girl in the league, Center Fielder Shirley Jameson of Maywood, daughter of Tuffy Jameson, former Western league and St. Louis Browns hired hand. Shirley already is rated as the best outfielder in the league, size notwithstanding.

Ann Hartnett of Chicago is one of the league's top third base guardians, and in Elsie Harney of Jacksonville, the Comets have a fast-ball pitcher of real merit.

Peters Starts Tonight

Eddie Stumpf, the Rockford manager, will lead off with one of his topflight twirlers tonight when the Kenosha series starts, having given the nod today to Marjorie Peters. The Peaches, however, will be without the services of one of their regular outfielders, Dorothy Kamenshek. Dotty left for her home in Cincinnati today to get her high school diploma and will rejoin the team at South Bend on Saturday. Stumpf also announced the release of Rella Swamp, infielder from Milwaukee.

The opening game of last night's twin bill with South Bend gave Olive Little, the Canadian pitcher, a chance to make her debut to home town fans in style, and she set the Blue Sox down with a pair of hits.

The Rockford girls scored twice in the opening frame, Betty Jane Fritz slashing a single to right field to bring home Eileen Burmeister and Mildred Warwick. They picked up another in the third inning, Gladys Davis scoring on Fritz's infield out, after having been given free passage to first and advanced by means of a walk and a stolen base.

Score Two in Fifth

Warwick singled and Davis walked to open the fifth and both scored on Lois Florreich's error in handling Ethel McCreary's tap. South Bend scored one run in the fifth without benefit of a hit, and three more in the sixth with the aid of two hits, a walk, a hit batsman and a passed ball. The first game was a seven-inning affair.

The South Bend team batted around in the second inning of the afterpiece when a pair of hits and four Rockford errors gave them a total of five runs. Rockford got one run back in the second frame, Davis again scoring, this time on McCreary's infield out. A walk two infield singles and a couple of rollers gave South Bend three more runs in the third inning. Davis scored again for Rockford in the fourth on Fritz's fly to right field after having reached first by the error route, but South Bend pushed two more runs across in the fifth and tallied one more in the eighth before quitting for the evening.

Clara Cook, the Rockford southpaw, was relieved in the ninth after having yielded six hits and being made the victim of bobbies behind her. Doris Barr, the South Bend southpaw, went the route.

Tonight's game starts at 7:30. Last night's box scores:

FIRST GAME
South Bend (4)				Rockford (5)
	AB	R	H		AB	R	H
Wilson lf	4	0	0	Jackson lf	4	0	1
Stefani 2b	3	0	0	Burmeister 2b	3	1	1
Floreich 3b	4	0	0	Warwick 3b	2	2	1
Hageman 1b	2	1	0	Kamenshek cf	2	0	0
D'Angelo cf	3	1	1	Fritz rf	3	0	1
MacLean c	2	2	0	McCreary	3	0	0
Jochum lf	3	0	1	Green c	3	0	0
Schroeder ss	1	0	0	Little p	3	0	0
McPadden p	2	0	0
Coben p	0	0	0
Barr x	1	0	0
Totals	25	4	2	Totals	25	5	4
x - batted for McPadden in 6th.
Score By Innings
South Bend ................. 0 0 0 0 1 3 0 - 4
Rockford ..................... 2 0 1   0 2 0   x - 5
Summary
Errors: Floreich 2, Davis 1.
Stolen bases - Stefani, Schroeder 2, McPadden, Jackson, Davis, Fritz.
Struck out by Little 7.
Bases on balls - Little 3, McPadden 6.
Hits off-McPadden 4.
Umpires - Ullenberg and Porter.
Double plays: Floerreich to Stefani, Tronnier to Hagemann, D'Angelo to Schroeder, Davis to McCreary.
Stolen base: Hageman.
Hits off Coben 7 in 7 2-3 innings.
Umpires: Ellenberg and Porter.

SECOND GAME
South Bend (12)				Rockford (2)
	AB	R	H		AB	R	H
Jochum lf	5	0	0	Jackson lf	4	0	1
Stefani 2b	5	1	0	Burmeister c	1	0	0
Floreich 3b	5	0	0	Green c	2	0	0
Hageman 1b	4	0	1	Nelson c	1	0	0
D'Angelo cf	4	3	3	Warwick 3b	4	0	0
Baker c	5	2	2	Davis ss	3	2	2
Barr p	4	3	0	Kamenshek cf-1b	3	0	1
Schroeder ss	5	2	1	Fritz rf	4	0	0
Tronnier rf	5	1	0	McCreary 1b	3	0	1
				Sawyer cf	1	0	0
				Wuetrich 2b	4	0	1
				Cook p	3	0	0
				Skokan p	1	0	1
Totals	42	12	7	Totals	34	2	6
Score By Innings
South Bend ................. 0 5 3 0 3 0 0 1 0 - 12
Rockford ..................... 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 - 2
Summary
Errors: Rockford 6, South Bend 1.
Two base hits - Baker, Schroeder.
Left on base - by South Bend, 5; by Rockford, 6.
Hit by pitcher - Cook 1.
Bases on balls - Cook 2, Barr 3.
Struck out - Cook 2, Skokan 1, Barr 3.
Hits - Cook 5 in 8 innings.

June 7, 1943

Rockford Register-Republic

Rockford Peaches to Meet South Bend in Twin Bill Tonight

Kenosha Club Here Tuesday

Rockford Girls Ready To Offer New Bid for Leadership of League

By Dick Day
(Register-Republic Sports Editor)

Rockford's Peaches who made their bow to softball fans here Saturday night and then bowed to the weatherman Sunday, will set out tonight in a new pursuit of the first place banner in the new All-American Girls Professional Softball league.

The lead vanished from their reach over the week-end, partially as the result of a 5-2 setback at the hands of South Bend, but the Peaches have a double-header on tap with those Blue Sox from the Indiana city tonight at the 15th avenue stadium, and a twin killing would go a long way towards remedying the situation.

The Rockford and South Bend teams had a double bill scheduled for Sunday, but the condition of the grounds made it impossible to play even after the rain stopped. Consequently, the two teams agreed on a double-header for tonight to wind up the series. The first game will start at 7 p.m.

Tomorrow Josh Billings and his Kenosha Comets will be in town and will play a night game.

Little, Cook to Pitch

Eddie Stumpf, the Rockford manager, announced today that he will start Olive Little and Clara Cook on the mound in tonight's games. Both won their last appearances at Kenosha. Little, a right-hander has a good fast ball. Cook is a southpaw.

South Bend probably will use Sunny Berger in one of the games. Sunny is the girl who broke up a promising Rockford rally Saturday night with a double-play ball when the Peaches had the bases loaded.

Customers who braved the weather for a glimpse of the girls in the opener Saturday got an excellent idea of the class of ball that is being played in this new league. The girls are fast and though they'll need a few more games in which to polish up their defense, lack little in the way of offensive ability right now.

Speed Intrigues Fans

Despite the lengthening of the base paths five feet beyond the usual softball limit, speed still remains a major feature of this game and the customers were intrigued by it.

The Blue Sox bunched their hits in two innings to ring up their victory over the Peaches Saturday, taking the lead on two runs in the sixth and never being headed thereafter.

Muriel Coben started on the mound for South Bend and tied up in a pitching duel for five innings with Marjorie Peters of Rockford. In the eighth, however, the South Bend girl weakened and had the bases loaded when Sunny Berger was rushed to the rescue. One run had scored and Rockford had only one out when the relief hurler pitched her double-play ball to break up the rally.

Games scheduled for Kenosha between the home team and Racine were rained out yesterday, but in Saturday's game Kenosha improved its standing in the league with a 5-3 decision over the Racine Belles.

June 6, 1943

Rockford Morning Star

Girls' Softball Teams Make Hit With Local Fans In Opening Game

By Lou Johnson

"Come on, honey, come on!" may not be exactly what Rockford ball fans are accustomed to hearing the third baseman yell to the pitcher in moments of stress on the diamond, but this was no ordinary ball game. The Rockford Peaches made their first home appearance last night at the 15th avenue stadium, playing their ninth game in the All-American Girls' Softball league. The crowd, which had turned out for the unusual sports event seemed a little uneasy about the whole thing at first, but it wasn't long before the usual cries of "Atta stuff", "East out!", and "Kill the ump!" were being shouted with all the lung power customary to a big league game.

It was a colorful sight as the girls trotted out on the field to open the game, for the Rockford Peaches were attired in the short sport dresses of a bright peach color and their caps, belts, and socks were of red, while the opposing South Bend team was garbed in two shades of blue. The two teams met and crossed neatly at home plate and then jogged on about the diamond in opposite directions, coming in at home plate in a V-formation for the playing of the Star Spangled Banner. Mayor C. Henry Bloom braved the field of women to toss the first ball, and the game was on!

Keep Up Steady Chatter

Last night's game proved that a woman's far-famed ability to chatter over a bridge table isn't limited to a card-playing afternoon. The rapid-fire chatter seems to be one of the most important adjuncts of feminine softball, judging by excited yells of encouragement which rang through the air perpetually during the game. (Don't misconstrue this as a criticism - their playing is good, too.)

The yells and calls weren't only directed toward the morale of fellow-players, however - the umpire came in for his share, and don't think for a moment that when a lady batter has what she deems an unfair strike called on here, she accepts it meekly. Our best actresses on the legitimate stage could take lessons from these girls when it comes to facial expressions of disdain, disgust and frustration.

The crowd that eagerly watched the feminine diamond stars was made up of all types of baseball fans, including a number of family groups, some service men, lots of small boys (who divided their time between dropping peanut shucks on the locks of young girls sitting in front of them, and boasting about the devious means used to get in free), a groups of WAACs, and many others. The crowd was predominantly male, but whether that was because the players were women, or if it denoted greater interest in softball on the part of men, I wouldn't be able to judge.

Enthusiasm Grows

Early in the game a gentleman seated in front of me who was having a grand time heckling South Bend's catcher and calling her a "bum," remarked in a condescending manner, "Aw, those girls can't play like fellas," at which his feminine companion immediately rose to the defense of her sex, stating defiantly, "They can too! They just haven't had time to get started yet!"

As the game continued, the playing improved and the enthusiasm of the crowd grew in an amazingly non-partisan manner. A good catch in right field was loudly applauded no matter which side was responsible, and a heart-breaking error brought fourth a unanimous disappointed "Oh!" from the grandstand. By the close of the game, the general consensus seemed to be that the girls were not only a novelty on the sports horizon, but they really had something to offer in the way of good softball entertainment.

South Bend won, 5 to 2.

Rockford Morning Star

South Bend Defeats Rockford Girls By 5 To 2 Score
Bunch Hits In Two Innings To Win Opener
Teams To Play Twin Bill Today At Stadium

Bunching hits in two innings the South Bend, Ind., Blue Sox defeated the Rockford Peaches 5 to 2 last night at the high school stadium in the official league opening for this city in the All-American Girls softball league. In spite of threatening weather and the chilly breeze the turnout of fans was considered good.

This afternoon the same two teams clash in a doubleheader at the stadium with the first game being scheduled to start at 2 o'clock. The second half of the twin bill is expected to get underway about 3:30 o'clock.

Last night's win gives South Bend a four to two edge over the Peaches in the games played between the two teams so far, dropping Rockford below a .500 percentage with four wins and five defeats. Today Manager Stumpf expects to toss his best hurlers at the visitors in the hopes of taking both ends of today's bargain bill to even the standings between the two teams.

Muriel Coben started on the mound for South Bend and five innings hurled hitless ball. In the sixth however Rockford broke through for three hits and a run. Marjorie Peters, Rockford's pitcher, kept out of trouble for five innings, although being nicked for four blows. But in the sixth the visitors crashed through with two runs after two were out. Hageman doubled and counted on D'Angelo's two-baser. Two errors allowed D'Angelo to register. With one out in the eighth two hits, a stolen base and an infield out gave South Bend two more runs. They counted their last tally in the ninth on a walk, two infield outs and a hit.

In the sixth Burmeister, Warwick and Davis singled to score Rockford's first marker. In the eighth hits by Warwick, Davis and Kamenshek counted the other run.

At Kenosha last night the Kenosha Belles defeated the league-leading Racine team 5 to 3.

BOXSCORE
South Bend (5)						Rockford (2)
	AB	R	H	O	A		AB	R	H	O	A
Wilson lf	4	0	2	0	0	Burm'er lf	5	1	1	5	0
Stef'ni 2b	5	0	0	3	4	Wuet'h 2b	3	0	0	1	0
Floer'h 3b	4	1	1	1	3	Wa'w'k 3b	4	1	2	2	5
Hage-n 1b	4	2	2	10	0	Davis ss	4	0	2	3	4
D'An'o cf	4	1	1	4	1	Kame'k cf	4	0	1	1	0
Baker c	4	0	0	5	0	Fritz rf	4	0	0	1	0
Schro'r ss	3	1	0	2	0	M'Cre'y 1b	4	1	0	10	0
Tron'r rf	4	0	0	1	1	Green c	4	0	1	4	0
Coben p	3	0	2	1	0	Jacks'n x	1	0	0	0	0
Berger p	1	0	0	0	1	Peters p	4	0	1	1	3
Totals	37	5	8	27	10	Totals	37	2	9	27	12
x - batted for Green in 9th.
Score By Innings
South Bend ................. 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 2 1 - 5
Rockford ..................... 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 - 2
Errors: Warwick 2, Baker 3, Schroeder, Coben.
Three base hits: Warwick.
Two base hits: Hageman, D'Angelo.
Passed ball: Green.
Walks: Coben 1, Peters 1.
Struckout by Coben 2, Berger 1, Peters 2.
Double plays: Floerreich to Stefani, Tronnier to Hagemann, D'Angelo to Schroeder, Davis to McCreary.
Stolen base: Hageman.
Hits off Coben 7 in 7 2-3 innings.
Umpires: Ellenberg and Porter.