The Belle River Vintage Base Ball Club
- Bottom row left to right: Tyler Hannah, Bobby Hannah, Fred Banschbach, Bobby Scudder, Mike Seipel, Clayton Lamkin Top Row left to right: Mark Swanson, Dennis Dinkelaker, Archie Crouch, Eric Stegemiller, Bill Dichtl, Dustin Lamkin
Our Belle River team has joined the Vintage Base Ball
Association, a national organization of vintage teams. We are listed as an active member on their national web site, http://www.vbba.org/ . If you go to VBBA and look under member teams, it will show a map of the USA, click on Indiana and there we are.
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2012 Schedule
May 5, 2012 TBD Huntington Hilltoppers Huntington, IN 2=games
May 12, 2012 1:00 p.m. Cincinnati Red Stockings Sharonville, OH 2-games
June 9, 2012 TBD Tournament Sharonville, OH 3-games
June 23, 2012 1:00 p.m. Batesville Lumbermen Rising Sun, IN 2-games
June 30, 2012 1:00 p.m. Norwood Highlanders/Ludlow Luds Norwood, OH 2-games
July 21, 2012 1:00 p.m. Cincinnati Red Stockings Rising Sun, IN 2-games
July 29, 2012 1:00 p.m. Tipp City Canal Jumpers Tipp City, OH 2-games
August 11, 2012 1:00 p.m. Norwood Highlanders Rising Sun, IN 2-games
August 25, 2012 1:00 p.m. Dayton Clodbusters Dayton, OH 2-games
September 1, 2012 1:00 p.m. Norwood Highlanders Georgetown, KY 1-game
October 6 or 7, 2012 1:00 p.m. Batesville Lumbermen Batesville, IN 1-game
October 14, 2012 1:00 p.m. Ludlow Luds Ludlow, KY 2-games#
PLAYERS NEEDED
We are always looking for additional players. If you are 16 or older contact the Ohio County Historical Society and Museum at (812) 438-4915.
HISTORY
The base ball fever hit Rising Sun in July 1868 with the organization of three teams: the Phoenix, Young America, and Rising Sun. In the June 26, 1869 issue of the Rising Sun Recorder this blurb appears:
“For the first time within the history of the game with us, a Rising Sun club has been victorious. They beat the “Rabbit-hashers,” over the way, last Saturday. The latter is a new club and its members all inexperienced, but zealous at practice. We’d hesitate to put one of our clubs against them a month or two hence. There’s too much “exercise” necessary to success in base ball for Rising Sun players.”
In the July 21, 1869, Rising Sun Recorder, reports that
“the Belle River Club of this city is going to have a busy season, if the number of games to be played is any thing of an index. This morning the first nine will play on the club grounds with the White Stockings of Vevay.”
No mention of the results of the game were found, but in the August 7 newspaper the Belle River Club was beaten 63 to 33 by the Atlantics of Aurora. The next month the Belle River Club defeated the Hoosiers of Aurora 50-31 and the White Stockings of Vevay 59-41.
The Belle River Club could be found playing in 1870, but thereafter there was no mention of the Belle River Club. Of the teams that played during 1869 (the year that we play) in Rising Sun the Belle River Club appeared to play more than the others.
RULES
Vintage base ball players do not us gloves and the ball is slightly larger and a little softer (unless you take a line drive off the hands at the start of the game before the ball is soften up some) than the ball of today. The field of play is a flat grassy area free of obstructions if possible. Some fields have a tree between the foul lines and others have a slight rise to a base.
One umpire is used to call the game. He can use the players and cranks (fans) to make a close call. As this was gentlemanly game it worked well to call on others to help. Unlike today’s ball players the players of 1869 did not spit, swear, or other action that may be found offensive to a lady. The players congratulate an oppenent on a good play.
A coin toss preceded the game and the winner of the coin toss decided to bat first or second. The host team did not always bat second. the batting order was not restricted to the nine fielders and those who sat out could go back on the field. To start the next inning, the striker (batter) that follows the player that made the final out of the previous inning whether as a batter or a runner is the first batter of the inning.
There are additional rules.
Our home field is at Rising Star Field, Rising Star Casino,
Rising Sun, Indiana
The team is off and running in the 2012 season. We opened April 15 with a double header versus the Ludlow Luds at the Rising star Casino field, and the Belle River team won both games! ( that rarely happens! ) We will face the Ludlow team at their field as our final game of the season in October. ( they are a relatively new team, and are getting better every game! ) The October match up should be a good one, as they will be looking to even the score! Then, on April 28th, the Cincinnati Buckeyes rolled into town for another double header match at the Rising Star Casino Field. The Buckeyes took the opening game, but the Belle Rivers came back to win the second match. As always, it was great to see the Buckeyes, and we we see them again down the road. On May 5th, the Belle Rivers headed to northern Indiana (Fort Wayne area ) to play our good friends the Huntington Hilltoppers. It was a great contest, with the Hilltoppers coming out on top, 12 to 9. Then, the Hilltoppers had arranged a second game for the Belle River team. This time the opponent was the West Layfette Courriers. The Belle Rivers had never played the young men from West Layfette, but we realized right off that bat that this team was young, and would be quick around the bases. The final score, 5 to 2 in favor of the Courriers, but it was a very close game thru the first 5 innings. The Courriers captain, ‘Possum’ Wainscott told the Belle River team before the game that for a long time he has wanted his team to have the opportunity to play Belle River, as he has family living in Rising Sun. He also said he wants to bring his team down to Rising Sun for a game next season. The Belle Rivers would welcome that match up next year. Next up for the team, on May 12th, is a visit to Cincinnati to play the famous ‘ Cincinnati Redlegs’. One of the oldest vintage teams in the country, and a great bunch of guys. The double header is scheduled for 1:00 at the Heritage Village Museum Center, located in Sharon Woods Park( just off I-275 in Cincinnati) .
The Belle Rivers had a tough day at the ball field against the Cincinnati Redlegs on May 12th. …The Belle Rivers dropped both games of a doubleheader…Those Redlegs get better every season !!!! The next big event will be on Sat. June 9th at Sharon Woods Park , Cincinnati, Ohio ( home of the the Redlegs) This will be an exciting day of base ball as three clubs from Indiana, battle three clubs from the great state of OHIO…The games will start at 10:00, will run about an hour and 15 minutes in length, and will be played at several fields inside the county park. Hope to see everyone there, admisssion to the park is required to attend the games. Everyone is encouraged to vist the Heritage Village Museum while at the park.
June 9th tournament report…We had a great time in the tournament hosted by the Cinicnnati Buckeyes and the Cncinnati Red stockings…… we lost to the Reds ( 24-23 ) and Buckeyes (13-10), but we defeated the Norwood Highlanders in our final game (18 -9 ).. the crowds were great, the field dedication ceremony was very moving, and the hitting and throwing contests were great fun…thank you fellows for the invite we always enjoy playing the guys from Cincinnati. Our next game is this Sunday, June 24, at home, on the beautiful Rising Star Casino Field. We will be playing our Hoosiers friends, the Batesville Lumbermen. Game time is 2:00…admission is free, come out and enjoy a game…
SCHEDULE CHANGE….THE GAME WITH BATESVILLE LUMBERMEN IS SUNDAY, JUNE, 24TH….( changed from Saturday the 23rd ) …THE GAME WILL START AT 2:00….THIS WILL BE ONE GAME ONLY AND NOT A DOUBLEHEADER AS ORIGINALLY SCHEDULED !!!!!!!!!SEE YOU THERE ……
The Lumbermen walked away with the victory on the 24th of June despite a strong finish by the Belle Rivers. Thankfully, all those involved stayed safe and sound despite the tremendous heat, and very little breeze, that was present for the entire 9 inning game. The game scheduled for today , July 1st, at the home field of the Norwood Highlanders, has been postponed due to the heat wave. If possible, this game will be re-scheduled, but the Belle Rivers and Highlanders are scheduled to meet 2 more times this season, once in Rising Sun, and once at the Ward Hall Museum in Georgetown, Ky. More info on those games will be posted later….The next scheduled Belle River’s opponent will be ….”The Cincinnati Red Stockings” ! Thats right, the Reds are coming to town on Saturday, July 21st !!! We are honored to have the areas oldest vintage team come to Rising Sun for a one game contest. Make plans to attend !!!
What a Game !!!!! The Cincinnati Red Stockings and the Belle River Base Ball Club ( rising sun, indiana ) battled to a 28 – 28 tie on Saturday July 21st. The Reds led the entire game with outsanding hitting and fielding, but the Belle River boys came up with 5 runs in the bottom of the ninth to tie the game. After a brief discussion between the teams and their captains, ( concerning the very hot and humid weather ) the game was declared a draw ! The cranks ( fans) in attendance were treated to one of the most exciting games of the season for both teams! Today, the Red Stockings are playing again, only this time , they are on the giant stage. They are playing at the Great American Ballpark, prior to the Cincinnati Reds game with the Brewers. We wish them the best of luck against their rivals the Cincinnati Buckeyes, and we are sure they will enjoy their annual visit to the ‘big leagues’. Thanks to all who came out and cheered for both teams Saturday, we hope to have the Red Stockings put us on their schedule next season for both home and away contests. They are a great bunch of guys. Next up for the Belle River team, is another road trip….This time we are headed to Tipp City, Ohio. The Tippecanoe Canal Jumpers will be the oppponent. The first game of a doubleheader is scheduled to start at 1:00. For directions to the game, please check the web-site of the Tipp City ‘ Canal Jumpers’ team.
WHO INVINTED THE THE ONE HOP RULE IN FAIR TERRITORY ? LETS DIG HIM BACK UP & FLIP HIM OVER !
The Belle River BBC returned from Tipp City, Ohio this Sunday after splitting a doubleheader with the Tippecanoe Canal Jumpers. The Jumpers took the first game 7 – 4 and the Belle Rivers won the second game 3 – 2. The Belle River team that traveled to Ohio, was a collection of 10 of the ‘ older ‘ memebers of the Belle River organization, so the team was not as quick around the bases as they have been in recent contests.The game was played using the 1860′s one bounce rule, which means a fair or foul ball caught after one bounce is still an out. The Belle Rivers are not accustomed to playing by those rules, and saw many a clean hit taken away by a fielder getting to it after the first bounce. This speeds up the game quite a bit, and in the summer heat on this particular day, it probably was a good idea to play the quicker paced game. The Belle Rivers were treated to a great cook out dinner after the contest, and we hope to have the Canal Jumpers visit us in Rising Sun for a match during the next season. Next up for the Belle Rivers is their final home game. This is scheduled for Sunday, Aug. 12th at the Rising Star Casino Field. This will be a doubleheader with the Norwood Highlanders of Ohio, first game will start at 1:00. Hope to see all our ‘cranks’ (fans) there for the big event. We also owe a big thank you to Tim Hillman the editor of our local paper, for some photos, and a great article written following our game with the Red Stockings. We can use all the “ink” we can get !!!! Hope to see you all on Aug. 12th…..
another tough day at the ball field for the belle river team as the norwood highlanders rolled into town sunday, and put up a 29 to 10 beating on the home team. it was a beautiful day for base ball, and the highlanders hit the ball extrememly well throughout the day. it is always a good time when these two teams get together, and they will meet again on sept. 1 in georgetown, ky at was is being billed as the annual ‘bourbon cup’ contest presented by the ward hall museum. the belle river boys will have to find some way to score some runs as the highlanders have scored a total of ’86′ runs in their last 2 games !!! last year’s event ( the ward hall game ) drew a large crowd including a lexington tv crew that highlighted the game on their evening news program !!! hope to see you all make the drive south to georgetown for the rematch !
Sat. Aug 25 the belle river team headed to dayton, ohio to meet the dayton clodbusters for 2 contests. for the first time this season, the belle river team actually had a few subs sitting on the bench eager to get into the game! in the first game the belle river team came out on top by a score of 11 to 7. in the second game, the belle river boys began to run out of steam and the clodbusters pounded their way to a 15 to 7 win. a good time was had by all despite the very hot day. the clodbusters served up an excellent meal, and then the belle river boys headed home to rest up for their next contest. that contest is scheduled for sept. 1, in georgetown ,ky at the famous ward hall museum. the opponent will be the highlanders from norwood ,ohio. these 2 teams met last season at this location for what was a great contest, and it looks like it is going to be another monumental event this year. check out the ward hall musuem website for directions, hope to see all you cranks(fans) there!!!!
the game at ward hall was a huge success with a very large crowd on hand, including the georgetown college varsity baseball team ! 24 – 16 was the final score, in favor of the norwood highlanders, they just seem to get better and better…this was the first year for the bourbon cup trophy, which is a bottle of aged kentucky bourbon, and the highlanders were nice enough to share it with the belle rivers…we would like to extend a special thanks to the ward hall people for allowing us to tour the ward hall museum following the game… and also a big thank you to the georgetown college baseball team who held back their laughter as we tried our best to look like we knew how to play!!!we are looking forward to next years contest, and we hope that it will be a bigger and better event than this year !!! ( if that is possible !!! )skoolteechur
The game with the Batesville Lumbermen that was to be played on Sat. Oct 6th will go on as scheduled, but the Belle Rivers will not be playing. The Ludlow Luds will fill in for us as we could not get enough players together on that date to field a team. It seems like Saturday is just a bad day for the Belle Rivers, we have several players that work on that day, and others that have community activities that need their support on Saturdays. We will see the Lumberman again next season, hopefully both home and away…skoolteechur seipel
the last game of the season is rapidly approaching…we will be traveling to ludlow kentucky for a doubleheader on sunday, october 14th…the games will be played at lemker field in downtown ludlow ky,. on elm stree(. ( ky 8 off the I 75-71 bridge ) the first game will start at 1:00 .. this will be the last chance for our cranks (fans) to see us in action until next march…and believe me, we could use the time off…a full report will follow the game, along with some off season meetings and get-togethers that are planned during the off season… skoolteechur
UPDATE>>>>THE GAME FOR SUNDAY OCT. 14th WITH THE LUDLOW LUDS HAS BEEN CANCELLED DUE TO THE STORMS PREDICTED IN THE NORTHERN KY AREA TOMORROW>>>>>>>>That game will not be rescheduled so the Belle River season has come to an end…. We hope to get together with the Norwood Highlanders around St. Patricks day for the annual pre-season ‘practice’ game…Thanks to all our cranks (fans) for their support, and a special thanks to Rising Star Casino fot the use of their grounds as our home field…Make it a point during the off season to visit the Rising Sun Historical Musuem, and tell them the Belle River Base Ball Club sent you… Skoolteechur Seipel
Hello again from The Belle River Base Ball Club…It is 2013 !!!and the new season is only 3 months away…The boys have worked hard during the off season to stay in playing shape ( hahahahahahahaha), and they can’t wait to hit the field once again. We have been invited to a pre-season scrimmage game, on St. Patricks’s day, at Sharon Woods Park. This event will involve several area teams playing just for the fun of it…(no score will be kept) The date is Sunday, March 17th,,,admission to the park is $3.00 for a daily permit…The first official home game is Sunday, April 14th, when our good friends the Norwood Highlanders of Cincinnati, come to Rising Star Casino Field for a double header starting 1t 11:00am…More on that game will be coming later…Hope to see all our cranks (fans) out there again this season… Skoolteechur Seipel (Cap’t.)
Spring training has begun !!!! The Belle River boys held an ‘indoor’ workout, and are now awaiting the annual St Patricks Day Dust Off Game, sponsored by the the Norwood Highlanders. The event will take place in Sharon Woods Park ( just off of I-275) in Cincinnati, at 12 noon on March 17th. Admission to the park is $3.00. There will be many local and regional teams sending players for this event. Several games will be played on fields located inside Sharon Woods Park, and fans ( cranks) can get an early look at their favorite teams. Most of the Belle River players will be on the field for these games, preparing for their home opener, April 14th, at the Rising Star Casino Field. Today, March 9th, the Belle River BBC will be having a team photo taken in downtown Rising Sun. The photo that appears here on the Historical Society Website is a bit outdated, as the team has added some new players. We hope to have the new photo and other team info posted here a.s.a.p. skoolteechur seipel
opening day…sunday , april 14, 2013 the norwood highlanders come to rising sun for a doubleheader . the first game will start around 11:00. the highlanders are one of the top teams from the tri-state area, and a fine bunch of gentlemen. make plans to come out to the rising star casino field and catch all the action…skoolteechur seipel
What a tough day to be a Belle River fan !!!! The Norwood Highlanders came down from Cincinnati and put a hurtin on the local team by winning both games of the doubleheader. Norwood struck first and often in the first game, winning by the score of somewhere around 12 – 5 …And in the second game, despite a 6 to 1 lead in the third inning by the Belle Rivers, The Highlanders stormed back to win the second game 18 to 7…A good time was had by all….We will see the Highlanders several more times during this season, once in Georgetown, Ky, once in Corydon, Indiana, and once at their home field in Norwood, Ohio. Our next home game is scheduled for Sunday, May 19th at the Rising Star Casino Field. This will be the first ever Vintage ‘All Star’ Game. There will be players representing teams from all over the tri-state area. Make plans to attend, admission is free! Before the May 19th date, the Belle Rivers play on the road , Sunday ,April 28th at Sharon Woods County Park in Cincinnati, Ohio. The Belle Rivers will play the Buckeyes of Cincinnati in the first game, and the Cincinnati Red-stockings in the second game. Fans will be required to pay the daily park admisssion fee in order to watch the games. Hope to see you there….skoolteechur seipel reporting
Belle River split a double header on the road at Sharon Woods Park in Cincinnati on April 28th…The Belle River boys defeated the Cincinnati Red Stockings in the first game of a double header 15 – 5, and then despite a great comeback effort, fell to the Cincinnati Buckeyes in the second game by a score of 19 – 16. A good time was had by all, and an excellent chicken dinner followed the second game. Thank you Reds and Buckeyes for the great time we had visiting with your teams. We will see you both at our field later in the season… skoolteechur seipel
Belle Rivers win at home !! Sunday May 4th, the Losaintaville Black Stockings came to town to face off with the local Belle Rivers…The game was played in a pouring rain which lasted throughout the entire game !!! Miserable wet and muddy playing conditions,did not dampen the spirits of the players. The final score was 12 – 3 in favor of the Belle Rivers. The Black Stockings ( formerly the Ludlow Luds) are rebuilding this season, and getting better every game. They are great bunch of guys ( and to have played in that constant rain) very dedicated to vintage base ball. We will see them later on this season( August 18th ) in a game that will be played near the campus of the University of Cincinnati. Hopefully our unforms will be dried out by then…skoolteechur seipel
First annual VINTAGE ALL STAR GAME…at the Rising Star Casino Resort Field- Sunday May 19th…Players from all over the tri-state area have been invited to participate in what we hope to be an annual event. Batting practice will start at 12:00 noon, the mayor of Rising Sun is scheduled to throw out the first pitch, and game time should be around 1:00….Admission is free !!!! Bring your own lounge chair and the whole family….see you at the field…
What a great day !!!! The first annual all-star game was a huge success…Thank you to all the ballists who participated in the event…Representatives from the Champion Hilltoppers, the Cincinnati Buckeyes, the 1869 Red Stockings, the Norwood Highlanders and the Losaintaville Black Stockings all were on hand to join the Belle River BBC for a spectacular day of good old fashioned vintage hard ball. The final score was 7 to 7 and what a great contest it was. The all stars trailed 6 to 3 going in to the top half of the last inning…they scored 4 times to take the lead…The Belle Rivers came back to tie the score, and with the winning run on second,and 2 hands(out) a clean base hit flew over the head of the shortstop. Stormy Banschbach, the Belle River runner on second, rounded third and headed for home with the winning run…but,,, the all stars had different plans, and with a great relay throw, nailed Stormy at the plate…thus the contest ended in a 7 to 7 tie !!!! The second game ( 5 innings due to the heat ) was a mix and match where 5 players from the Belle River team switched places with 5 players from the All-star team… a great time was had by all…we want to thank the mayor of Rising Sun, Brandon Roeder, for throwing out the first pitch, and the Bostic Sisters for singing the national anthem…they were super !!!Also a big thank you to Rising Star Casino for the use of the field, and the Ohio Co. Tourism Board for all their help in making this day a success….Skoolteechur Seipel