The Tombstone “Eight” Impeach the Phoenix Senators, 26-6

GLOBE, ARIZONA TERRITORY, April 25

At every stop this season, the Tombstone Base Ball club have been asked one question “What’s your team’s name?” The Tombstone club of old never had an official name, so they go by the moniker of the Tombstone Nine. But on Saturday, that name did not fit the club. With players dealing with injuries and family obligations, Tombstone took the field with only eight players against the Phoenix Senators at the Copper Cup in Globe.

The Tombstone “Eight” did not shy away from their shorthanded odds.

From the first pitch of the game, the graveyard gang (hey, it’s just a nickname) controlled the narrative, scoring four in the first inning. Taking the field with the lead, Jessie “Motown” Schultz played in between second base and right field, and the shorthanded squad took care of business. Marco “No Sleep Til Brooklyn” Magliaccio, still limping from the hamstring injury suffered in his first play of the season, excelled in his inaugural game as pitcher. With Jim “Jockey” Sears having spread his snowbird wings last week to ply his trade back east, Brooklyn worked a knuckleball that he would not stop talking about. Fielding by substitutes Tortellini and Woody kept the Senators off the board.

Innings two and three saw a merry-go-round of runners that left the city slickers from Phoenix spinning. Two run doubles by The Reverend and new recruit La Bestia, capped off a crushing parade of red stockings (another nickname), who touched the plate 26 times. The game was taking so long with all the runners that it was called after five innings.

The victory secured the third seed for the games on Sunday, where they will face the defending Copper Cup champions, the Mesa Miners.

A capital game for the Tombstoners. And have you heard about Brooklyn’s knuckleball? He’ll tell you about it. Believe us.