Octorara townlively.com
FEBRUARY 15, 2023
SERVING THE LOCAL COMMUNITIES SINCE 1954
VOL XXXII • NO 50
Capturing The Beauty Of The Octoraro Watershed OWA Sets Annual Photography Contest BY FRANCINE FULTON
Local amateur photographers are invited to participate in the third annual Octoraro Watershed Association (OWA) Photography Contest, designed to capture the
beauty of the landscape, scenery, wildlife and people who reside in the watershed area. This year, a new category has been added: Agriculture. For the first time, organizers will accept photographs that depict farm-related activities, See Photography Contest pg 3
The Brandywine Base Ball Club plays the game of “base ball” as it was played in 1864.
Playing “Base Ball” The Way It Used To Be he Brandywine Base Ball Club, which is dedicated to preserving the history of baseball as it was played (and spelled) in 1864, is currently seeking players for its upcoming season, as well as spectators who are invited to attend games free of charge. The team, which formed in 2013, is celebrating its 10th year of competing with other vintage clubs locally at its home field in West Chester, throughout Pennsylvania and in other states. Vintage baseball has unique rules. Players do not wear gloves, and only one baseball is used during the entire game. The games have only one umpire, and all pitching is underhand.
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“We play with people of all ages and different abilities and backgrounds. Barehand is an equalizer,” said Rick Stratton, the team’s marketing manager. “There are people who have never played competitive baseball and they end up doing quite well.” He explained that teams follow the rules and customs established in 1864 by dressing in historically similar attire and using period-appropriate equipment, including handmade wooden bats and hand-stitched balls made exclusively for vintage play, which are slightly bigger and softer than a modern baseball. Team members do wear cleats, but all modern-day logos are covered with black tape. “We sometimes do play other
versions of the game as the rules (of baseball) progressed,” Stratton said. “There is a version of the game that uses 1865 rules. That’s when things started to switch. You can no longer catch the ball on one bounce; you had to catch it on the fly, but still barehanded. We (do this) to teach spectators the evolution of the game.” W hich version of baseball is being played is discussed in advance with the opposing team. “Last year, when we traveled to Rhode Island, we played a game with 1880 rules,” Stratton shared. “The pitching was overhand. Only the catcher wore a glove, but everyone else was barehand and you had to catch balls on the fly.” Team players are asked to pay a
The Rotary Club of Coatesville, with a mission statement of “Service Above Self,” is seeking new members interested in taking part in local community service projects. Some of the activities that club members participate in are volunteering at the Coatesville Senior Center, now known as Brandywine Valley Active Aging; gathering
See “Base Ball” pg 5
See Rotary pg 2
Rotary Seeks Members, Distributes Grants
Sportsmen’s Banquet To Feature Deer Hunter . . .5
BY FRANCINE FULTON
Business Directory . . . . . .6
INSIDE THIS ISSUE
Scholarship Deadline Set . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6
Community Calendar . . . .7 House Of Worship . . . . . . .9 Classifieds . . . . . . . . . . . .9
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Donna McCool of Cochranville won first place last year in the Landscapes category.