As part of the Village at Winona Fall Festival this weekend in Winona Lake, Indiana, a vintage base ball (yes—they spell it as two words!) will take place in various locations. The following information is from Tracey and Marie Owen, who are part of the Winona Blue Laws team. The teams play with rules from the 1860s.

Saturday, October 1 will be the first day of the Huzzah Hoosier Pennant, a new national level vintage base ball tournament. Ten clubs from around the Midwest are coming to Winona Lake to play at total of 20 nine-inning matches.

Participating clubs include: Village at Winona Blue Laws, Warsaw Fleetfoots, Hobart Deep River Grinders, Marmont Saints, Huntington Champion Hill Toppers, Elkhart Bonneyville Millers, Indianapolis Blues, Carriage Hill Clodbusters, Cincinnati Red Stockings, and Kent BBC.

The Winona Lake Blue laws will be playing two games on Saturday–1 pm at Miller Field A, 4 pm at Miller Field B. They will play two games Sunday at 12 pm at Celebration Field on S. 250 East, and 3 pm at Miller Field B.

Four fields will host the games — Tabernacle Field in the Village at Winona across the street from the BoatHouse Restaurant, two fields at Grace College Miller Field Athletic Complex at 1101 Pierceton Road, and Celebration Field at Celebration Church, 1289 S. 250 E. Each field will host matches as well as individual competitions such as the Golden Arm Longest Throw, Billy Sunday Speed Contest, Big Lumber Longest Strike, and Soft Hands Juggling Contest.

Strolling musicians Liza and Mark Woolever will provide period entertainment to the delight of the crowd both days. Village at Winona Fall Fest, which includes live craft demonstrations, kettle corn, and live music will also be happening on Saturday only.

Event sponsors for the Huzzah Hoosier Pennant are: the Village at Winona®, Grace College, Bill and Joan Darr, Al Disbro, Warsaw Rotary, 19th C Base Ball, Bibles & Books, Greater Warsaw Ministerial Association, Warsaw Community Schools, Warsaw Christian School, Monarch Academy, and H.E.L.P.S. Home School Group.

The second day of the Huzzah Hoosier Pennant, Sunday, October 2, gets underway with a performance of the off-Broadway musical “Sunday in Manhattan” at Lakeview Middle School Auditorium. Admission is $3 per person (or $10 per family over three) at the door, day of the event for the general public.

Matches are played the remainder of the day in Winona Lake with strolling musicians Liza and Mark Woolever and food vendors at games. The Awards Ceremony will be Sunday at 5 p.m. at the Hillside Amphitheater behind Tabernacle Field (rain site – Billy Sunday Visitors Center).

Individual competitions held at each field during warmup prior to each match:
Field 1 – Tabernacle Field – Billy Sunday Home to Home Speed Contest
Field 2 – Miller Field A – Golden Arm Longest Throw
Field 3 – Miller Field B – Heavy Lumber Longest Strike
Field 4 – Celebration Field – Soft Hands Juggling Contest

For more information log onto www.villageatwinona.com.