SIMSBURY – Low numbers, some inexperience, and a little bit of rust from the long winter off-season perplexed the Newtown Sandy Hooks in an 1886/1864 doubleheader match with the Simsbury Taverneers last weekend at Simsbury High School.

The Hooks – trying to break in some new players – dropped a 12-10 decision in the ‘86’ game to open a glorious spring morning and then fumbled their way through a 25-2 shellacking in the ‘64’ game that afternoon.

The starting nine that day included veterans ‘Tex’ Casey, ‘Doughboy’ Norwich, ‘Sparks’ Marcucilli, ‘Bulldog’ Paes, ‘Shoeless’ and ‘Chief’ Dieckman and newcomers ‘Mister’ Edwards, ‘Mudcat’ Albano and ‘Muhl’ Snyder.

Snyder is a welcome new hurler – as well as a strong batsman – for the Hooks and he pitched well in the ‘86’ opener, but was victimized by numerous first-frame fielding and throwing errors that allowed the Taverneers to plate seven runs. After that, the Hooks settled down and slowly worked themselves back into the match.

The game was peppered with a couple of hidden ball gags – each nine successfully pulling one off to register outs.

Down five runs heading into the top of the ninth, Edwards and Marcucilli both singled and Albano singled through the hole on a hit-and-run to score one. Dieckman reached on a fielder’s choice and stole second, putting Hooks on second and third when an error on a Norwich flyball plated two runs.

Sadly, that’s all the Hooks could muster in the match and fell by the 12-10 count.

The locals will travel to Colt Park in Hartford on Saturday to battle the Senators in an 1876 match are scheduled to play in the Pittsfield, Massachusetts 1886 Tournament May 27 and 28. Visit www.vbbnewtown.com for a full schedule and further information.