MATCH RECAP: September 18, 2004 - vs. Vermillion Voles
Mains' Take Two Matches From The Vermillion Voles
At Historic Danville Stadium

The Mains marked a return to Danville Stadium by Rich “Boomer” Ritzheimer by winning two games.
Ritzheimer played in Danville Stadium 50 years ago as a young professional player. The stadium was built in 1946 and although it has been refurbished, looks much like it did when it was built. According to Ritzheimer, “Danville Stadium and many more like it were built just after World War II. Many of the small to medium size cities in the Midwest had similar stadiums. They had the same look and the same feel. I remembered this one as being near some railroad tracks, like many of them were. These stadiums were located in such areas because the land would have been cheaper in a post-WWII economy.”
To celebrate Ritzheimer's return, the Mains were treated to a behind the scenes tour of the stadium. Included in the tour was a private room dedicated to the many big league players who had come through Danville as members of the local minor league team. Photos, uniforms, and old posters, including some dating back to Negro League barnstorming teams, were on display.
On the field, the Mains had little trouble handling their hosts, the Vermillion Voles. In the first match, the Mains held the Voles to only 4 tallies and the Mains tallied were - as one of the Voles stated - “Too numerous to count”. The second game of the match was more competitive with the Mains winning by a score of 12-7.
As is becoming their tradition, the Mains once again fielded some new players who were giving vintage ball a try for the first time. Ken “Sox” Tyler, who hails from Mascoutah and is forming a vintage team there, played for the Mains. Ken is looking for able-bodied ballist from the Mascoutah area, as he plans to begin field a team in Mascoutah next year.
Another first time Main was Chris “Hoosier Moon” Haselhorst, a former Trenton area resident now living in Indiana. Also making a special Mains debut as the first female Main was Nicole “Legs” Kohlbrecher. “Legs” is the sister of Mains player “Peanut” Kohlbrecher.
Notable playing contributions came from all the Mains. Gary “Crash” Crouch had a fine day both fielding and at the plate to help lead the Mains. Both of the Hilmes boys, “Sloppy” and “Country” had fine days as well. And, once again Jeff “Peanut” Kohlbrecher was the hitting star with several long flies and many tallies scored.
The Mains will take a couple of weekends off to recover and will be in action again on October 10th. The next games will be in a tournament of vintage teams being played in Florissant Missouri as part of that city’s Old Town Festival.