STURGIS ― This year’s annual vintage baseball game went the way of the Sturgis Biscuits.
It will be the only win of the year for the Biscuits, who are just fine with that. Sturgis plays one game each year with a rotating roster of distinguished members of the community. There are a handful of players who return every year for the contest, and those mainstays helped the Biscuits reach victory over visiting Elkhart County’s Railroaders on Wednesday, June 25.
The win, which came by way of a 10-7 final score, was the second in three seasons for the Biscuits. The team was able to avenge a loss to the Railroaders from last year’s game.
Each year, the vintage baseball game played between the teams is one of the features for Sturgis Fest, the town’s yearly festival organized and operated by the Sturgis Area Chamber of Commerce. Following the baseball game, the family night continued with the showing of “Back to the Future” on the jumbotron located at the high school football field.
The contest looks and feels very similar to the modern day game of baseball, but there are some noticeable differences.
Pitching is done under-handed and with a baseball that is quite a bit heavier than modern times. Also, an out can be recorded by a defensive player if they maintain a catch after the ball bounces once on the field of play. Gloves are not worn by any defensive position player.
This year’s game was played on the baseball diamond at Sturgis High School. It was the anchor attraction for “Family Day” which also featured rides and festivities in the parking lot of the high school. The Biscuits play one such game every year against the Railroaders, a team that travels quite a bit during the summer months and plays close to 50 contests.
Biscuits manager Sam Watson returned once again to lead the team this year.
“It was a great victory. A good team win with a lot of great players making plays,” he said following the win. “It was a great way to kick off Sturgis Fest with a Biscuits victory.”
Both teams wore vintage uniforms made of wool once again. The teams were tough as railroad spikes despite the heat, humidity and dryness.
Sturgis Fest opened Tuesday with its annual kickoff dinner celebrating its citizens of the year. Bike Night followed on Thursday with a cruise and parade happening on Friday. Saturday is an all-sports day, featuring a 5K run/walk and a pickleball tournament.
The city’s fireworks will take place on Saturday night at Kirsch Municipal Airport beginning at dusk (around 9:45 p.m.) and are free to the public.
Contact Sports Editor Brandon Watson at bwatson@gannett.com. Follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, @BwatsonSJ.
This article originally appeared on Sturgis Journal: Biscuits claim 10-7 victory in vintage baseball game over Elkhart County
Reporting by Brandon Watson, Sturgis Journal / Sturgis Journal
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