[abell1198]

The trip back to Ithaca was uneventful for James. Ephraim was working with Irene planning their wedding. James Jr. was working on his pitching form and Thomas was looking over college literature and letters he had received from various coaches. When they arrived at Big Red Ballpark, the weather was partly cloudy and 62 degrees. The wind was a bit breezy, though, blowing from right to left across the field at 16 mph. James had added Ephraim to his staff as his assistant. At 56 years old, James knew his retirement was looming on the horizon, and he needed to teach Ephraim the position of Commissioner, so that one day, he might replace him and lead the association into the next century. Ephraim was planning on joining his father in New York after the wedding and a short honeymoon. As a former player, Ephraim felt he had special insight into the game that his father didn't have. James was rather conservative and Ephraim wanted to see changes made in the collegiate game.

The Herring crew arrived at the park along with 1490 other people. James brought along the championship trophy to present to either Brown or Cornell at the end of the game. John Venhaus and Adam Hackney warmed up for their third and final match up. The two pitchers were at their best, allowing only three base hits in the first 2 1/2 innings. But in the bottom of the 3rd, Cornell would break the scoreless tie. With one out, Trevor Jenkins and Ned Williamson get base hits off of Venhaus. J.D. Ruch drives the ball into right center. Right fielder Chris Wiater, however, throws wild after fielding the ball. Jenkins scores and runners are on second and third. "Honest John" Morrill hits a slow grounder to short, scoring Williamson, as the shortstop's only play was at first. When the 3rd inning ends, Cornell leads 2-0.

Brown responds in the 4th inning. After seeing three straight balls from Hackney, Jonathan Christopherson singles into right. He's sacrificed to second and Abner Dalrymple comes up. The freshman is 4 for 9 in the championship series thus far. After swinging and missing the first pitch, he connects on the second one and sends it into right. A fielding error on Micah Rufo in right allows Christopherson to score and gives Dalrymple second base. A passed ball sends Dalrymple to third and he would score on a slow grounder to short by Danny Rivera. Midway through the 4th, the game is tied 2-2. Cornell has no answer in the bottom of the inning and the 5th goes by scoreless.

Dalrymple leads off the top of the 6th with a drive to the wall in deep left center. He ends up at third with a triple!! Two batters later, Dalrymple trots home on a Frank Vlach base hit. Brown takes the lead, 3-2. Cornell goes down in order to end the 6th. The Bears take their lead into the bottom of the 8th. Ned Williamson starts things off with a grounder to second, but it's muffed and the wild throw past the first baseman sends Williamson to second. He moves to third on a ground out by Ruch, but holds when Morrill grounds out to short. But Venhaus uncorks a wild pitch on the first pitch thrown to Rufo. Williamson comes home and ties the game, 3-3!!!

Brown fails to score in the top of the 9th. Cornell DH Chris Finnegan leads off the bottom of the inning with a single into right. Noah "Husk" Mola sacrifices Finnegan to second with the next at bat. With first base open, Steve Minch draws the intentional walk to put men at first and second with one out. Ryan Brown is brought in as a pinch runner, replacing Finnegan at second. Frank "Jumbo" Whitney is the next due hitter, but he's 0 for 3 today and is pulled by Manager Chase Whitehead for freshman David "Basket Case" Mayeaux. Whitehead seems like a basket case for making that move, but let's see what happens. The first pitch to Mayeaux is thrown and Brown is off and running. Brown steals third base, beating the throw!! A called strike and another ball later, Mayeaux hits the 2-1 pitch into center field. Wiater, who was moved to center in the 9th during some defensive moves, makes the catch. Brown tags up and sprints for the plate!! Wiater throws home, but it's off the mark and there is no play at the plate!!! Ryan Brown scores easily, giving the Cornell Big Red a 4-3 walk off win and their first National Collegiate Championship!!!