BARRE — Despite a smaller-than-expected turnout, a Vermont group unofficially qualified for the Guinness Book of World Records on Sunday by playing the longest baseball game.
Organizer Bobby DeAngelis of Rutland said the teams played for 200 innings, totaling 48 hours, 32 minutes and 45 seconds at the Barre Recreation Field. The mark of 48:09:25 was set by a St. Louis group in 2009.
“Basically, we were short-handed. It was amazing to even get to that point,” DeAngelis said. “Once we broke the record, it happened to be the 200th inning and we decided to end it and call it a weekend.”
DeAngelis had hoped to have 40 players but only 29 arrived for the first pitch at 1:15 p.m. Friday. By Saturday, that number had dwindled to 27.
“Somehow we got it done. I still don’t know how it happened,” said DeAngelis, who played for 45 hours. “It was quite the show. We are happy to be alive — and no one got injured.”
Other highlights include:
— The Blue Team was the winner, defeating the Red Team by a score of 210-114;
— One player pitched for seven straight hours;
— Four players pitched at least 25 innings.
DeAngelis said he will submit video, game logs and media clippings to Guinness for official verification. That process should take several weeks, he said.
Rutland Country Store was the event sponsor.
The score ended 210-114??? Wait. You can't do that. You can't play 200 innings if you're not tied after nine innings.