PORTAGE | Post-Civil War baseball fits John "Hootles" Johnston just fine.

"I love that rule," Johnston said after he appeared to strike out, which would have ended the game in defeat for the Iron Diamonds against the Milwaukee Grays during a vintage base ball round-robin tournament held May 31 at Woodland Park.

With a previous victory over the Bonneyville Millers, the hosting Diamonds were down 6-3 with two outs in the top of the seventh -- the final inning if the Diamonds didn't rally. "Hootles," who has been with the Portage-based Diamonds since their inception three years ago, took a big yet futile swing at an underhanded offering.

The Grays' catcher -- referred to as the "behind" during the game's infancy years -- was motioning to congratulate Johnston and the rest of the Diamonds for a match well played ... a gentlemanly gesture more common circa 1858. But it was pointed out that even though Johnston hit two foul balls before his swing and miss, fouls didn't count as strikes 150 years ago.

Johnston proceeded to hit a double on the next pitch, then later scored the tying run forcing extra-innings. The Diamonds rallied again for three runs in the eight and eventually won, 9-6.

Other than the fouls-don't-count-as-strikes rule, Johnston fancies other aspects of vintage base ball.

"The uniforms are much cooler," he said. "And I always wanted to learn more about the game ... how it all started."

The tourney against the Millers and Grays was the Iron Diamonds' home opener for the 2009 ... er ... 1858 season. Most of their home games are played at Woodland, but they won't be back for nearly two months -- it's like their upcoming road trip will be traversed by way of steam-powered locomotive.

The Iron Diamonds were founded by captain Dennis Duncan, who served as umpire for most of the tournament.

"I played with the Deep River Grinders for a couple of years before starting the Diamonds," Duncan said. "Of course they (the Grinders) have gotten vintage base ball down pat being around for so long.

"But like them, most of our players are facinated with the history of the game. And we have a wide range of players. Our youngest is 12; our oldest is 64."

Like Johnston, Duncan prefers the friendly atmosphere of vintage base ball over the sometimes cutthroat nature of adult softball. But those willing to travel back in time may have to retool their offensive approach.

"Just like 'Wee Willie' Keeler said, 'Hit them where they ain't,'" Duncan said. "You've got to realize if you're a big power-hitting softball player that the ball can be fielded on a single bounce for an out. So if you're trying to hit it over the outfielders, they can usually run and catch up to it after it hits the ground."