The Portland daily press., 1891-04-14
PLAY BALL.
College Boys Ready Whether There Be
One League Or Two.
Good Times Promised for Both Colby
and Bates Students,
While the Other Colleges Will Prob.
ably Do Their Share.
How Portland YathtSmen Propose To
Pass Pleasant Hours.


spirit of interest ia these sports is especially
marked, and base ball generally ranks first
The ball season is about to begin. On the
Colby ground it will be inaugurated Fast
Day by game between that team and the
lively Presumpscots. Much interest Is
evinced by the students as to the outcome of
this game. For years past the above named
team has come here, but the luck or superior
skill of the Presumpscots seems to be against
the Colby batsmen on these occasions, and
victory has failed to perch upon the college
banner. The Colbys have defeated this
team on neutral grounds, but in every con-
test have been vanquished ON native heather.
For this reason there is lively interest
manifested by the students in the result of
Thursdays game. They would regard vic
tory won over the Presumpscots on the
home diamond as plunder from fate. Games
on the college diamond always attract a
large attendance of base ball enthusiasts
from the Virgin City and elsewhere. There
is no regular Wateryille team. and the base
ball cranks of this city are compelled to ret
all their satisfaction in beholding the wan
derings of the sphere on the college diamond
1t is expected that the game with the Port.
Ian league team, which occurs in this city
the 22d, will call out a large attendance. A
return game is to be played the 25th, and on
that occasion Waterville will send big del
egation to the Forest City to view the ma
tional game IS it is played Manager Chip
man, of the Colby team, is arranging game
with the Harvard team, to occur in this city.
The date has not been decided upon, and the
game is simply in the prospective.
The intercollegiate games are always of
interest, but it is feared that the schism in
the old Maine Inter collegiate League will
have tendency to greatly diminish the en-
thusiasm of former seasons. As is known,
the split resulted in the birth of two leagues,
both of which now claim to be the original
and only Maine Iuter- Collegiate League.
The division in the old league was a great
surprise to every one at the time. Before
the meeting Of the managers, which occur
red in this city March 30th. it seemed to be
the universal opinion that the league would
be the same as entered the base ball arena
last season, and comprised of the same
teams, namely, Bowdoin, Colby, Bates and
Maine State College. 1t was great sur
game in the four Maine colleges when they
heard of the faction in the old league. The
split happened in this way. In the first
place, Bowdoin and Colby objected to the
team from M. 5. c.. and demanded its expul-
sion or withdrawal from the league. The
managers did not give as a reason for their
demands that the team put up an inferior
game. This has appeared in some papers as
the reason for their demand, and is not cor
rect. The opposite can be said to be charac-
teristic of the playing of the Maine State
teams. They are hustlers, and have seen
the championship pennant waving over their
domain more than once. But here is the
reason Colby and BowdOin gave for making
State team had always been losing feature,
and travelling expenses necessitated were
heavy, Bowdoin claims to have lost $3.50 in
single game with the team. 1t was, then,
on the ground OF expense. and not of inabil-
ity to successfully handle the sphere, that
the Maine State team were asked to with
draw. The neutral games have also been
constant source of expense, and Colby and
B0wdoin did not approve of them. The
Maine States very naturally desired to con-
tinue their membership in the old league,
and the Bates saw it in the same light, and
ook the side of the above named team.
Both OF these teams were united in their
support OF the neutral games. or four game
system. The four managers could not agree.
What must nave been the result of their dis
agreement? Simply this, it split the old
veteran league in factions. Two leagues
were formed, one comprising Bowd0in and
Colby; one, Bates and Maine State College.
Since the split occurred Bowdoin and Colby
have invited Bates to repent and return to
the old Maine Inter- Collegiate League. Her
refusal to comply only made the breach be-
tween the two factions more permanent.
There is an oddity in the shape of struggle
over the matter of the name of the two
leagues. Both claim to be the only State
that one or the other must succumb to the
battle axe, and have the old league title
Topped off, but which it will be cannot now
be foreseen. As was limited this division
will without doubt cause falling off iu the
interest felt in the games. This is to be de-
majority of students in Maine colleges, if
concession could be made by both leagues,
differences settled and the old league with its
four college teams take the field again.
Colby base ball men are now only in
BoWdein n9 list ssn0aal0 of tSe Ssme' esmes Masa
with dates has already been given In the
PRESS. The opening contest will be in
May, and is to be played on Colby's diamond.
Candidates for the Colby team have been for
some time working in the gymnasium. They
have now taken the field and are having daily
practice under the leadership of Capt. Par
sons. Colby has ample material for two good
teams. OF those who haveE shown con-
siderable skill in this line are: Foster, Par
sons, Purinton, '91, Kalloch. Bounty, Mer-
nolds, Barnes, Whitman. Smith, True. Sat
lipp, Purintop, '9a,. and Mcguire. Colby
lost three brilliant players by graduation In
80. The personnel of the Colby team has
not been decided upon for this season. Par.
sons. the champion sprinter, pitcher and
catcher, is at present putting in some effect.
i've work behind the bat In practice games.
and will probably take that position this
season. The other handle of the battery will
be held by Freshman, Whitman of Skow-
hegan. who entered college last fall, has
ting curves, and will face the batsman lin
league games. Fosters heavy batting will
also be enjoyed by the home team. To ali
appearances Colby will enter the arena with
Team as strong II not stronger than before.
said to be showing up In their practice games
wonderfully well, and some close and lively
contests may soon be expected between the
two teams. A. ii. Chapman is a great snc-
cess as manager OF the Colby team. Through
his efforts several important changes have
been made on the ball grounds, among them
the erection OF new covered grand stand.
with a capacity of seating two hundred peo,
pie.
Other sports are receiving their share of
attention from the students. One of the
most popular of these is lawn tennis. II is
early yet to talk of tennis. as the ground is
hardly suitable for playing the game.
tennis tournament will be held as soon as
the ground is in proper condition and the in
terest in the game Is more complete. The
medal winner in the tournament last wear ar
was e. G. Mcguire, '91. Among the good
players are A. K. Rogers, o. l.. Hall. r. n
Mathews, Ii. M. Connors, G.. A. Stoddard'
r. II. Stover,G. r. Campbell, E. G. Mcguire
N. l.. Bassett, A. G. Hurd, A. Fl. Beckmoreo
G. p. Fall, ]. FL. Ogire, A. G. Andrews and
F. B. Nichols. Prof. Roberts and Prof
BATHS find great sport in the game and can
be frequently seen on the tennis courts en-
gagged in lively contest. Several attemnts
have been made to form an:Inter- ColIeSiatss
through.
The game of football. which has so fired
other colleges, never seemed to enthuse Col
by students. On several occasions attemnts
have been made to give the game foothpi5
here, but these occasions have generate
proved disastrous to parties Concerned
venture in this line was made again last fall
and the game bid falr to usurp the place OF
in a game so badly that he was sheIved "nr for
the remainder Of his collegiate year. Acct
dents to players have placed this game on the
a 1;oko of Golhu VA viz