Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1896-06-07

| The first series of games between the
two sections in the Interstate league
| closed yesterday. In the number Of
| games won and lost, there was no ad-
vantage, but considering the fact that
every team is expected to have an ad-
vantage on its home grounds, the west
may be said to have made the better
| showing. This was largely due to the
work of Fort Wayne. The Farmers
! lost but three games in eleven. The
| work of this club has been remarkable,
yet those who venture predictions con-
corning the termination of the pennant
race would do well TO bear in mind that
no team can>have such luck as has been
| the lot of Fort Wayne, continuously.
| This club has won every close game 1t
has played, and many of its victories
may be fairly ascribed to poor team
work and errors by opposing clubs. The
eastern teams appear to have been
| frightened by the reputation which pre-
coded the Indiana club. This is not an
| idle assertion. 1t is fact that all the
teams have been nervous in the games
| with Fort Wayne. The Farmers are
strong in the box This is the secret OF
| their success. The pitchers have been
doing remarkably steady and ef-
| factive work. If they maintain the gait
they will win the pennant, unless one of
the other clubs develops unexpected
strength in the same position. Wheel
ing, Jackson and New Castle have bet
ter fielders than Fort Wayne, and
| Wheeling, Youngstown and Washington
are stronger batters.
The work of the home club in the
| series with the West, has been rather
| disappointing. Fort Wayne took two
games out of three from Wheeling, To-
| leod and Saginaw each took one, and
| Jackson two. The home club won
twelve and lost eight games on the
| home grounds. This is not very cred
liable showing for team of pennant
aspirants. The club is made up of eX-
| celent material. This fact no person
will dispute. In the field there is but
one weak spot. 1t is unnecessary to
particularize, as the fans" are aware of
the weakness, and no doubt the manage
ment also. The necessity for strength
ening in the box was again apparent in
the games during the past six days. It
is here that the club is lamentably
weak, but the management is showing
the proper disposition, and it will not
be many days until new material is
landed. The club has lost several close
games through over-anxiety on the part
of the players, due to desire to please
the home patrons, and fear of disap-
/ &c
! club will no doubt put up a sitter ar
ticle of ball away from home, and will
return occupying no lower position IN
the race than at present.
In the games at home the club has
done good work, individually, but the
team work has not been upto the stand
ard. This was largely due to the alb
sence of that prince Of field managers,
Capt. Darrah, from the games. OAR
rah is coming around all right, however,
and will play regularly unless some I'M
foreseen accident intervenes. Wagner's
work at third, and at the bat, has been
gilt-edged. He is the star infielder OF
the league, and one of the best, if not
the very best, batter. He is terror to
| pliCueIS, anu WdlhS W III 81 OitSHOi tHdu
any other player in the league. This
is not luck, but is the result Of delib-
hrate attempts on the part Of opposing
pitchers. There is no faster outfielder
| anywhere than Rickert, but there is
room for improvement in his batting.
Gallagher and Violet are also quick and
clean outfielders, and hit well. Whaley
has not been in good health, but not
withstanding his work has been equal
to that of any short stop in the league.
Baker and Garvey have shown up well
in the box Irwin is still an uncertain
! ", and lacks experience. The club
would be greatly strengthened if
Wright was signed.
The past week has been an eventful
| fla hicuoli-fc