The morning times., 1896-03-27

"See those carpenters mailing boards
over the backStop there underneath the
grand stand?'' queried Jim Mcclure yes
terday afternoon. Those holes. or at
least one of them, saved US a beating last
season.
We were playing McCloskey's rejuve-
mated Louisville Coloncls, and they had
three runs the best of us in the ninth
inning. 1t looked squalIy when we came
in TO take our last turn at the bat.
But the holes In the backstop were
destined TO help Us out. We felt a horror
or being downed on our own grounds by the
taiienders, and we went in TO do or die.
This determination resulted in three
Senators filling the bases, but in the
struggle two men were put out. The game
hung by slender thread when Abbey came
TO bat.
The beachers were roofing as they
never rooted before for Charley to knock
the ball over the fence, or off the earth, or
10 some place where a Louisville fielder
couldn't get ii until everybody had scored.
Abbey was equally as anxious 10 do
the trick, and he waited for good one
to come over. But good ones were scarce
that day. and IL wasn't long before Charley
had two strikes against him. Two balls
were sandwiched in between. and the next
delivery by the pitcher was a slow, high one
right over the rubber.
Abbey met IL and sent il bounding laZily
TO short, where Shugart grabbed the ball
and threw home To catch the runner at the
plate.
The ball. and the runner, who was
Selbach. l think, reached home base about
the same time, and in the mix up Hank
Spies, who was catching, lost sight of the
ball, and it passed on 10 the backstop and
-rTHg l,.,Fa
stand.
Joyce. who was sitting on the bench.
saw the bali go through, and while Spies
and the other Louisville pla yers, who had
run, were searching for the lost sphere,
Bill ran out on the third base line and
frantically yelled 10 our runners 10 come
in in a hurry.
clip, and Abbey ran so fast that he caught
Crooks, who was on second, Just as Jack
put his toe on the plate.
1T all happened so quick that there
was no time 10 call the game 10 see what
had become OF the ball. and the four runs
counted and saved us from defeat.
1T was the first and only piece OF luck
that we had last season, and we began
TO think that the long lane had turned.
Before that those holes were constant
source OF worry to me, as / feared some
thing OF the kind would happen while |
was catching. But afterwards my feelings
toward the openings underwent change,
and when / first saw the workmen mailing
them up felt as if l was losing Old
friends"
WORK AT NATIONAL PARK.
The pretty weather yesterday was taken
advantage of 10y Mr.. Wagner, and he had
| a large force OF men at work on the grounds
and buildings.
Own ,rbae1I,o r-r,, ,lc # dirt
rolled on the outneld and placed in the
ruts and holes. The infield was Ieveled
and rolled and the diamond no W presents
! its usual even appearance.
number of carpenters were ut work
! on the new seats, and they will probably
/ be finished by the opening of the pre-
| liminary season. The seating capacity
| of the park VIII be increased 2,CC0 over
! previous years.
The roadway leading from the gates
| TO Seventh street has been coated with
new cinders and a wide board walk Will
| be laid to the entrance This Improvement
| VIII be great convenience, especially as
! a protection to ladies' skirts on muddy or
! dusty days.
| MIR. Wagner said last night, that the
! dates with the Toronto. Canada, Club FOR
| April Is, l 4, and 10. were off, S
| Manager Buckinburger had not kept faith
| with him. He said the dates would be
supplied with games with other teams.
Ted Sullivan's Texas Stee rs'' will
! come April and Z, and the Syracuse
/ Stars, of the Eastern League, April 10
| As yet no game has been arranged with
| the Georgetowns.
The GeoTget0Wn'S schedule is complete
/ for the time intervening between now
and the opening or the National Leagne
season, and n game with the Senators is
hardly possible, unless club with which
the Rock Greek boys have an engage
ment should fail TO keep their agreement
A contest between the Senators and
Georgetown would excite great interest
and local fans are hoping that a meeting
viii be brought about. Mr. Wagner is
trying to secure a strong club to play his
leaguers on Harry Wright Day, April 49,
MERCER WILL ARRIVE TODAY.
Win Mercer, the favorite young pitcher,
was expected from his home at East Liv-
erpool, o.. yesterday, but he failed to
arrive. He viii probably put in an APP
peaCance at the park today.
The players now in the city got in their
first full days outdoor practice yesterday.
The quartet. MCGUIRE. Cartwright, Abbey
and DeHoDtrevIlle, donned their working
clothes early and started into training first
by walking, then running and afterwards
throwing the ban around the bases ard
batting flies 10 the outfield. Such is their
condition already that not one of them
| complained OF soreness last night.
Writing from st. Louis Jack Crooks says
he is down TO GA pounds and that all he
needs now is warm weather to bring his
throwing arm around in coed shape. Il
am feeling fine states Jack. land am in
a humor to play the old bag in a way to
satisfy all NV friends in Washington ~