New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-05-17
HARD PRACTICE At PRINCETON.
THE BALI. NINE WORKING sTuRDiLY FOR ITS
FORTHCOMING CONTESTS.

THE BALI. NINE WORKING sTURDILY FOR ITS
FORTHCOMING CONTESTS.
Princeton May l6 CSpecaD.-The past week Mt
Princeton has been marked By unusual activity In
athletic circles. The baseball and track teams
have labored necessarily in preparation for the
games with Yale and rapid improvement was made
along all lines. 1t IS safe to say the exhibition last
Saturday was the poorest witnessed IN an
intercollegiate game at Princeton, and the Tigers
won more through Iiarvard's lamentable weakness
than by their own ability. The poor exhibitions In
the Cornell Harvard and Lafayette games were
largely due to the Introduction OF n complicated
system OF signals, which not thoroughly mas
tered by the men and threw them into confusion at
critical times Several days spent In perfectng
this system. and the play soon became systematized
and reached degree OF perfection rarely seen In an
amateur team. In fact. II Is largely upon THIS sys-
TEN OF team play that the Tigers" are baslng their
championship aspirations and it is safe to say the
team is stronger in this particular than any former
Princeton nine. The batting Of tho team has been
uniformly hard and timely and little attention was
given to II during the week.
or the pitchers Easton has been the most effective
In tho larger games. and he will be entered In the
box in the Yale game at New-Haven next Saturday.
willie Wilson will be played in the Cornell game the
following Wednesday. Easton may be relied upon
for six Innings after which he usually weakens and
gives his opponents several bases on balls or IS
pitcher Prin eton has had since the days OF Young
and RrOkaW. Altman mas Deen trleu III stNeral
games but he has been much less effective than st
year. Wilson Is capable Of pitching an effective
game, although he cannot be relied upon. was
proved In the Cornell game when he was ba tied for
a total Of twenty three Eases.
The management is still in a quandary to the
position behind the bat All three OF the catchers
have weaknesses which make them anything but
trustworthy Smith IL the best backstcp Of the trio.
but his effectiveness Is lessened by his inability
throw to bases accurately Titus Is his superior In
throwing but is not sure a backstop. Graham
had a trial in the Lafayette contest and p.ayed a
steady game. but has not had enough experience on
the team to insure him the pos ton
Wheeler has strengthened the infeld by his clever
game at second. Kelly has been playing but
mediocre game at first base but has redeemed him
self by heavy stick work. Gunster third has
been picking up everything In his territory and
using excellent judgment There Is no telling what
he will do at the bat. however. one day he Will
lead the list with c.ean record OF hits and again
1t will be strike outs Ward as shortstop is OF
the cleverest heders on the amateur diamond, and
bis work surpasses anything ever seen a Prince
ton team. Wilson has been covering left field
when not in the box. lie is up to the average as a
feeder and hits the ball hard and often Bradley
In centre covers vast amount OF ground and has
led the batting list during the season. Altman In
right is trustworthy In his fielding, and is sure
batter.
The Yale game at New Haven next Saturday
promises to be the most exciting OF the year. Yale