Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-04-15
TO PLAY TOMORROW
League Season Will Open With Rich
mOld Team at Home.
UMPIRE BELTS AND HIS STAFF.
He VIII See That the Rules
Are All strictly Enforced, and
Punished.

The Virginia State League baseball
season begins tomorrow at 40 o'clock.
when the Roanoke Goats will play the
champions here; the Portsmouths will
meet the Norfolks In Norfolk. and the
Petersburgs viii meet the Lynchburgs in
the Hill City.
All the six teams are in first-class con-
dition and everything would Indicate
that the league is entering upon the
most successful session since its organi-
zation.
The teams are all composed of stronger
and faster players, and there Is no doubt
but that the clubs will be punched more
closely than was the case last year.
MIR. BELTS Is HERE.
Chief-of-Umplres w. G.. Belts arrived
in the city yesterday afternoon. and
will assemble his stan OF umplres and
the captains OF the six teams at Peters
burg this morning at 10 o'clock. when he
purposes giving his umpires all their
necessary instructions, preparatory TO be-
ginning the league work tomorrow. He
how every ruling will be made, and thus
obviate as far as possible, all misunder-
standings.
Mr.. Belts will himself start at Norfolk
and umpire the Norfolk ana Portsmouth
game: he has detailed Wood to 10 10
Lynchburg. and Kline will come here.
Kline is heavy weight, and quite a
fieshy man, though very active. He has
a deep, sonorOus voice. and the rooters
will have no trouble In distinguishing his
rulings.
Mr.. Belts, in talking to Dispatch man
last night, said that he would see that
order was maintained throughout the
season. and that every decision or ruling
of an umpire was adhered TO and
abided by
MUST PAY FINES.
ANY player, Mr. Belts said, who is
guilty OF disorder on the field, will be
fined, and in every case the fine will have
TO be paid.
The umpires will be required to wear
a blue serge suit as a uniform. with a
blue cap.
The umpire's decision can only be ques-
toned this year By the captain of the
team. and any other player who indulges
in a kick Will be promptly fined, and il
this does not have the desired effect,
be put out Of the game.
A POORLY-PLAYED GAME.
The University Of Maryland team en-
gagged Jake Wells's Bluebirds in battle
for about two hours yesterday, but the
contest, II the travesty can be dignifed
by that name. was wholly one-sided.
The Maryland boys showed great def
cheney in the national game. and instead
Of accommodating runs, as did the Rich
mond team, piled UP any quantity OF er-
rors. Only a very small crowd witnessed
the game, and these few suffered greatly
from ennui before the ninth inning was
concluded.
The Bluebirds were so much superior
In every respect 10 their collegiate oppo-
nents that they had no incentive to play.
and the Simply fooled around about the
diamond. getting as much exercise as was
good for them.
Wells put in all his pitchers, and all
OF them got a little practice, but no at
tempt was made at artistic pitching.
Following is the score by innings:
123i567s9-R II. L.
Richmond ........1 ! o 90 5-l7 Is 2
Univ. OF Nd. .....0 S0O01 0O-4 Z II
Batteries: Richmond-Dillon and Wood
ruff and Ballou and Wells. University of
Maryland-Gettig and Allen.
The Richmond lads will not play ball
this afternoon, but will devote the day
to practicing for the opening contest to-
morrow.