The times., 1897-04-04
LAST Of THE V|RG|NIANS
VisitorS Lost Their Farewell
Game TO the Senators.
NORFOLK WAS 0UTCLASSED
Game Was Devoid of Features and
Was Called in the Eighth Inning
10 Allow the Visiting Team 10
Catch the Boat Mercer and
Swain Pitched.

1t was getaway day with Norfolk at
National Park yesterday afternoon, and
the game was called at the end of the
first half OF the eighth inning, SO that the
visitors could catch the boat for home.
1t was a featurelesS contest, the big
leaguers taking the lead at the start and
maintaining it Until Umpire Heydler called
"game" The fast clip set by the Yir-
giuians in the first struggle with the
Senators was not continued Friday nor
Yesterday, and the last two games OF the
series demonstrated the superiority Of the
ma jor leaguers over their minor opponents.
The trio OF games furnished an object
lesson in baseball. A club belonging to
small league may make a brilliant show
ing on short notice and may hustle the
veterans of the profession for brief
sprint, but they can { hold the pace for any
length of time. Itis like backing a quarter
horse to win a mile race in field Of
thoroughbreds.
The visitors put up a startling game
THURSDAY and it was pure luck that the
Senators beat them out 10y a single run.
but. as stated they started out too fast
and had TO drop back in the contests fol-
lowing At that. Norfolk is the best minor
league club that ever played in this city,
barring possibly, the Syracuse STARS"
Who filled an engagement with the local
team last season Charley Reilly was
nanager-captain of Syracuse at the time.
Manager Smith worked Pitchers Gilroy,
Newton. aud Sechrist to the receiving of
Catchers Hayden and Snyder. "Bill Me,
who caught such an excellent game Fri
-otl AnCp -nH aSf
Manager Schmelz gave Mercer and
Swain the assignment for the afternoon
and between the two, the visitors were
unable to do much business in the way OF
base hits. McFarlan, Weddige, Wehl, and
Snyder were the only Oystermen crafty
enough to connect with the Ohioans' de
livery. Swain used slow drop to splendid
advantage and mixed 'em up with the
skill of a cocktail artist. BE has the puz-
cling knack of-aternatiDg fast hall and
q lazy, sleepy drop, that makes the batsman
nearly twist his back in two. The big boy
will have a whole lot of fun with the
bluggers of the league this season.
1t looks as if Washington has Jewel in
Swain. Not only is he evidencing every in
dication of a pitcher, but he fields his pCsi-
ton in perfect style, and always manages
20 hit the ball when at bat. Yesterday
MoFarlan, who is very fast for big man,
fungoed tie leather between Swain and
Reiny-a bunt it really was. Swain spread
his six feet five inches out on the grass, and
picking up the ball, shot it TO Cartwright
like a bullet out Of chokebore rifle.
Big Ed held on to il, putting out McFaIlan,
but the force of the throw raised 1lm off
the ground The fast, pretty play evoked
a great deal Of applause and enthusiasm,
and Swain had to doff his cap several
times He is a good natured youngSter, and
always laughs at the sallies and quips made
at the expense Of his shape and reach.
Farrell caught the first five innings and
then gave way to Mcclure, who finished tire
game. 1t was Lush's good eye" day,
Billy running up the perfect batting aver
age of 900. Out of four times up v ith
the stick he made a single and Two tliples.-
getting base on balls the other time.
DeMontreviIle also pushed out n trio of
neat singles.
Selbach resumed his position on the left
frontier His batting eye is under the
weather a | present, but in reply to chaff-
ing in the dresslng-room he tells his con-
freres to Just wait until the real cam
paign opens Al, however, got in a pair
of sacrifices yesterday that aided very
materially in sending four runs across the
rubber.
The attendance was small, owing to the
counter game at Georgetown Field. The
audience, though, was very appreciative
and everybody had kind goodby and
luck word for the Norfolk pla ayers when
they left the park in order to catch the z
o'clock steamer. The local fans will pulp
for them TO win the Atlantic League flag.
Unless the other clubs are extraordinarily
strong the 0ystermen will come very near
landing tho rag.
The Senators scored twice in the first