Evening star., 1897-04-01


Reilly. .gehird base e........ Wedulge.
Mercer. r............. pitcher .Gilroy.
The game will be called at 4:l5 sharp by
Umpire Heydler. ard ladies will be admit
ted free when accompanied by escorts
winnie b. Mercer, who will start the
ball rolling in this afternoons game is in
fine condition. but perhaps little too light
but Manager Schmeiz says he will be IN
perfect shape before the season begins. One
OF the most remarkable things about Mer-
GERS ability as, a pitcher is that he is as
good in the spring any time of the
year, and the batters that 20 against him
the first month of the season md him al
moSt inNinciole. That SLOW bail OF last
year, which did much execution has
been improved. and MERGERS winnings
should increase about 10 per cent over last
Year. win" has been in the gymnasium
Tor the past six weeks and his good condi-
tion is attributed to this preliminary work
This season will make the fourth for the
OHIO boy with the washington xeam and
as he has continually improved. 1t will be
hard matter to place a limit to his ability
the coming season
Another remarkable thing in connection
Win Mercer'S long stay with the Senator's
Is that he has failed to fall victim to the
many bright eyes that have smiled on him
almost continuously since his inaugural ap-
pearance in 1894.
The Regularly First Came
For the first time this season the Sena-
tors regular team was on the diamond al
National Park yesterday. going against
Charley Abbey's "Yanigans," an organiza-
ton made up Of the extra men of the
regular team and several local players
From senatorial point Of view the game
was beauty. not an error being made
and every player on the regular team get
ting in one or more hits with the exception
of Selbach. AS AL can hit the ball almost
any time he wants to, 1t is a good guess
| that he took pity on the opposition pitchers
and refused to slug the ball. especially as
base hits were common.
The playing of the intield was worth go
| ing miles to see. everything being done
| with a precision and quickness that con-
| tinually called forth applause of the sew
| eral hundred spectators. Owing to the ef-
! fective pitching of Mercer and Swain the
| outfield had very little to do, but to be in
| the swim with the infield everything was
| gobbled up that went outside the diamond
| Mercer was in the box for the first six in
| nings, and owing to that puzzling slow ball.
| deftly mixed with speedy in and outshoots,
| but three hits were recorded against him.
| and those were made by Abbey, Wrigiey
| and Ashe. Hillary Swain came into the
| game in the seventh inning, and but one
| hit. an intield bunt by Hodge. was all the
! opposition could do with the big boys de-
| livery. This boy Swain will fit in very
| nicely with Mercer and McJames when the
| regular season opens, and the indications
| are that he will be one OF the regular trio
| throughout the season.
| the "Yanigans,' and met the fate of all
| pitchers that are not in first-class condi-
| ton. Both these boys are local players OF
| reputation, and have done commenGable
! work at different times, but jumping into q
| game without practice against band OF
| players keyed up to the top notch IS the
| Senators now are was bound to tell against
them. Of course, the support given them
vas something horrible. as Abbey, Wrigley
and Hodge were the only players in theil
Rome positions. but twenty-one hits. with
total of thirty-two bases. is a strong
proposition to explain away. Abbey ant
German were the only "Yanigans" who
failed to get into the error column.
The batting of the Senators was the
exhilerating part of the game. Everybody
Is fully posted on the fielding ability OF
| the club, but an improvement is looked
for the coming season, and from yester.
| days game 1t can be seen that the boys
are making an early start in the batting
| line.
Gene DeMontreville led Off with ths
first home run of the season, and, besides
secured three singles. Lush came mex
with a triple, a double and single. Thi:
| player has been batting in practice from
| the left side and had become almost dis
couraged over the results of his efforts
| but yesterdays exhibition Immediately
| placed him good terms with himself
Johnny O'Brien secured two doubles ant
nice singles. Cartwright made double
and single. and Charley Reilly got fntC
| the push with two singles.
| When the final inning was completed Il
was found that the score was "a to o, 9
| remarkable showing, when 1t is taken In
to considerations that seven out Of the nint
"Yanigans" are professionals