Omaha daily bee., 1899-04-02
NEBRASKA VARSITY BASE BALL
state University VIII Have Good
Team and Has Arranged n Full
Seasons Schedule.

Despite the rather vague promise of spring
given by the weather man the athletes Of the
State university are awakening. More in
terest than has been displayed in past years
is being shown in all branches of sport and
this is particularly the case with base ball
IL the sun chances to be out the coming
week the ball grounds will be the scene
of much activity. Captain Reeder has gath
cred together enough material for two good
teams For the last six weeks daily work
has been done in general body building in
the gymnasium and work in the cage. Out
door runs have been taken with regularity,
with some battery work, though the weather
has been rather too conducive to stiff
fingers and rheumatic joints.
Base ball has rapidly developed in the
university in the last five years and this
years team promises to surprise some of
the best colleges of the middle west which
will be met on the long spring trip. The
work of last years team was very satis
factory considering the manner in which the
team was cut to pieces by the war fever
OF the old men seven have returned, among
them the entire old list of pitchers, which
fact, without regard to some new material,
guarantees frst-class work in the box.
OF the pitchers Melford is probably in the
captained the pennant-winning foot ball
team of last year and at center for the last
four years has been unrivaled in the west.
He is a strong heady pitcher and has good
control Manager Bliss, Gordon and Rhea
are the other old twirlers. Bliss is a south
paw with a good arm. Gordon needs only
to get in his old form to make a very
effective player. He Is very speedy and has
good control when at his best Among the
newer men Stringer and Bell are both
anxious to show what they can do on the
rubber. Stringer shows as speedy a de-
livery as ever seen on the university
grounds. He has become a little heavy
since the foot ball season, but can get into
condition with hard work.
Moore, last years catcher, will have to
look to his position. Lehmer, an Omaha
High school man, will beat him out If hard
work can do it. Moore is handy with the
big pad, throws well to second and has the
advantage of being strong with the stick.
Both of the men understand the backstop
business. AT first Dusty Rhodes will con-
tinuo to hold forth. Snapper" Kennedy
thinks him a very promising player. If
Dusty" can only get to finding the ball
as safely with the stick as he does with his
long arms he will be an ideal first bag man.
McDermott, captain of the Virginia State
university team for the last two years,
seems little in the lead at present. Kings
bury, the strong left tackle of this yars
foot ball team, and Crandall, who played
with the Omaha High school team, play
the position satisfactorily. Third will be
in Gordon's care when he is out of the box.
Reede will be out with good weather and
is expected to show good form. Captain
Reeder will direct the game from short.
He is an active player and conscientious
with his men. giving everybody plenty of
chances to show what he can do. The out
field will be cared for by the extra pitchers
and one or two new men. Rhea is prob
ably a fixture at right. Cascadden and
CortelyoU, both of the Omaha High School,
Liebman, Ryons and johnson are all good
men.
Freddie Barnes and Snapper Kennedy
have been with the boys for the last month,
coaching in the cage and on the grounds.
Barnes is an old university boy, with a
pitching record. They both leave for the
east soon.
Manager Bliss has secured fine schedule.
The list following includes the games thus
far arranged, subject to some minor
changes:
Home Grounds.
April 15-Washburn college.
April 27-Missouri State university.
May 6-Kansas State university.
May 9-Nebraska Indians.
May 11-Nebraska Indians.
May 25-Iowa State university.
Eastern Trip.