The record-union., 1899-08-20
AMATEUR BASEBALL GOSSIP.
THE PHOENIX AND MAsoNs TO
PLAY TO-DAY.
Great Activity in Baseball Circles
throughout the Sacramento
Valley.

Valley.
The amateur game at Oak Park to-
uay VIII probably draw a large crowd,
Aor both of the contesting teams have
large crowd of followers that will go
out to root for their favorites The
game Will be between the Phoenix and
Mason teams, two of the best amateur
teams of the Sacramento Valley, and
VIII be for the championship of North
ern California and a purse of $50.
Phoenix is now regarded as the cham
plon team of this district, but after to-
days game there may be a change.
There has long been a strong rivalry
between these teams.
From the camps of the clubs comes
word that they are both figuring on vic
tory, and when both teams go into a
game in this spirit something is sure
to happen. The Masons are going to
line up strong, and will leave no stone
unturned to beat their rivals. 1t has
been stated that Manafee, the crack
Rocklin catcher would be at the re-
ceiving end for the Masons, but word
was received late yesterday that the
catcher could not be on hand, as Man
Francisco to play with the Sacramentos.
In casting about for a man to fill his
place they were lucky enough to hit
on VIM. Johnson. catcher for the Ath
letic Club last season. Johnson is a
good man, and should prove a tower OF
strength behind the bat Cox, "the
cyclone" who recently arrived from the
Texas League, will go into the box for
md oil ba ic
a good one.
The lnf1eld of this team is composed
of crack amateur players who are
steadily gaining a reputation in the
amateur ranks. and can be relied on to
play a pretty game to-day The out
fielders are good ones, and if anything
gets away from them it will not only
surprise them but their friends The
hight of the Masons ambition is to de-
feat the Phoenix men, and to this end
they have been practicing every day
the past week. All who saw the game
two weeks ago between the Athletics
and Phoenix teams can judge of the
quality of ball they can put up.
There are but two changes in the
Phoenix lineup since then. Shiels, late
of the Athletic Club, viii play on the
initial to-day, and ]. Thielen, who but
recently returned from Chicago, at
short. The rest of the positions will
be the same as in the former game.
Fitzgerald, who is proving that he has
the stuff in him the material of which
league players are made. will do the
twirling for the Phoenix team, with
Davy Cowden. one of the best anna
teur catchers on the coast, behind the
bat. This is a battery that will be hard
to solve
Following is the lineup for to-day:
Phoenix. Masons
Cowden. .....Catcher ...... Johnson
Fitzgerald. -. Pitcher . Cox
Shiels. First base. ....J. Ruser
Ridley. Second base. -. Lewis
Butler. Third base. ..De Costa
J. Thielen. e.. Shortstop go. Nichols
Rice. Left field. .. "A Helman
Logarazino. =. Center field. F. Coffman
H Thielen. Right field. -. Peters
Extra-L. Coffman.
Returns of the Gilt Edge San Fran
cisco game will be posted by innings
at above game.
The Athletic Club is not sleeping, by
any means. They are anxiously wait
ing to find out the result of to-day's
game between the Phoenix and Ma
sons, and are ready with a challenge
to the victors. The winner of to-days
contest will gladly give the Athletics
a chance; so they both claim.
In last Sundays game at Gridley be-
tween the Masons and the Gridleys the
latter proved the victors by a score of
6 to 3. The Masons had the game well
in hand up to the seventh inning, but
a peculiar decision by the umpire
gave the Gridley boys the advantage.
The Phoenix Club went to Vacaville
last Sunday and defeated the team of
that place by a score of 13 to IL. In
the first three innings both sides play
ed ball like farmers. but after that they
settled down and played good ball.
Next Sunday the Millers go to Colusa
to try conclusions with the team of
that place.
There was some talk among the anna
teur clubs of this city to form an anna
teur league, but the Folsom team re-
fused to enter. and the project has
fallen through.
The leading amateur teams of Sac
ramento have endeavored in every way
to secure a game with the team repre-
senting Stockton. but so far their eff
forts have proven futile. and now they
are wondering if the Stocktonites are
afraid to go against a team from the
Capital City.
Birth, the Colusa pitcher may next
season be seen in one of the Pacific
Coast League teams. Santa Cruz and
Oakland have offered all kinds Of in
ducements to him. but he refuses all
their offers If reports be true, he is
another Jay Hughes.
Amateur baseball is booming this
year in all parts of the State In the
southern portion there is a league run
ming and from all accounts it is in
fourishing condition. In the sugar belt
district another league has organized,