Evening star., 1899-03-25
OPENING THE'SEASON
Geergetown's Nine to PLAY the Gal
laudets,
DIAMOND IN e00D, CONDITION
Great Fight Going on for Posi-
tons. : 20
CURRENT SPORTING NOTES

The Intercollegiate base ball season in
Washington was not opened Wednesday,
as was expected, the inclemency Of the
weather preventing the meeting of the
teams of Georgetown and Galiaudet on the
Georgetown field. The contest was post
poned until this afternoon. The diamond
at Georgetown was left In "a had condition
after the frequent rains Of the middle OF
the week. 1t was prepared for this after
moons contest. however. and the whole
field, with the exception of few spots
here and there in the outfeld, will be IA
vorable to good playing.
The teams will bat in the following order:
Gallaudet-Stutsman, 3b: Bumgardner,
II: Davis. S.; Andree. c.: Chambers. cf:
Brooks. 1b.: Gelfus, 2b.; l.. Rosson D.
Waters, IF.
Georgetown-Hafford 3D.: Downes, cf.:
Fleming. 2b.; Mccarthy. 1b.: Moran, ss;
Walsh. IT,; Byrne, rf.; Cranston c.;
Bach p.
1t does not by any means follow from
this makeup that the Georgetown team Is
definitely picked. The competition for
places is still close, and those who may not
get al opportunity in the first game will
later on. The candidates for the battery
nave aii DeeH "U1h Mig HdIu mere the COM
petition is the closest For pitcher Bach
and White have the inside track, because
of their faithful and excellent work of last
year. Gill of the medical school, Somers of
the law school and kenna of the law came
out in the beginning to give Iii. m battle
henna is the most worthy of the new
corners.
He has had quite reputation as a twirl-
ef. 1t was acquired at Mt. ST. Mary's Col
lege, for the nine of which institution he
{ tyyIn hot l,iI,
there he never met such teams as he may
face this year, yet some fairly strong teams
gave way to his speed and curves. These
are his prominent abilities. He can throw
Il ball with terrific strength and can use
some very effective curves. but there is an
essential thing that so far is greatly lack
ing. 1t is control.
Wild hawk is the expression to
apply. and with two such steady men as
Bach and young White, Kenna may not be
called on for the home games. He may
steady down. and if he does he will make
magnificent addition to the nine
Things look more encouraging than ever
behind the bat. Cranston, Whites old
catcher of the High School days, has taken
a wonderful brace. and atnder the careful
tutoring of Phil. King is fast developing
into good man. He is Handicapped by his
height and weight. He looks puny behind
any one of Georgetown'st big twirlers. His
throwing is not such it should be- He is
sure on any ball within his reach and bats
fairly well. He lacks the experience at the
game necessary to make him capable of
helping the pitcher very much. This is Just
the point over which Mr. King is insisting
He is pushing all the knowledge of the
game in his possession into Granston just
as fast as the youngster can imbibe it.
Hindle has fallen behind Cranston in his
work. but not far enough back to put him
out of the running. and the end of the sea-
son may see the relative positions of these
most prominent candidates for, backstop in
verted. Hindle bats better than Cranston,
and this will help him to the Victory. Ken
dali another candidate. has not been out
long enough TO give an opportunity OF siz-
ing him up yet. -. - - 4af
O'Donnell has been working hard at first
to see if he cannot give Doc Mccarthy a
chance to give UP that position and return
to his old place in the field. At present 1t
looks as If he would meet with poor success
in his undertaking. Ground balls are his
worst worry. O'Hara, Tom Smith, Douglas
and Keane are sill in the contest for infield
positions, but none has shown the speed of
last years stars. Hafford Fleming and Mo
ran These three men have been rated as
the fastest college infield in the country.
their places from them Is almost praise of
the man. If either of the four men first
named We're better at the bat they might
stand more of a show, but at present none
of them has shown more than ordinary
ability.
A great fight for positions is going on in
the outfield. and the result will continue
to be in doubt for some time. At present
the men in the lead Walsh. Downs,
Casey. Byrne and Jim Smith. Byrne will
be tried in the first game instead of Casey.
and Walsh and Downs will be found at
their old places. Byrne and Jim Smith de-
serve plenty of credit for the fight they
have been putting up. Smith came out for
the varsity three years ago, when he could
hardly catch ball, and he has tried every
year since. His showing has always been
better from year to year until now he has
commanded recognition from the coach and
captain Byrne has been a hard worker
for ha md He UaG q
chance in one of the Virginia games last
year and played well. The other candi-
dates for the field may show up better later
on. Up to date there has not been so much
good weather to allow a man to do his
best. A dangerous candidate for the field
is Kenna, whose combined pitching. bat
ting and fielding ability makes him use
fui man.
Manager John e. Moore has shown HIM
self to be worthy successor to that hnst-
ling student. Frank O'Brien, whose Ill
devoted himself to caring for the COM
forts Of those who viii come to see the
team play. He has improved the appear
ance of the field, moved the diamond and
arranged better seating facilities. He will
be remembered as playing q fine game al
right guard on last years foot BAH eleven
He Is president of the Junior class OF the
college, and was Merrick debater.
GeOrgetown.
The schedule of games with Georgetown
follows:
March 24-Gallaudet, at Georgetown.
March 29-Lehigh, at Georgetown
March 30-Yale, at Georgetown.
April princeton, at Georgetown.
April 3-Princeton. at Georgetown.
April 4-Yale, at Georgetown.
April S-Virgfnia. at Charlottesville.
April 12-Maryland Agricultural College,
at Georgetown iC iT }
April 19-Pennsylvania' at Georgetown.
April 20-Harvard. at Georgetown.