Evening star., 1901-04-22
Senators Will Get Real Practice
Against Georgetown Today.
TIE PLAYERS EAGER FOR TIE GAME
New American Park Fast Nearing
Completion.
GENERAL SPORTING NEWS

over for the present, the Washington cub
will line up against the Georgetown team
this afternoon at 4:30. There Is more than
the usual interest attached to this game,
as it will be the first for the new Senators
this spring with team that can put up a
game almost equal to the professionals.
The Georgetown men are strong in every
particular, and they have met the Phil
adelphia (American League) team and all
the other strong college clubs, as a matter
of course they will not lack confidence in
themselves-a very essential thing in base
bali contests.
The players on the Washington team have
been indulging in practice games at the
Soldiers Home. Hampton Va, with teams
Of the rawest sort and against players who
could not get positions on the blue and
gray aggregation. For this reason It Is
more than probable that this afternoon
contest will be unusually interesting. All
the Senators know they are stacking up
against a strong team. AS Wyatt Lee has
shown unusual condition at Soldiers Home,
he may begin the game for the Senators
in the pitchers box, and Carrick or Pat
ton may finish out the game. Clarke will
be behind the bat, and the strongest In
field this city has ever had-Everett, Quinn,
Clingman and Coughlin-wili doduty around
the bases. In the outfield, O'Brien. Farrell
and DUNCAN will look after the long hits
and do their best to drive runs across the
plate with their sticks.
The local fans have been worked up
to a high state Of excitement over Man
ager Manning's team and big crowd will
doubtless be on hand to "size up the new
men Tomorrow afternoon another game
will be played by the two clubs on the
college campus, and Immediately after sup
per the Senators will pack up their belong
ings and take the o'clock train for Phila-
deiphia, to be on hand for the opening
game of the season with Connie Mack's
Athletics. 1t had been Manager Manning's
original intention to take the team to Phil
adelphia Wednesday morning but there Is
the possibility of delayed trains. and 1t
would never do to disappoint the immense
crowd that is expected to be on hand to
give enthusiastic send-off to the Amert-
Quite a delegation of Washington fans
will accompany the team. and the Senators
will not lack for encouragement when they
face the Athletics Wednesday afternoon.
make the inaugural day something to be
remembered in base ball history.
The continuous rains Of Saturday and
Sunday softened up the Georgetown dia-
mond to such. an extent that the contem-
plated practice Of the Senators this morn
ing had to be given up. The team Iounged
around headquarters for a couple OF hours
and then several departed for the bowling
alleys and for long walks. Second Base
man Joe Quinn was the only man who
didn't put in an appearance this morning.
and Secretary Needham told the Star re-
porter that the veteran had started off
at o'clock this morning for a long walk
along the suburban roads. Quinn is an
enthusiastic worker and a great believer
In exercise and wants to be in condition
to keep step with the younger members Of
the Washington team. Catcher Clarke left
for Baltimore Saturday Immediately after
he arrived in Washington and discovered
that the game with Georgetown could not
be played. He returned this morning. and
is as anxious to begin the seasons work
as novice at the professional game. Cap
tain Everett had hard work this morning
restraining his men from starting for
Georgetown, as they were unusually anx-
ious to Timber up little before facing
the sturdy college lads
notwithstanding yesterdays bad weather
there were fully 1900 visitors at the new
park yesterday. Crowds began coming
early in the morning and kept It rp all
day, The stands were viewed and com
mented upon. and the field visited from
every angle. Notwithstanding the mud. This
morning there were fully forty carpenters
at work on the grand stand. and the big
trusses are being put into place with
marked rapidity. The finishing touches
were also being put on the entrance and
the fences in left field. 1t is a foregone
conclusion that Superintendent Darby and
his men will have to hustle for the entire
week so as to have everything in readi-
ness for the opening day in Washington,
IN HSeh lIOHl toudy. lnefG Is no doubt
that the grounds will be in readiness for
the opening day, but there are so many
ilttie details to be looked after that no
time can be wasted. Groundkeeper Miller
was handicapped this morning in working
on the grounds, the mud is ankle deep,
put Wherever 1t was possible to put in an
hour work he was there and doing his
pest A top layer will be put on the left
heio tomorrow, and that will finish I'D the
entire outer garden. When the big trusses
gre an up, the space In front Of the Diff
ferent stands, outside the base lines viii
pe covered over with rich top soil, thor
onghly rolled. and grass seed planted,
nue. the held will not be all that it is
opening day will find it In a highly salts