The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1901-05-03

J.. Sherwood Upchurch Appointed Um-|
pfre-Attendance at the Games-Sec-|
rotary Doran Reviews the ~sftuationl
and Strength ofTeams.

- Va 4GolASs Il
MIR. ]. Sherwood Upchurch, Of thisi
city, has been appointed an official UNI
pire in h North Carolina Virginia
Base ball League. and he left for Ports-l
mouth this morning, where he offici-l
ates for the first time today.
Mr.. Upchurch received a telegram
yesterday morning from President E.
H Cunningham announcing his ap-I
pointment and he wired his acceptance
Mr.. Upchurch's appointment was reel
commended by the Richmond Club.
which protested against Umpire Davis.
Mr.. Upchurch is one of the most ex-|
perlenced umpires in the south, and
the league was fortunate in securing
his services.
If the attendance in the other cities
In the two state league is as good as
1t Is here the success of the organiZa-
ton is assured. Raleigh ~patronized the
game well last week. breaking the rec
ord for a weeks receipts.
| Mr. Z. j. Doran the secretary of the
league, reviews the teams and the base
ball situation in the Newport News
Herald Sunday. In this article Sec
rotary Doran says:
Never in the history of base ball
in the states Of Virginia and North
Carolina were the Tub more evenly
matched.
Any follower of the game who has
observed the closeness Of the scores
will concede this, the scores being much
smaller and closer together than in
either the National or the American
Leagues.
The clubs are all composed Of good
men and there is plenty Of good mater
Il q hto I'll
League form. Fast, clean fielding is
responsible for many of the games lost,
a hit that last season would have
meant a base, is now being fielded so
quickly and sharply that it results in
an out. Then again team work is
very evident. Individual records are
not aimed at, only club records.
This is the feature that will win
games. The Norfolk team at pres
ent in the lead. excels in team work
and in addition bats well.
The Newport News-Hampton club is
quite a strong aggregation of players,
and If good team work and heady
management u for anything.
Ashes men will give a good account
OF themselves. Portsmouth is repre-
sented by a good lively am team
thai can give a good account of itself
In any company.
Barley Gains mighty men from
Richmond are managed we'll and play
a strong game from start to finish.
Richmond has a particularly strong
pitching staff.
Raleigh's team under the
ment Of king" Kelly is winning dis
t1nction of the percentage column
kelly'S team shows improvement un-
der his management.
Wilmington has a particularly strong
team, the pitching staff being of un-
n Ycrr0 -~I r
and batting of the men are notable
features Of every game.
The outlook for a successful season
was brighter. Despite the bad
weather the numbers of the faithful
who ave turned out to witness the
games, give the management Of the
different teams great encouragement
for the future of the national game.
All the teams are on the ookou fol
good fast material. n the close OF
the season of 1901 will see in the Vir.
ginia-North Carolina League the
strongest miner league players in the
business.-Raleigh Post.
From the base ball department OF
the Norfolk Virginian-Pilot, we cir
following concerning Mondays game,
The 800 spectators who turned Out
to League Park yesterday to witness
the game between the home boys an6
the Blue Birds from the capital city
surely got their moneys worth. Both
teams played the game for all it wa.
worth, and with the exception of tive
a plays on part of the Richmond
team, the fielding was good. Although
Richmond got more hits than the 10.
calls they showed less ability on bases
for several times there were goot
chances to score, but the sharp feldine
OF the home team and a little stupiG
base running allowed only one man tt
reach home.
The fielding of Red Gilligan, Muller
and Nelson, and the base running O.
Jimmy Smith n Red Gilligan de
serves special mention.
Umpire Clark was a little off in hi
decisions, which caused the players OF
both sides to enter kicks frequently.
Norfolk got the worst of his work
n Armstrong and Mullen were boil
fined for questioning his decisions
After the game was over a little argu
ment arose between Armstrong an,
Clark and the two came to blows, Arm
strong striking Clark in the face. 1
seems that Armstrong asked Clarl
what he vas ned for, and that ClarI
replied: "I fined you for what you di
in Richmond" This caused Armstron
to strike him. The affair was niue
regretted On all sides.