Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1903-04-04
Team Starts on Its Trip to
Massachusetts,
Prospects Very Good for a Strong
Nine, This Year.
The Men Who Fave Been Picked from
y the Candidates.

there have been between 20 and 80
men out at the regular practice each
night. This number is now narrowed
DOWN to about Is, from which the nine
men who will face Harvard at Cam
bridge. Saturday, April 4, have been
picked.
Everywhere throughout the State in
seem to point to the fact that
baseball will be faster
here than ever before in the history
of the Maine college sport. Bates,
Bowdoin and Colby all will have strong
teams, and the question arises, is the
University of Maine team going to keep
pace with her competitors and retain
the enviable position that she has gain
ed for herself within the past few
years? The answer seems as yet
little doubtful but the season opens
with the team in fully as good, and
perhaps little better condition than
at this time one year ago.
This season there will be but one
trip out of the State Friday noon,
Manager Herbert, accompanied by
Coach Rudderham and team of 10
will play Harvard at Cambridge, Sa-
urday, April 4, Wesleyan at Middle
town, the 9Th, Holy Cross at Worces-
ter, the 9TH, and Exeter at Exeter the
Sth. Rather more expectations are en-
tertained as to the results of this trip
than were put forward a year ago.
AT the opening of the spring term,
Capt. Mitchell issued the call for base
ball candidates which was received
with hearty support, and work in the
cage was commenced Immediately I'M
der his supervision. On March LIST,
Coach Frank F. Rudderham arrived for
his third season in charge of the team
and it is to his congenial way of adapt
ing himself to the requirements of the
men as well as his undisputed ability
as a baseball coach that the success
of the team in past years, and it's sue
cess, in so far as it may succeed, this
year, is due. He will remain with the
team throughout the season.
With a loss of six of last years
Varsity men to begin the season with,
the prospects, to say the least, were
not very encouraging. The entering
class, however brought some good ma
terial and the hopes of Maine base
ball enthusiasts took a little rise. The
places which have been the hardest
to fill were those left vacant by Capt.
Carr and "Friskie" Davis, namely second
and third bases respectively Both of
these men were heavy hitters and
though at times cratic, were never
theless a strong combination. In the
person of ''Freddie" Holmes, who play
ed center field in a style that would
do credit to veteran and whose stick
work was timely and sure the team
suffered heavy loss and it is only the
hardest kind of work that will make
good the deficiency. Mosher, the fresh
man pitcher, did not return to college,
thus leaving the battery a little weak.
OF last years Varsity team there
are five men who are practically sure
of making the team again this year.
OF these perhaps the most promising
is Capt Mitchell. His work in the box,
last season, will be well remembered,
rs it was his cool head and sure de-
livery that pulled Maine out of many
a tight hole. His arm is in the best
of form and he will appear in the same
capacity periodically throughout the
season He is considered one of the
heaviest hitters on the team and when
not in the box will occupy little va
cancy in left field.
I.arrabee. who played short at times
last season. will be assigned to right
field and Towse, who played the latter
position. last year, will probably occu-
by left field this season when that po-
sition is not filed by Mitchell. OF Lar
rabee and Towse, 1arrabee is better
man with the stick while there is little
choice with regard to fielding abilities.
When Mitchell is used in the box both
Of these men will be in the game.
Chase, who played on the Varsity in
1901 and who headed the team in bat
ting average, will play center field and
will assist in the catching. He is
sure man at the bat and his fielding is
of n gilt-edge type. With two such
men as Violette and Chase the receiv
ing end of Names battery seems to be
we'll taken carelof.
Bird. of Rockland, who entered the
sophomore class of the University of
Maine, last fall, will play short stop
He prepared at Andover, where.
though not a member of the Varsity
team he was captain of his class team.
In the race for this position he has
been pressed by Strickland, who played
the position on the team in 1901. The
latter is rather weak in his batting
propensities which has rendered his po-
sition somewhat of an uncertainty for
him. Bird has been showing up well
in the practice and with more expert
ence and confidence will make a val
liable addition to the team.
Veazie of Rockland, who has played
on the Rockiand High school team and
the Rockland Knox County League
team, will be seen at second base. He
is new man in the institution and has
not been given a chance to show what
he can do. He has, however, proved
mis- right to the position and in the
Neutrality-suspicious. game last fall
showed himself steady player, whilt
his work with the stick is above the az
ara q