Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-07-08
LEADERS AND TRAILERS.
Wesley Nearly Won a Game From
Gunton.

The leaders and the occupants of the last
rung on the championship ladder came to-
gether yesterday afternoon in the Church
Base Ball League, and, as was expected,
the result was a stubbornly contested
struggle from the call of play until Waple
let in the winning run for the Grays by
trying to throw the ball over the backstop.
The Wesleys as at present organized,
form one of the strongest teams in the
league, and many of the followers of the
games picked them to win. but the Grays
again showed their staying powers and
pulled out victory In the eighth inning.
For the first time this season Sammy
Seay was out of the game, being laid up
by a severe case Of sunburn, and Sher-
wood, who held down first for Gunton in
one game, went into the box. In the first
two innings his cratic delivery would have
turned March hare green with jealousy
for it's reputation, but after that he stead
led somewhat. When his swift shoots did
cross the plate fairly they were remark
ably effective, eleven of the Doves punch
ing out.
Maple was also uncertain. very pretty
pitching being largely offset by free pas
sages to first.
The game was full of life and ginger,
both teams working hard for a victory,
and the applause of the immense crowd
present was almost continuous. Sherwood's
slow delivery allowed the runners a good
lead. and Wesley took advantage OF this
by purloining ten bases. Speakman tried
hard to catch them, but their lead was too
great.
Woods work at first was gilt-edged, sew
eral of his chances being on low throws.
Langley and Asquith were also in the
| game, the former knocking down Elicit 8
drive in the fifth inning and getting his
man at first after bad tumble.
Venable, the first man up for Wesley,
started things going by hit to left. He
] got good lead and swiped second. Sher
| wood shot over a couple of wild ones an
| the Doves had first blood. After passing
| tho first two up in the second. Sherwood
| anchored his balloon and famed the next
| two, and the third was easy, short to first.
| Gunton scored two in the second. ii.
| Seay was hit and Winans walked. Seay
| scored on Claxton's safety between first
| and second and WinanS came in on Waple' S
wild pitch that passed Sherwood to first.
| They scored another in the next, making a
| lead of two. Speakman waited for four
| wide ones, reached second on passed ball
and crossed the plate on Seay's timely hit
| past third.
| Wesley got back the two and one more in
| the fifth. With none out Venabie received
| his second free ticket and wasted his time
stealing second. for Waple met the ball On
/ the nose and drove 1t about yard inside
OF first for the circuit: It was hot tor one,
| hit to left, went to third on Browns sacri-
fee and stole home when one of Sherwood s
| speedy ones popped out OF Speakman's
| ndHOS III front OF pidlc Vic LlOtc
! tally went to Wesley in the sixth Mckee
put liner past first, stole second. went to
| third on a wild pitch and scored on a
! passed ball
| The Grays> again took the lead in the
| seventh. With one down, Sherwood was
| passed, Asquith drove beauty into short
| right Langley connected for safe one
| over second and Winans lined one to She
| same place. three runs resulting.
Wesley hung up the score again in the
next. and it looked like the third straight
| drawn game. Chappell, who had been
| passed twice, waited for anoIhcr ticket.
| pilfered second and Wood brought him over
| the rubber on a drive over first Claxton
drove a hot one at Waple in the eighth but
he hauled 1t in and one was down. Daniels
| wanted to paste the ball, but showed dis
erection by waiting for four bad ones. Sher-
wood could not get out of the way of a wild
hoater and both advanced on Asqulth's cut
to first. The intense excitement and tre-
mendous cheering must have got next to
NAPLES nerves, for he threw ths ball four
feet over Venable's head. Daniels romped
homo and C0nfo.a had ira fopfn xyioforxy