Waterbury evening Democrat., 1903-04-04

, topography of the country in order to bring it to a playing level goes on rapidly. "The grounds will be in shape so that game of ball can be played on them on April 30," says Contractor McAvoy.
 You outfelders should be made to pay to get into the game" said Tommy Leach to his boss, Fred Clarke, the other day. 'Its.a shame to take money for playing the outfield." Seriously speaking, however, the outfelder who plays his position properly earns his money as much as the crack inf1elder. Such artists as Clarke and Keeler are as much .'in the game" as the Leaches and the Collinses.
 The New York Nationals have had three weeks training in the south, enough to put them in pretty fair con dition, but judging of their work in ex- hibition games the old fault Of light batting Is not yet eradicated. They have won all their games against minor league teams. but in most of them have had to work hard to win. Sey- eral of the games were won by one run only. The pithcers have been showing up fairly strong. but 1t appears as
 
 the batters. Cronin and McGinnity so far are doing the best work in the box. The fielding and the base running have been encouraging.
 The same Waterbury parties who made application for franchise Ill the Connecticut league, when it was learned that the first franchise had been transferred to Holyoke have again made application to Secretary O'Rourke for franchise for this city. At the time of the prior application it was stated to Secretary O'Rourke that Hartford would never be in the state league this season. but Secretary O'Rourke and the other managers be- lieved she would. Perhaps she will yet for T. l.. Reilly Is hustling to get the franchise for Hartford There could be no better man selected for the position and if Waterbury cannot get if, he will have the best wishes of all his newspaper friends in this city.
 The candidates for the High School base ball team are practicing daily at the Athletic field and are beginning to round into fairly good form. Captain Dawson is not working his men too hard in the beginning, but is gradu-
 
 The boys are showing up well in prae- tice and Manager. Hurley and Captain Dawson ought to be able to secure Il good team from the material ill hand. Yesterday afternoon they had a pracs tice game with q picked up team, con- sisting of Henry Eaters, Frank Hol- lywood, Charles Connor, Charles Cook, Shorty Dunn and a few others. The a ing contest by the score of 10-9. It was a closely contested game and was won only in t., last inning. McDon- aid, McGowan, Mccarthy and Spell man did the battery work for the, vic tors Manager Hollywood of the los ing team claims that his team can de feat the High school team every day in the week and he wants another game.
 Roger Connor has taken up his resi- dence in this city at ' Locust street and has given up his home in Water bury. Roger is in the city to stay and says he much prefers living here than in Waterbury He has ordered his players to report April 16 and says he will have a stronger team this season than last Nearly all of the old play CTS have signed and there will also be some excellent new material to pick from. On April IS the team will play the Yale second team in this city, while on April 20 Jersey City is scheduled and the following day Nashua will ap- pear here. On April 9 Trinity will be the attraction, while two games will probably be arranged with Holyoke be fore the season opens. Thompson. one of the infie1ders signed. has notified Manager Connor that he has sprained his wrist and will be unable to report. Mana ger Gonnor has therefore signed in his place a player named Henebry of Waterbury, who comes highly re- commended. Farrell, an infielder re- commended by McManus of the Brook lyn club is expected to report for duty and is said to. be fast. Manager Con- nor expects great things from MulIi- gan, who has the build of ball player and can not only play first base, but has had experience behind the bat Manager Connor says he is glad that the Hartford matter can be settled right away and that meeting of the league will probably be called early next week. At this meeting the sched- ule will probably be adopted, the Hart ford franchise awarded and the ques- ton of playing rules discussed. Al though Roger does not like the foul- strike rule, yet he thinks the Connecti- cut league should give it q trial, as it has practically been adopted by the professional leagues of of the country The difficulty in relation to the use of the grandstand and fence in Hamp- den park has been practically settled. Few improvements are needed this sea- son and the diamond is in excellent shape.--Springfield Union.
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