Waterbury evening Democrat., 1903-09-02
CITY AMATEUR LEAGUE.
City League Correspondent Talks
 About the Finish.

The games that were to be played by the City league teams Saturday and Sunday were postponed on ac- count of rain.
 A loss to any team of the league means a good deal at this stage of the game and they're all strengthening and improving the weak spots for the final clash.
 It isn't to be understood by the above that all the teams in the league have a chance for first place-that' $ conceded by all who are posted to be between the Washington Hills, St Jo sephs and probably the North Ends But the other teams are trying tc climb as high in the percentage col umn as they possibly can before the finish.
 At present the Washington Hills lead, but by very small margin. The Saints are right after them. A loss of one game by the Hills will mean g great deal to them and the Saints The North Ends are right after the Saints and have a good chance ot passing both teams if the two leaders should weaken. The Brooklyhs and Merrimacs are fighting hard for fourth
 
 bringing up the rear with only one within reaching distance of the two former clubs and have chance to land in fourth position before the end of the season
 A number of changes have been made in the lineup of almost all the teams and at the present time they all present pretty strong front.
 The Pastimes have made the few est changes but it is reported that next Saturday they'll appear on. the grounds with a much improved set of players. Kelly will have recovered from his injury by next Saturday and will be seen on first base onct more; Johnny Edmonds, who has been playing in New Britan all the sum- naer, will be seen for the first time this season, holding down short, and 'tis reported that a new pitcher who has made quite a reputation for himself as pitcher, will do the twirIing. There is some doubt. however, as to whom this twirler will pitch for, as the Washington Hills are endeavoring to secure his services. His name is Nelson and he has done fine work for the Oakvilles the past season.
 All who have followed the game know of the brace that has been ta- ken by the Merrimacs and of the fine article of ball they've been putting up the last four or five weeks. Out of the last five games they've won three, tied one and lost one. Up to this time the Mer1imacs were in very hard luck and hadn't won game. Now they are playing as good ball as the lead CTS and may make trouble for some of the topnotchers before the end of the season. Its a merry race between this club and the Brooklyns for be assured of a good game when these two teams come together, as neither one ever did have a walkover with the other The first game they played was an eleven aiming affair and the Merrimacs won out by knocking the ball into clump of weees where it couldn't be found until after the win ming run had been scored.
 The second game was played a week ago Sunday and wound up tie after ten innings of playing.
 Next Sunday they will meet again and the crowd will most likely wit ness another hot game
 The Merrimacs have always been shy one player, but as George Byrnes has returned to town will fill in with that good all-around man. He can play any position except catcher and the east end club will be greatly strengthened by his addition to the team.
 The Brcoklyns are playing good ball now, but were up against it in the early part of the season They had much difficulty in getting their full team together and. consequently, suf- fered defeat number of times Late ly they've sbawn more interest and appear on the diamond with their regular lineup. Johnny Kelly and George Tiernan are doing the twirl- ing for this club Stokes started in to pitch in the beginning of the sea- son, but had to quit as his pitching arm was giving him a lot of trouble. He is. however, putting up a fine fielding game for his team. Jerry Shugrue, the most experienced player in the league. is holding down second bag for the Brooklyns, and is playing SIL~CuSCu UdIt Jerry used to play in the Connecticut league once and could make good to-day in fast com pany, but he seems to be content with his position in Waterbury. Not only have the Brooklyns profted by the presence of this fine player, but the league has also. Dan Cronan is still on first base and Freddie Lallier looks after third. They have game with all the leaders before the wind up of the season and it's safe to say that they'll bring the leaders down a peg or two by the time they've fin ished with them.
 The North Ends also are. ambitious to land the pennapt and have a good chance for it, too. This is the team that took the Cadets place when the Brooklyn team was voted out of the league by the board of managers. James Thompson. who was man ager of the Washington Hills for a short time last year is hand ling this club, and the way he went at it shows that he knows thing or two