The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-04-07
RAINY DAY SAVED CLEVELAND DEFEAT BaronS Wanted Fifth Scalp for
 West End Door HE NAP0LE0NS DEPART Left Last Night on the L, & N. for Louisville, Where They
 Play Several
 Games.

Two teams of ball players fnmed and fussed at the weather yesterday. Ihe Barons because they wanted to add the fifth big league scalp to the row of four hanging over the gate at West End lhe Napoleons because they thought that little revenge for Wednesdays defeat would have been sweet to them.
 One of them would have been disap- pointed, so maybe it was good thing Tor that reason that 1t rained. But for other reasons it was a sad rain. The fans had whetted their appetite for another bail game like the one of Wednesday, and II the weather had been ideal, the game would have been witnessed by more than 2500 fans.
 Just Two Weeks.
 Just two weeks from yesterday and the Southern league will open, April l9' ane the Barons are beginning to get down to the hard work proposition of how to clean up Montgomery in the initial series. If Montgomery reports are to be believed and if that team is not strengthened, the Barons should have little trouble in taking three of the first four games
 From the showing made in the last few games the Barons are now touted for tlfSt, second or lHlfu pldtt III Aiit AoNNs and bets are being made that she will take three of the four games from Mont gomery
 The three games against the Cincinnati teams. and the one against Cleveland have demonstrated one fact. Manager Harry has coupled together a bunch or hitters. The team has showed much ability with the stick, and if it continues to improve, woe be unto many of the twirlers of the Southern league. They will have unhappy days when they meet the Barons.
 Improvement 100 Per Cent.
 In the past week the improvement has amounted to almost 100 per cent in the teams appearance. In the outfield Dele hanty and Miller strengthened the team 100 per cent.
 In the box Fitzpatrick and Sale have demonstrated that they had to be reck- oned with in making out the list of the seasons pitchers Their showing has in- creased the strength of the Barons' staff materially.
 Schiap is proving stronger and strong CT every day. He is fielding better as the season approaches, and he is also hit ting the ball At third Hafford is also showing up much better than in carrier games, and. in fact, he has attracted the attention of the big leaguers by his work. They have spoken favorably of him more than once.
 From the showing of WillSie Clarke, nothing in the Southern league will have anything over him. His batting in the game against the Napoleons was terrific, and the day he played against the regular Cincinnati team he secured couple of nice hits. indications are that his hitting this year will be better than that of last year by many points. Matthews is also there with the goods, and Birmingham has the best pair of bs ckstops in the league beyond doubt. Matthews will bat well this season.
 Father Vaughans hitting clothes have come and he Is laying up against the ball ih every game.
 Pitchers Improve.
 Birminghams pitchers are improving every day. Ginger Clark, Cowboy" Clark and Ragan seem cinched for three ot the regular staff. and Manager Vaughan will have a hard time choosing between the other five pitchers for the remainder of the staff. Wagner is de- Neloping into a hitting and outtielder as well as pitcher.
 The very papers which were speaking slightingly of the Birmingham team two weeks ago are now touting 1t to be one, two, three, and all over the circuit the papers are stating that New Orleans will have to look out for und beat Birming- ham to win the pennant
 Today the Barons will play the boys from the Castle Heights school. at Le- banon, Tenn, and the college boys will probably put up good fight. They have shown great form in their work against college teams, and they came within an ace of trimming Newt Fishers birds in Nashville recently. They have wonder il a young pitcher on the team, and he