Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1905-04-15
Whittier Athletic Field
the Scene of Activity.
Baseball Men Now Ready for
the Coming Season.
Baseball Schedule Contains Games
With Fast Teams.

men on the Whittier Athletic field as
indeed there has been during the mast
three days. The splendid weather con-
ditions and the rapid improvement of
the field makes it possible for first
class practice and the work being done
seems very satisfactory. The interest
i'll the practice is keen and each after
noon sees Il great part of the student
body on the field. as well as a num-
Der of town people who are lovers of
the great game.
Now that the outdoor practice is well
under way a more definite idea of the
baseball situation at Bowdoin may be
obtained. But instead of making it
more certain as to who will make the
various positions on the team, the de-
veloplnents of the last few days. to an
outsider at least, makes it more I'M
certain than ever.
1t has been pretty certain from the
first to those who have kept an eye on
the candidates that a number of the
positions would be fighting territory
beyond doubt but it now seems GER
tain that the wrestle for these places
Will be much livelier than was antici-
patel; and more than that, a number
of men in addition to those whom the
wise had put down in their notebooks
as the ones who would make the bids
men who have looked innocent enough
during the winter practice-are doing
some work out doors that makes the
more experienced tOssers tremble all
over.
Take for example. that garden plot
called center Out there everyone
thought that Briggs would have things
pretty much his own way-fOr Ben is
mighty good man and knows good
many things about the game. But since
outdoor work began young Ellis '0S.
has been playing the fielding positions
in way that surprises the OnloOkerS
and there is no doubt but he is going
to be a factor in determining the make
up of the team.
Another youngSter who plays mighty
well is Packard 'OS. He is small. but he
is n natural ball player for IL fact. and
is to be reckoned with. If he does not
come onto the Varsity this year. he
will be among the first candidates next
year. beyond a doubt.
While the fact that there is a hus-
tie for positions does not necessarily
mean that the team is to be eXtraordi
nary fast--as it is possible for two or
more men of secOnd-class ability to be
81 evenly matched and a fight take
place-it does mean that they'll work
in way that they would not otherwise
dO-and that's a good thing.
hn >rlnIn locks "a though that
only about four of the nine men are
anywhere near sure of their positions.
They are catcher. short stop. left and
right field. The other positions are
anybody'S.
Take the place behind the bat.
Greene. who caught on the champion
snip team of o.. ought to have things
pretty much his own way. He is hard
man to beat. The other candidate is
Lawrence. 'O1, who does very well. but
can hardly be expected to run off the
vet eran.
At short. White is the man beyond
doubt He has been there before and
has been one of Bowdoin'S star men in
past seasons. Young Packard. to whom
VIC have already referred, is playing
the nosition a part of the time on the
second.
At left. CAPTAIN Clarke of course
cannot be outdone, as everybody
knows. Houghton 'O6. is the second
team man. and has greatly improved
since last season.
At right Doc Abbott will probably
find no difficulty in making good. Few
men in Bowdoin know baseball as well
as Abbott or know how to play it as
well. He is strong in both fielding ana
hitting.
To come to the uncertain positions.
To start with first base. it looks as
though the old fight betweeE c. Clarke
'O1. and Mitchell '0S. already mentioned
i'm the columns of the Journal. Is hot
ter than ever. Both are good men. and
unless you know all about baseball
YOU could not tell which man is doing
the best Job. 1t is one of those places
which will cause the man who makes
10 the team scratch his head, unless
the situation changes nightly in the
near future.
At second. Pike and Hodgdon are
'worFing hard and are both doing good
work. Hodsdon made the psition last
wear, ana uiti Ntii bUk titfS ttHhS tHS
other fellow is making things interest
ing. 1t would seem also that Packard
could make a good try here if he takes
a notion later on. Anyway. there's
competition-nO trust agreement or
pool whatever.
At third it's just the same. Stan
wod '0S. and Crowley '0s. are out for
business. Stanwood is good man and
whether Crowley is better one re-
mains to be seen. He is showing signs.
ANYWAY. They play well in the field
and also at the bat.
Center field has already been men-
toned. Briggs and Ellis being the
lucky ones.
In the box there is nothing certain
The three men are Files. 'OS, Piper, 'O7,
and Lewis. 'O5. Most people say that
Files has got the pole by all odds. But
still. that will not be determined al