Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-03-26
GETTING INTO SHAPE
Local Ball Teams Work at
Charlottesville.
Special Dispatch to The Evening Star.

Special Dispatch to The Evening Star
UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA. Va, March
25.-The Washington Base Ball Club con-
cluded today its second weeks stay in its
Virginia training camp, and what has been
accomplished Is matter of history.
While considerable Roadway in developing
the team has been made, the players were
undoubtedly handicapped by the cloudy and
damp weather which prevailed throughout
the week. Their lot has been the reverse
of that of many of the other major league
teams. While the Senators were enjoying
the bright sunshine during the first week of
their stay in Virginia such teams as the
Phllies, the Detroit Tigers and the Cincin-
natl Reds were experiencing groggy weather
in Georgia and Florida. Bleak and chilly
weather prevailed for several days at Au-
gusta, while the Reds were unable to eXer-
else at all until the fourth day after their
arrival in Jacksonville on account of the in
clement weather..
While the weather has been cloudy how
ever, very little rain has fallen. and the
grounds have been in good condition, save
on one day. Even then the Senators went
on the field and engaged in practice game.
the regulars defeating the Yanigans in a
six-inning contest.
With these conditions existing, 1t Is yet
100 early to get line on any Of the players,
because of the fact that they have been
compelled to go slowly while the damp
weather lasted. Exceeding care has been
taken to avoid injuries to arms and legs.
A case in point where too much early sea-
son work was INDUCED in is that of Mason,
the star third baseman on the University
of Virginia team. Early last week he came
out one pretty afternoon and so overtaXed
,c,rIf ~, h~n xryiy,e hn 1tnv
that he has been nable to resume play. In
fact, it is doubtful If he can play at all
again this season Certainly his arm will
not be as good as last year.
Pitchers Work Light.
The practice work of the pitchers has
been equally as light as during the first
week. and in but one of the games with
the collegians has twirler gone more
than four innings. All have been instruct
ed not to throw curve balls, and only oc-
casionally did they put much force be-
hind their delivery. Hence little comment
can be made upon their work. Suffice 1t
to say that their physical condition is good.
Hughes right leg, which was injured in
New York last summer, is worrying him
a little, but he is confident that as soon
as the warm weather starts in he will hear
no more from it.
first backstop of the team. has played but
little in the exhibition games he having
made way for Heydon and Knoll. Hey
don's work the past week has demonstrated
beyond doubt that he will be one of the
regular staff Of catchers. His throwing to
bases Is his strong point. He gets the
ball away quickly and accurate ly, and but
one or two of the collegians have success
fully pilfered base.
Nothing need be said of Manager stahl
and Shortstop Cassidy, the infield fixtures.
joe though indisposed for a couple of
days, has put up brilliant game and been
highly complimented by the college rooters.
StahPs only error made in the contests
with the collegians was due to his efforts
to catch wild throw in one hand. He
never allowed the sphere to drop, but
while he was regaining his equilibrium the
runner reached first.
On account of Hills bad knee Mil has
been officiating at third during the past
week, thus leaving second to his COMPETE
tor, Mullen. Nil had an off day when he
was first assigned to third, and had a
couple Of bad errors. but since then he has
more than%redeemed himself, and he has
played the position faultlessly. Mulen's
chances at second have been mostly easy
ones. Apparently he is much slower than
Mill, who is fast and clean fielder and
keeps his eyes wide open. Mullen seems
to be rather slow in bending his back to
pick up grounders, but this slight draw
back Will undoubtedly wear out as the
weather opens up.
Nursing Injured Knee.
Hunter Hill has not been on the diamond
the past week, having acted on the advice
of Trainer Quirk and remained at the Uni
versity Hospital, where his injured knee
has had faithful attention. The member
has about healed, and he will no doubt be
at practice tomorrow.
In the outfield the applicants have had
but three chances, and of course have ac-
cepted an of them. Both Shaughnessy and
Cassaday cover a wide area in right field
and it Is nip and tuck between them Jones
in center is steady, as is Huelsman The
only demerit against Huelsman the past
week was when he allowed Virginia run
ner to stretch a single into two bases. OF
course, he did not exert himself to return
the ball as he would have done in league
contest
The showingsof the men at bat has been
rather weak-not up to Manager StahPs ex-
pectations, for he knows what the men can
do along this line. 1t is true that they have
nothing but easy straight balls were pitched
them by their own twirlers. The result
was that when college pitcher with
good curve faced them they found lit
tie difficulty in finding their batting eye.
Next week there will undoubtedly be mark
ed Improvement in this department of the
game.
Kittredge Is still the favorite In his new
role as umpire. The college players have
grown very fond of him, and they much
prefer him to officiate in the game played,
as his decisions have been very pleasing
to the college team-frequently favoring the