The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-04-13
MERIDIAN COMES
 FOR THREE GAMES Last Practice Game Before the
 Season Opens [. AND N. TERM DEFEATED Tommy Stouch and His Cotton States League Bunch Plays Today, Fri day and Saturday Against
 the Barons.

Tommy Stouch and his bunch of Cotton State leaguers open d series of three games here this afternoon. The game will be called at 8 o'clock, and a general admission of 25 cents will be charged to any part of the grounds, with no extra charge for the grandstand.
 The three games should be interesting. as Meridian seems to have a pretty fair team and a couple of pitchers who should make the Birmingham batters look to their laurels. The games will be a pretty good test of what the Baron team will do. The dope is that Meridian will loose all three of the games.
 Meridian Pitchers.
 "Sis" Hopkins and Wild Bill' Clarke, as well as "Tacks" ParTott are on the twirlng staff of the Meridian team, and they should be in good condition by this time The last named was in Birmng- ham yesterday and watched the Barons working out. Sis wore a Birmingham uniform last year. but was tin canned because he did not stay in condition. He Is a star performer when in condition, and there Is nothing in the Southern league that has anything over him when he Is at his best.
 These are the last exhibition games scheduled for the Barons before the sea son opens, and they will give the fans an excellent opportunity to get line on the team in It's season condition.
 VIII Work Youngsters.
 Tho otet. ed out in the box. and Manager Vaughan will give Mayer a couple of days work at short stop This youngster arrived yesterday morning and played shortstop against the Louisville and Nashvlne team. He made a good impression, both In the field and at the bat. One pretty single over second base is credited to him out of four times at the bat and he secured four of the runs made by the Barons. The first time up he slapped long fly to the center field and the next time secured single over second The third time he anchored safely on an er- TOT, and the fourth time he was hit by the pitcher. He Is fast on his feet and has good arm. He had nine chances yesterday and made one error, besides taking part in a fast double play. He looks like a baseball player, and appar- ently has a great deal of confidence in himself. He stands well at the bat and meets a ball squarely.
 It was hardly possible to get a line on him yesterday in the game against the Louisville and Nashville, for the entire team played lazy ball. and errors were made where perfect fielding would have been done if the Barons had been in a tight place. In the games with Meridian he should show what there Is in him. The deyotees were very much inclined to like him.
 Yesterdays Game.
 The Louisville and Nashville team did not put up such a bad exhibition yes- terday considering the fact that it Is the first time that they have been on the diamond this season. They required the assistance of Schiap, Moore and Tommy Matthews to complete their lineup.
 Schiap was their star performer. This youngster from the Everglades of Flor ida tore loose a triple, a double and a single In four times up. and pulled off some neat plays at short. Moore was at second, his favorite place, and did a couple of nice fielding stunts.
 The Barons pulled off a trio of fast double plays Hafford made one of them unassisted, and in doing so executed the prettiest one-hand catch of the season. Moore slapped the ball hard on the nose and 1t looked mighty good for safety. Hafford had only one chance to get it. Quick as a flash he threw himself at full length on the ground and stuck" out his gloved hand, and when he regained his feet he had the ball. He touched third, and 1t was all off in the good old summer time.
 Dusty Miller got some good prac- tice at the bat and on the path. He secured three singles in five times up and stole base. Ward also secured a couple of singles, and Delehanty, Mayer and Pylant each connected for a single Mur- dock was satisfied with triple, and Will lSie Clarke secured a couple of singles. Dessau and Hafford obtained a single each.
 The Score.
 The score wound up something like IS to 3 In favor of the Barons. Hitting, bases on balls and errors by the amateurs were responsible for the size of the score The Barons could have secured more runs and more hits had they so desired.
 A couple of hits. one by Wood and the other by Brown. secured the Louisville and NashNlles first run. A double and an error resulted in the second run, Hodges getting the hit and the run. Schlap se- cured a single and tore around the bases on ball that was thrown wild.
 Designated for Appointment.