Los Angeles herald., 1906-04-05
AMATEURS WILL
PLAY FOOTBALL
SLOGAN WILL BE TO BEAT ST.
VINCENTS
Occidental College Nine Intends to
Make Strong Bid for Champion
ship and Will Endeavor to
Down Champions

A reopening of bat bags, smoothing
off of diamonds and a liberal use of
liniment is the order among amateur
athletes of Southern California at the
present time.
Many of the colleges and schools
have closed for the spring vacation
but Immediately upon the resumption
of studies preparations for the college
pennant race will commence in earnest.
Indications point to an exciting
struggle during the coming season, as
enthusiasm attendant upon the things
of the diamond has increased material
ly during the past few years. The
time was not so far distant when base
ball was largtly overlooked by many
of the southern colleges and schools
but now that the professional game has
been placed upon a level in keeping
with the best brand of ball in the
country consequent interest has en-
Unused the amateurs.
ITO beat st. Vincents," will be the
slogan of the three other southern col
leges, and carefully laid plans are
being made to wrest the championship
from the Grand avenue street lads who
have held it for the past five years.
The undertaking is a very commend
able one as it involves more than an
ordinary amateur nine to put the
Saints out of the running.
The Occidental college team very
nearly turned the trick last season,
losing the final and deciding game by
one run. st. Vincents had not been
beaten since first gaining the cham
pionship until the Highlanders won
the second game of their series last
year. All depended upon the outcome
of the third contest and for a Whlle
it was thought that the wearers Of the
orange and the black would take pos
session of the banner.
Pomona and Occidental will both
strive to humble the champions and
the men of Occidental have small hes
itancy in proclaiming that they possess
the material to defeat any aggregation
that Haggerty can get together.
The spirit is encouraging to those who
desire to see a close race and not
walk away affair as has marked the
championship race or most seasons; 1
when the Saints absolutely outclasseo
every team they encountered, with the
execution of the Santa Clara nine OF
Northern California.
Considering the remarkable games
which the Grand avenue nine contested
with the Angel team during the present
practice season, it would appear as
though the other college mines nlust
need get down to hard work in snort
order If they wish to do much with
club that can hold the Angel team to
a to 1 game and outplay the Seraphs
at that. -, .,.,
Nevertheless a multitude of things
NAV occur before the college season
has become history. The Saints may
go ahead or they may fall back notch
| from their present game ana allow
| Pow
make an impression. Yet it appears
i1nnrobable that another team can be
welded into shape from college materlal
of the south that is capable OF doWn-
! ing the champs. ,,,
Occidental commences the season
with a fast nucleus for her team ana
the AGGREGATION when rounded INTO
shane will be well balanced; strong aI
the bat and fast in the field.
The weak spot of the Highland nine
will he in the box, as there is but one
man that can be depended upon 10 any
extent. .
IThatcher. who was at third last sea-
son, will probably be switched to snort
stop and Garland Ross, former captain
of the Santa Ana high school tealil'
which won the academic championship
az the south last year. may cover the
difficult corner which is the bugbear
of amateur mines.
Beal, who is to captain the team
during the coming season, is slated for
second base. Spaulding will in all
probability do the catching or alternate
with Allen Merrill in the outfield.
Bird, the track man, will hold down
left field. There are many Candidates
for the other positions and no little
connection will ultimately result in
the Choosing of the fastest men for the
positions.
Howard Irwin. Dick Weiman and
Thomas are among the fielders who
have developed into fast garden men.