Evening journal., 1907-04-13
WITH THE SPORTSMEN
CRITICS SHOULD
NOT BE HASTY
WiImingtOn'S Experience in
South Not Conducive to
Good Ball Playing

Those who are disposed to crltlcise
severely and perhaps uniustly the VIII
mington team should take in consideration
before making public their utterancos the
conditions surrounding the local represen-
tstion in the 1ri-state League.
In the first place It was late In the sea-
son before Il was decided TO have this
city represented ia the league and when
such a decision was reached many Of tile
best players had been "cllnched" by other
clubs, leaving a comparatively small field
To draw upon. This was the first obstacle
to overcome and 30 fair minded man can
say but that Manager Connolly has used
his best efforts to overcome H. What viii
be the fruits OF his labors cannot yet be
stated.
Seeking TO give the men he had selected
a tryout Connolly adopted plan which no
other manager IN the history Of baseball
Ia Wilmington has had the backbone to
adopt; that Of taking his players on a
southern trip IN order that ne might as
certain just what material he had on
hand, to seek out the weak spots in the
team as gotten together and TO remedy
any defects as speedily as possible.
Results Of Experiment
What have been the results OF this ex-
pertinent on Mr. Connelly's part no one at
this early stage Of the game can predict
with any certainty, but this can be borne
IN mind that any defects that have so been
noticed will be remedied as soon as pos
slble. And what is the history Of this
Southern trip 50 far as BENEFITS TO tho
players are involved. The weather man
can best answer this question. Starting
ftom Wilmington on the Twenty-sevcnth
day Of March and wearing heavy winter
clothing In addition TO overcoats. In less
than twenty-four hours conditions had
changed materially. The first practice. the
''try outs" had was on a ball field upon
which the sun beat down at a 95 degree
rate. For three days this condition pre-
vailed and just as the men were becoming
accustomed to hot weather another change
IN temperature became effective. AS a re-
suit Of this the temperature tumbled over
so degrees, heavy clothing was again In
demand and rain accompanying the win
try breezes made even all thoughts OF
lpaying ball vanish as quickly as they
were conceived.
Won Three Games
For two days these conditions prevailed
and on the third with the weather far
! from favorable for ball playing the Trl-
staters lined up against the Portsmouth.
Va. team and defeated IT, Then followed
two games In Norfolk with the Virginia
state League Cluo Of that city and al
though the air was still sharp two VIC
tories were recorded for the Whining
tonians The third game with Norfolk was
called or on account OF the unusual
weather conditions-rain. Two more days
OF rain followed ond on Tuesday last the
visiting players jumped 70 Richmond with
the expectation Of playing two games with
the team Of that city. Arriving at the
capital city of Virginia, the team found
that rain had preceded Il and that the local
ball field was covered with several inches
Of mud and water. Again no game and no
practice.
Wednesday was partially clear and cold,
the thermometer registering AZ degrees. II
was determined. however by the captains
OF the two clubs 70 have it out and a
game was played on a wet and soggy
field. The result was that the Northefners
were defeated. Then came the trip home,
the players travelling from $50 Wed
Inesday night untn I'VE o'clock Thursday
morning when they arrived in Whining ton.
Thursday afternoon they lined up against
tho Baltimore Eastern League team and
latter seven hard fought innings, were de-
feated but without a single error 70 their
credit
"knookers" Begin
And now the knockers begin knock
ers" who would knock the home team
5 even should the pick OF the players OF the
, National or American leagues come to
Y Wilmington and down the local club,
: "Knoclers" who would knock the best of
y players in thcir ralmiest days and who
; would hammer away at Connie Mack and
e. his best bunch should he locate here.
= Fortunately tho majority OF baseball en-.
thusasts Of wilmington are not built in
ithis manner and are content TO await the
3 actual opening OF the baseball season and
r judge the work of the locals during th,
+ season rather than pass premature judg.
meni upon exhibition games.