Evening journal., 1907-04-08
TICKLE WEATHER
FOR TRI-STATERS

wilmington bail players first set foot
upon Virginia soil and although the
weather has not been all that could be
desired, and practice at times has been
out Of the question on the whole. the
trip has been Of vast benefit to the
team which will represent Delaware in
the Tri-State League.
Virginia weather unlike Virginia
people, is changeable in it's inclinations,
and apparently but little dependence
can be placed in it at this season Of
the year al least. When the boys land
led In Portsmouth on the evening OF
March % the weather was warm The
three succeeding days were hot the
thermometer registering 95 degrees In
the sun. Summer clothing was the de-
mand. Everyone was hailing with de-
light the presence Of ideal baseball
weather
Mercury Drops
Then the change came as suddenly as
unexpectedly. on the night Of March
30 a rain storm set Ia and continued
throughout Sunday. and on Monday ice
appeared upon the streets and IN the
cutters. Baseball playing was out Of
the question, and Tuesday cold weather
the cold snap the games scheduled
with Portsmouth for these two days
were impossibiliues.
on Wednesday the weather '1oosened
up the sun shone brightly and the
mercury began an upward journey. on
the afternoon Of this day Wilmington
lined up against Portsmouth and land
ed a victory by a score Of to 4.
Thursday the Tri-Staters crossed the
Elizabeth river and in hard-fought
game trimmed the MARY James" (Nor-
fok) to the tune of Q to s, ten innings
being required to reach a decision.
Saturday last another halt was called
in baseball matters, the mercury tum-
bled, a cold northeast rain set in, and
the third game with Norfolk was called
Off To-day is as disagreeable as can
be found anywhere. and prospects for
a fair day tomorrow are remote.
Hard at Work
Notwithstanding the contrariness Of
the weather, the Wilmington boys
utilized every available moment i'm the
l"limbering up process Fair morn
lings found them upon the field by 10
o'clock. where for two hours and a
half they engaged in leg exercise, pitch
ing, throwing, catching and batting
Quickly "sore spots made nleir ap-
pearancos. and for day or so the team
as a whole was pretty well stiffened up.
The spirit OF baseball was predominant
however, among the players, and des-
lpite a stitch here and a tender place
there, they kept hammering away until
/ to-day they are all that can be eX-
lpected under the conditions.
Marked Improvement
As the result Of this hard though in-
terrupted work, the boys show marked
improvement, and it IS safe TO assume
that before fortnight has passed
Wilmington will have the fastest base
lbal aggregation that has ever repre-
lsented It i'm the Tri- State League. A
marked feature in Wilmington's play
ling is its strength at the bat Cassidy
lMaher. Vinson, Donovan and Griffin are
lstickers who win make the fastest
pitcher "sit up and take notice" and
Ito their batting is due largely the
games won i'm the South. Harry Short
al, the lad from Buffalo. although a
! pitcher, is showing that he can hit as
lwell as twirl and gives promise of be-
ing classed as one of the hitters Of the
.Iteam. Another one who looks good
lalong this line. Is McCarty who has
been Playing third and short. Mac
ills hard and willing worker and one
lof whom good results are expected. He
has never played professional bah be-
fore. but he covers short so ably that
Captain Cassidy will play him at that
position. placing Maher az third.
Touchstone Is another youngsteI
whose pitching promises 10 bring hin
lup in the front ranks before many sea-
sons roll by and whose style and ease
3, of delivery have already made him q
J favorite with the local fans "Touch'
has all the necessary curves. and is
j steady IN his delivery, showing i'm
I, provement In each game he plays.
i "Chimmy" McCusker, a Philadelphia
Had. who is also in the "try-out' class
is fast developing into good one. Hi'
, work at third has shown that he has
the stuff in him, and all that is neces-
Z sary to bring it out is plentN Of prac-
tice.
Ray Potter is a new one to Whining.
, ton. but it will not be many days be-
, fore he will be a favorite with th'
fans. Ray" has a line of talk whil'
behind the bat that will rattle many {
batsman. while his work is most effect
live. Last season he was manager and
. captain of and caught for the Loni
Branch team of the Atlantic Coas
: League
Charlie Clancy the ''big fellow" from
Westerly, r. T.. IS the tallest man OF
the team. standing six feet two inches
He has great control over the ball, ant
has speed to burn. He promises Il
be a valuable addition to the pitchinl
staff
steve Griffin Is as sharp a secon'
baseman as can be found on any team
in the Tri- state. His work in tina
position will be q surprise to many o
the fans.
Need no introduction
Cassidy, Maher, Vinson, Faulkner
E Ramsey, Greenwell, Townsend an
Flood need no Introduction 70 the VIII
lmington public, their merits In bal
: playing being well known 10 local base
, hail enthusiasts. Every one Of them
1 hard at work in the training process
g and as each day passes each one /
. becoming more proficient in the part h
; win play in the race Sor the Tri-Stat
y lpennant.
20 New Players
n While several new players may
given a trial in Wilmington but tw
players have been signed since the clu
left home. Captain Cassidy yesterda
r. clinched William Lauterborn, outneld
~ ar forn,oriNr Of fha Rim cha r,rfor, \