The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-04-14
BARONS ANXIOUS ID MEET PRETzELS Practice SeaSen Is Concluded
 This Afternoon YESTERDAYS FINE WORK Bill AK Looks on Performance and Ex- Presses satisfaction-8arons To
 Have New Stockings.
 Some Details.
YESTERDAYS FINE WORK
BY BILL AK,


 After today, everything done and every thing left undone will be counted up against us.
 In other words the last practices occur this morning and this afternoon, while tomorrow the Barons take the rails for Montgomery.
 The Barons are in first rate shape, and are ready and anxious for the fray.
 To the judge of baseball the Barons look strong, very strong. l confidently believe that the locals will be found in high society when the end is reached.
 After seeing Ferguson asd Loudon to their respective trains yesterday morning, the Barons repaired to West End park, where a gingery practice was indulged in. In the afternoon all the players were on hand, and another rattling practice was had. After the performance, Mana ger Vaughn announced his satisfaction with the work of the men.
 This morning and this afternoon the players will again get to the park for the last days practice work. They will leave tomorrow morning for the Capital City and in the afternoon will meet the reju- venated Pretzes.
 To the practiced eye the Barons look better every day. This is especially true since the arrival of Bill Douglass and the purchase of Earl Fleharty.
 There is hardly sore spot among the entire number of players. Raub's arm, which has been exceedingly sore, and which handicapped his throwing to bases, is improving fast, and he is now in fine shape.
 This bad arm of Raub's, incidentally, drew the fire of some harsh and unin- formed critics, but to those who know the difference between a base hit and a base fiddle, the red-haired receiver from the Tri-State looks exceedingly good.
 Henry Meek mounted the scales yester- day afternoon. adn tipped the beam at 22S pounds. Last season the hefty son of swat played throughout the five months at 235.
 Meeks ankle. too, under the careful treatment of a physician, Is showing great improvement, and the big fellow is getting about faster every afternoon.
 Meek expects the ensuing season to be one of his best. He plans to sting the ball harder than last season when he lead the league with a fine margin
 The pitchers are working in fine shape. This especially is true concerning Clark, Ragan and Turner. The three old heads look strong this season. Ragan was never in better form, and in the practice games none of the Barons have been able to hit Ginger Clark
 Robertaile continues to work carefully and effectively I cannot see where Will helm has him bested at any point. Of course, I have never seen Chick under the fire of an actual engagement but from the work he has done at West End. and his record of other years, it is very probable that he will become one of the distinct stars of the league.
 Yesterday afternoon, McNeal did some clever work, and Harry Ables, another who has suffered from lack of control, is learning to shoot them over the pan. With Fleharty coming, Manager Vaughn has very difficult job before him. He will not carry more than five pitchers. and at present there are seven valuable men to choose from.
 The outfielders yesterday afternoon did some spectacular work. Reagan has used Fms wing to some extent recently, and it E indicuo6 tn,;t the reports that pre- oeted him will lie borne out. Molesworth is as spe*taci. a, and safe as ever, and Houtz. io dudition to fielding his position, is e.inging the ball and running bases well.
 Incidentally two oi; Montgomery play ers-MolnsWo, ih and Houtz-wlli be the first eaters to face Montgomery pitch CTS tomorrow sfisrnoon.
 For fifteen n IT. ses yesterday afternoon the infied put up one of the finest prac- tices seen this year.
 During that t.m4 no ball was booted. Everyone was fielded perfectly and thrown about the bases accurately and with speed. The work was very fast and pleasing.
 Every man CT the infield yesterday afternoon wassa star of the first water Very spectacular Ntrp was done by De- mort and Lcwney. Walters was as safe as ever and H., " Meek got everything that came in his dh';ton.
 There will be one change in the unifor,h of the locals The stockings this season will be white and black.
 In all other details this seasons dress will be identical with that of last.
 in all practice games, Catcher Mahon has been a prominent figure. The young ster is a hard-worker, and coming catcher. He is destined to make some minor ieaeuc d valuable man.
 With the Barons tomorrow many fans will go to Montgomery and several base ball writers of the local papers.
 
 BASEBALL RESULTS.