The morning journal-courier. (New Haven, Conn.) 1907-1913, 1908-04-27

The tenth annual championship race
in the Connecticut league will start to-
morrow and unless all signs fail, the
closest struggle for honors in the his
tory OF the organization will be re-
corded.
New Haven, rightly termed Days
Debutants, will start the season on
even footing with Holyoke. Waterbury,
Springfield and Hartford and no doubt
will be the favorte before the close Of
the first two weeks. The local nine with
the exception of three men. is compos-
ed of entirely new players, men who
have been strangers to the Connecticut
league. Bridgeport, Meriden and New
Britain will have to strengthen to make
the slightest impression.
New Haven introduces a new set Of
ball tossers this season, men who have
made records outside OF the Connecti-
cut league and men who will no doubt
either lead the other teams at stiff
pace or push Its contemporaries hard
for first place. Its best outfleld Is Wade,
Zacher and Council In the infeld,
Griffin Is far inferior to Jope as a
backstop. Kane Is a good man at the
first bag and also seems to be good
with the willow. Simmons Is playing
good ball at second and has been do
Ing the best stick work In the practice
games. Havel can hold his own with
anything in the league when 1t comes
to fielding and much is expected OF
him in the batting line. Bill Hayward,
although n fair fielder, makes up for
this weakness with the willow. He
was the best man In this department
of the game last year and will be a
top-notcher also this season. The local
nine's pitchers are not class A men, but
will have to hold their own for the
present. Nolte is far and away the
best, while Harry Long and Corcoran
will fight It out for second honors. Null
very has not shown UP to good advan-
tage yet and It Is not expected that
West ever will. Havel, whom DAILY Sc
lected az captain is considered good
field general.
Holyolse Is composed Of veterans and
will be practically the same as last
season when that team nosed Water
bury out for first place.
Springfield will start the seaeon with
crippled team, due to the fact that
three inf1elders are out Of the game
and Conner a catcher, will have to
be utilized to fill In at short.
Waterbury possesses an exceptional
" we'll balanced team and Manager
Durant bolstered the left wing OF the
inf1eld when he nailed Barbour to hold
down third. Shortstop Is an uncer-
tainty.
Hartford - an unknown quantity
and 1t Ia believed quite space of time
will elapse before the team shows
class. Manager Dowd Is hustler and
will weed out the deadwood as fast
as II accumulates.
Meriden Is the old Norwich team
and should give a good account Of
lIltl1ltplNfH, mere lS SDHlb ubHUWDOu
that could he got rid Of with profit
but Manager Soffel hesitates to do so
because he can't get the players to
replace them The pitching staff Is
fairly good. the felders and basemen
little better.
Bridgeport and New Britain are IN
the same class. Both have lot of
new material. but New Britain has 1t
on the Park City crowd for promising
promising PLAYERS Bridgeport's pitch
Ing staff is rank, while the inheld will
compare favorably with a fast anna
teur or semi professional outfit.
The season will open In this city to-
morrow with Bridgeport the visiting
feature This ought to draw a large
crowd New Haven has faster nine
than the Park City boys and the game
ought to be an easy victory. The con-
test will start at $3.50,
Thursday Meriden will play here and
Friday New Britain will visit this city.
These are three easy home games and