The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-05-11
Inability to Hit Pitcher Johns
the Trouble.
Secured But Five Scattered Sim
giles Through Game.
USED THREE PITCHERS
BeItZ and Thomson Taken Out
for Wildness.
Slapnicka Did Well in the Last
Five Innings.
USED THREE PITCHERS

AS a result of the w1ldneSS OF To-
peka twirling staff. or at least that
portion of it exhibited during the early
stages Of yesterdays game, the Orna-
hogs scampered off the field at the end
of the ninth inning with the scalps of
the locals, and with the honor of hav-
ang applied the first coat of whitewash
to the local team. The final reckoning
was 8 to o.
Beltz started to fling the game, butwas
as wild as a jungle lion. The young
ster had his trouble in locating the
plate, and even after he had worked
through the first inning with a handi-
cap of two runs he seemed unable to
come back and do any better. He was
yanked out in the second inning and
Thomson substituted. Thomson did
fairly we'll for an inning or two but two
walks in the third with four stolen
bases was enough to send the emergen-
cy call for Slapnicka. And Slapnlcka,
by the way, pitched the best ball he
has tWirled since the season started.
Three singles and walk In one inning
melted three runs but during the other
portions of his career on the local slab
he pitched pretty nifty game
The chief trouble with the Topeka
team was the inability to concentrate
their hits to some definite point OF the
game, and thereby score few runs.
The five hits were scattered through
four different innings, only in one In
ming was there more than one con
nection made, and at this time both
hits came after two men were out
Johns, a big left-hander certainly pitch
ed a grand game and seemed to be the
hardest proposition that has confront
ed the local batters this season.
Only one error WAN made by the To-
calls but there was enough stupid work
to give the game away. There are er-
rors of commission and errors or omis-
sion. Topeka made one of the former
and several of the latter kind. But
then what's the use of worrying or Ia
menting over the defeat. Some days
must be dark and dreary. Some days
the team must play rotten ball. It was
merely an off day. Probably this after
noon the team Will come back stronger
than ever.
Beltz had his troubles in the first in
ming. Fisher, first man up walked and
Cooley sent Thomson out to the warm
ing patch King popped up to Andrews
and Be1tz caught Fisher between first
and second by a half Nelson. 1t looked
as though the sea Of trouble had be-
come a calm, but Beltz walked Pen
dry and plaStered Kane in the ribs
lust before Graham hit to the right
field fence for two bases. WEIGH hit
a long one to right center but Geier
made a beautiful long running catch
and ended the scoring during the in
Ming.
Again in the second 1t looked as
though the young southpaw would be
switched onto the right track. Both
Franck and Gonding flied to F'enlon
which were caught without the big
fielder moving from his tracks. But
johnson drew four wide ones, and
Fisher followed with a triple to the
right field fence. Right at this point
in the proceedings Thomson was
brought in. King singled just over sec
ond. Kahl almost catching it with one
hand Fisher scored. Pendry singled
and on a double steal King was tagged
out between third and home.
The Omaha contingent added one in
the fourth. Kerns muffed Gonding S
infield fly and Johns sacrificed. Fisher
walked, but Gonding was caught on go
ing to third Fisher stole third and
King drew another walk Fisher scor-
ed on a double steal, and King stole
third but the agony ended when Pen
dry hit one down to Downey.
Slapnicka took the burden and for
two innings there was nothing doing
But in the seventh, Fisher led off with
a single. King followed with one just
barely through the infield. Pendry
walked, filing the bases. Kane sin
gled to right field. scoring two runs.
The nearest Topeka came to the
home plate was second base. Twice this
dizzy position was reached. In the sew
enth Downey got that far on his owr
single and that of McManus. In the
ond on Kunkers infield out. All the
other Topeka hits were singles and came
after two men were down.