The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1909-05-29
COWDY STILL
LEADS LEAGUE
Duffy Holds Second Place
Among Hitters.
BIG SLUMP in WEEK
Pitchers Work Better and
Low Score Games the Rule
Marion Reversal Of Form the Big
Surprlse--Flood and Abott In
800 Class The Averages.
BIG SLUMP in WEEK

The improved form shown by
many of the pitchers in the Ohio
State league was one of the most
salient features of the fourth week
of the season. Close, low score
games, were the rule and the batting
averages OF the swatters, were low
cred considerably.
The weather has had much to do
with the slowness OF the veterans in
rounding into form. The season Is
not on record when more unfavOrable
weather has been experienced in this
locality and few minor leagues would
be able to exist under such condl-
tions. But there is where the firm
ness of the Ohio State league is
shown. Though the gate receipts are
far below those OF last year--due en-
tirely to the bad weather-the clubs
are going right along and pay days
are as regular as of old. But the in
terest Is as strong II not stronger
than ever and when conditions be-
come right the clubs will make up the
shortages.
In the batting slump the Lima club
has been the heaviest sufferer. But
It has had little erect. Playing tn.
best ball i'm the league, running bases
well and taking advantage of their
opponents misplays every time, the
club has done as we'll as when the
hits were coming more frequently
Some wonderful fielding and magnif-
cent pitching has also figured large
ly in the Lima victories, all of whici
demonstrate that the club has class
and that the players are OF cham
pionship caliber.
Lancaster has held its own largely
through efficient pitching and timely
hitting in the fourth week. Ports
mouth VITA good hitting and even
better pitching worked into the first
division. Mansfield has improved
somewhat in its work aield and with
better pitching managed to crawl TO
the top of the second division during
the week while Newark playing better
ball pulled out OF the cellar. The
surprise OF the week was the slump
Of the Marion club, dropping from the
first division TO the cellar. Poor
work afeld and still worse batting is
Irresponsible and oDay's many changes
have not broken the hoodoo. The
manager promises shake-up If bet
ter results do not come.
In the fourth week OF the season
Gowdy, the tall red-hared lad, oil
Lancaster, is the batting leader
Gowdy's hitting is nothing less than,
the surprise of the season and It isl
now certain that he Will be kept at
work regularly. Duffy. of Portsmouth
| is secure in second place, HIS great
hitting having much to do with mum
erous Portsmouth victories. Another
surprise OF the week is had in the
willow work OF Manager Flood, OF
Mansfield. the veteran crawling up to
the $50 mark by spectacular work
Doc Abbott, of Newark, is another
newcomer in the 800 ranks at the
close OF the week.
Alex Reilly leads in the run get
ting with 10 to his credit while
Brown, of Lancaster and McAnister,
OF Portsmouth, are tied for second
honors with l3 each Lefty Snyder
OF Newark leads the league in sacri.
flee hits with l3. A. Reilly has stol-
en- Is bases.
Farrell, OF the locals Is the leader
among the regular hitters although
the averages show Whipple to be
ahead Williams is close second,
both batting over 800, Staley is in
batting slump and during the
fourth week fell below the 300 mark.
Wolfe is batting .194 and oDay i7s.
The Diggers may hit the bottom
mark and perhaps they will soar
from this time forth. The hardest
end OF baseball luck has been theirs.
The future cannot hold worse in
store.
| The hating avaro gac.