The Washington herald., 1909-02-22
PLAN A BUSY SEASON
Church Leaguers Begin EX-
tensiTe Preparations.
MEET at BETHANY CHAPEL
Will Probably Close Deal for Lease
on Old Grounds This Week-Teams
Reported Much Stronger Than
Last SeasOn-Grace and Waugh
Withdraw-Change in Schedule.

Plans for the baseball season IN the
Church League were formulated and dis
cussed az q meeting Of the various man
ayers at the Bethany Church yesterday
afternoon. and although The league viii
present a slightly changed makeup. Il
again promises TO De one OF the most
formidable organizations in the city.
Last season the Church League was,
with the probable exception OF the De
partmental League, the best regulated
organization in town. and has the largest
following Of any Of the sand-Iot leagues
Throughout the season the games were
always excellentIy paronized, the close
finding a fairly plentiful treasury with
which 10 begin operations this year.
The rapid growth Of the rather recently
organized league shows the popularity II
has attained during its three seasons IN
the northeast section, and should the
present plans OF the promoters produce
the expected results, there Is every indi-
cation that the Organization VIII see its
most successful campaign this season
Secure Old Grounds.
Il is thought the one drawback TO the
plans for the coming campaign has been
eliminated. and with the securing Of the
same grounds used last season al IS in a
fair way for smooth start The grounds
at Sixth and D streets are not the most
attractive n the city. but, being cen
trally situated. are in a great measure
responsible for the large crowds which
attend the games. At the conclusion Of
last seasons schedule a search for new
quarters was begun. as It was thought
the Sixth street diamond would be built
upon some time in the early spring. but
as the oweners have decided 70 build
only on a small portion Of il. the league
VIII IN all probability close a deal for
the use % the grounds some time this
coming week
This bit OF news viii be particularly
welcome TO the many who spent the after
noons on the Church League grounds
last season. and as nearly all the teams
have been strengthened il Is a safe pre-
diction that the league viii present an
even better article Of ball than last sea
son
Change in Schedule.
It has been decided to start and finish
the schedule a little later than was the
case last season Beginning. as the
schedule did last year, while the weather
was not altogether suited for outdoor
pastimes. several OF the teams were Sc
verely crippled before the real race be-
gan. and as a result the class OF ball ex-
hibited ii the early contests was far be-
low the league standard. Then, again,
just at the time when the games were
most patronlzed the schedule was finished.
and the feeble effort to prolong the pro-
gramme proved vain. as the fight for the
places had been particularly close and
but few OF the aggreg2tiOns approved
a continuation. This the promoters have
sought TO reCtify in their plans for the
coming season and have accordingly
decided 10 make the schedule much longer
tran last year.
The extremes in the final standing last
season have left the league and so, when
the season begins. new members wifi be
found in the places Of Grace and Waugh
representatives. Several applications for
the vacancies have been made. but Just
which teams viii be selected TO I'll the
gap the directors have not as yet deter
mined. All Of the other members Of
the organization wiz again be in line.
and at the meeting yesterday it was de-
veloped that they are sure TO be much
stronger for the coming race.