The Montgomery advertiser., 1909-03-21
HALTED BY WEATHER MAN Climbers Miss Day of
 Practice. GROUNDS ARE IN POOR SHAPE Much Sunshine Needed Today and
 Tomorrow. The Work of the Pelicnns in the Open ing Game With the Athletics
 Give the Birds
 Boost.

thoughts of practice out at the ball lot py Greminger's squad, tho boys hanging out at their hotel. fighting out battles of bygone days and figuring out just how the gang was going to swing on to 8 place nigh up in the first division this season. The moist grounds again. It looks as If the weather bunch has 1t in for Bill Stick ney good and proper. for just as soon as he gets the lot looking it, along comes another big split in the clouds, and he nas to say things under ms breath and do all the work over again.
 Unless the sun gets busy-and stays busy--today and tomorrow morning. 1t looks like the first clash of the season tomorrow afternoon. will be a slippery kind of affair. Connie Mack's crowd morning and about 3:3oo tomorrow af- ternoon will give the Climbers a touth of high life.
 Greminger has not decided on his batting order but he will have his en- tire. outfit Tn action at different times during the afternoon. Krebs, shannon and Hart will work three innfngs each back of the plate. Guese. Lively and Bliss and Bridges wogking awhile If they are in shape. Manush, Pope. Rockenfield and Greminger In the ln field and kerwin, Daly, Whiteman and
 Whether Mack will but his regular team in against the Climbers or sand wich some of his youngsters, will be determined tomorrow morning. Rube Oldring and one or two of his regulars were slightly hurt in the New Orleans work. but 1t Is thought that they will be all right by tomorrow. The Peli- Judging by the following account of Thursdays game with the Athletics down in New orleans:
 "A pretty game was the first offering of the exhibition season for the 1.50O fans at Pelican Park yesterday, even If the Philadelphia Athletics did lick the Pelicans by score of to l. Mod ei weather attended the initial argu- ment and few errors were made by either side. speed being shown by most of the players and a gratifying degree of accuracy in throwing, though the batting was light after the first in ming. and no more run making was in order.
 para were used by New Orleans, and Coombs. Plank and Sehlitzer by .Phila delphia. Coombs was hardest hit five safeties being garnered by the locals during his workout. but Charley Fruit the Pelican recruit. who was not quite steady enough for Cleveland or Boston and comes here from the majors suf- fered most from the batters. HartsePs run in the first inning. the two runs which won the game for the big leaguers being scored.
 "Cefaulo refused the Athletics the
 
 man star. cutting the corners and pitching with great coolness for a kid made fine impression. Nestor Neven- feasuer. also worked we'll He allow ed one hit, but Harry Matthews who by the way, signed his contract and turned 1t in to Manager Frank secretly ten days, ago., headed Heitmuiler at second when the big Californian tried to steal The main reason way the big blonde Nevenpara copped the kind the impressive manner in which he famed three hard-hitting Athletics Hartsell, Barry and Mich ols-in the1 two last innings pitc6ed. absence of Dundon not being serious ly felt by the locals and Huber play Ing his second base position in fine style. The lineups of both teams were however. both with the Athletics and Pelicans. and there was no playing for the grand stand either.
 Billy Carpenter, the popular South ern League umpire again this season, called the game to begin at 3:30 D. m, and there was big bunch of applause their places and the. game opened up with New Orleans at bat, Jack Man ming being the-hrst up. Coombs hand ed Jack four wide ones, but Rohe's double play. Weimer. the Dutch right fielder. who hit great guns last season In the io-Pennsylvania League. sig naied his his first r appearance at bat in double, fast drive. which struck shortstop Barrys shoes and bounded far out of reach neing not easily re. only strong point Is pinch and other kinds of hitting, then cracked out a pretty single to right, which scored Weimer, Huelsman being caught at second 2 moment later when he tried to purloin the cushion
 But the boys from Quakertown bowled ahead of the locals when their single to left. which was misjudged by Huelsman and not returned to the dia- mond before Tops had taken second Barry sacrificed .aiI him to third. and Ba- put the Aathletics In the lead.
 Harry Davis's clean double to right center pained Pruitt more, but Joe Huber. and Hetmuller's hot one to the pitcher retired the side
 'No more runs and scattered hitting were observed In the remainder of the game. Charley Dexter opening the sec ond for the Pelicans with big ping to left, and Mich oils doing the same for the Athletics. but neither being able to score, through inability of those following them to connect.
 rooters. however. Three men bn bases and only one man down. yet as little Elklns family. Pru!tt fouled out but Manning singled to left center Rohe repeating the trick. and Jackson's re- turn of the ball was booted by Davis, both runners advancing. Dutch W Weim- CT was next up. and Coombs thought lt best policy to pass him, stufhng the sacks. Huelsman handed the fans hard jolt as the time arrived for the killing. though. He stung a line drive to Baker. and the Athletics's promis- ing young third baseman touched the pillow before Manning could return, sending the zero sign up on the score board.
 Baker played rattling good third Tor the visitors, but had only one oth- CT fielding chance. Hartsel was. kept busy in left field handling long drives. but the Birds succeeded in getting on- ly two more men on bases. Huber's single in the fourth and Harry Mat thews batting 1000 by hitting to right in the seventh--his only time at bat.
 The Athletics were no longer threat ening. either, The Birds frightened up after the first period Nicholls's hlt n the second was followed by a sacrifice.