Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-03-24
HA|R-RA|S|NG STUNTS
IN NATIONALS PRACTICE
Players Are Ready to Jump
Into Championship Game.
Hardy Is Out.
BY H. H. FRY.
pecial Dispatch to The Star

d n. n. N /.
Special Dispatch to The Star
NORFOLK Va. March .24.-Manager
Aleer had the laugh on Conroy ana
Killifer this morning. He worked the
pair with Crooks on first until they
called quits and Mac called out: Inc
old man played you OUT and they had 10
admit it. The sun was quite hot ana
everybody worked for an hour and a
half as If their lives depended upon IT.,
and as result the stunts pulled on
were of the hair-raising sort. Oberhn
was I'D on the rubber first, and after he
had enough big Hovlik took a turn Joe
saws his first workout yesterday after
noon left him slightly sore, but by the
time he was through this morning the
soreness had all disappeared. McAieer
told The Star representative this morn
ing that the players are becoming what
is known as mouth sore They are
getting on edge, just like a thoroughbred
race horse, and are feeling 1t. They 1eei
like fighting with everybody and want to
quit.
There is a big difference in everybody
since last Monday. The players them
selves do not notice any change in them
selves but the keen eye of the manager
knows exactly what is the matter. IheIe
is not a man on the team who is not sur
feiing from injury or sickness who can
go in a regular ball game tomorrow at
top speed AS a result 1T is more tnan
probable that McAleer will shorten tne
practice tomorrow and take none at all
Saturday on account OF playing with
Norfolk in the afternoon.
Hardy Is Out.
1.., x, 1I.r5,, noe ont in uniform
this morning and has almost fully recov-
cred from his injury. He first worked
with Hovl,k and Groom, and then went
regular practice.
Doc Reislng took a big dose of
medicine last night and was sitting up
this morning. although somewhat weak
1t was simply a bilious spell and he
will probably be able to work out by to-
morrow morning.
have to take their medicine. while Ober-
lin will stay at the hotel and rest up
Hovlik. of course, will go out this after
noon and again help out when called on.
He is two weeks back of the other pitch
ers as far as condition goes and it will
take some hustling on his part to catch
up.
The Norfolk boys went on the field
when the Nationals came away. and they
dTe last IOuffulI6 shape. IHSy
want to make as good a showing as pos
sible against Washington, a majority of
them being particularly anxious in this
respect as their jobs depend upon show
ing Manager Clarke what they can do.
AS it will be the final game and the last
chance to see the Nationals, Manager
Clarke expects several thousand people
out to witness the contest. Gray and
Groom will probably divide the nine in
nings between them. and they are just In
m cbnw the local fans work
of the high class.
Jerry Ohrs arm has slackened up on
him again, but it is nothing serious. Man
ager McAleer called on him this morn
ing to work. and Jerry had to beg off.
That's right" called out Mac, let me
know IL you don't feel like pitching.
don't want any one to work if he isn't
right"
Hovlik Works Out.
Pitcher Hovlik had his first workout
of the season yesterday afternoon and
pleased Manager McAleer by his earnest
ness ii nothing else. When Joe first
started pitching he took lit easy. OF
course. but the hot sun soon put him on
edge, and by the time Mac called quits
he was steaming them over. Hovlik's chief
stock in trade last year was the de-
Iusive splitter but ii would not surprise
his teammates at all If he turns out a
good twirler, with the regular assortment
Of drops and curves. One workout Is
nothing to bank on, but he certainly
demonstrated that he is there with the
speed and control, and that Is three
fcurths of the battle While the big fell
low failed to startle the eastern base ball
world last fall, there must be something
to him or the Three-I managers would
not fight for him so strenuously. The
players all like Hovlik on account of his
genial ways. and are pulling for him to
cop a regular job with the Nationals.
Hovlik. Groom and Gray did the pitch
ing to the batters yesterday afternoon
and warmed up so well that the batters
had difficulty in getting the ball into safe
territory. 1t is just the sort of practice
the boys need and by the end of the
week il will take first-class pitching to
fool them. This will be demonstrated
Saturday. when they tackle Norfolk. The
change from Gray, Groom and Reisling
to what Manager Clarke has to offer in
the way of pitching talent should re-
suit in about twenty hits for the Ma
tionaIs against eleven. made last Satur-
dav. A pin goes here.
Manager McAleer devoted fifteen min
utes yesterday afternoon to working
Crooks, Killifer and Conroy on the sacks
very gratifying to him. No matter how
good Elberfeld. Schaefer and Unglaut
may be. they will not be able to loaf with
these clever players on the bench Mao
has let it be known that he will not play
any favorites, but that the men who ca \
field and bat the best and at the same
time hustle will get the regular jobs
McAleer would drive the ball like 2
shot at the three men in their position,
and the crowd of onlookers kept clappine
their hands at the brilliant stops and ac.
curate throws. Killifer looked very sweet
at second. as he has a wonderful whin
but he had nothing on Conroy at that. a,
the "Widow' right now is in grand form
Crooks at first also worked nicely but
him with Unglaub, as Bob is one of III,
best first sackers in the business anf
knows all the tricks of the trade, a thin.
Tom can only gain by experience
Walker Lacks Seriousness.
Some one will have to jab Dixie" Wal
ker with a pin and wake him up. He 4
undoubtedly a diamond in the rough bu