The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-07-26
LOCALS OCCUPY
THIRD POSITION
New Men Iii Weak Positions
Prove Their Value to the
Club.
GOOD CHANCE NOW
TO CLIMB HIGHER
Lineup is Strong Enough to
Give Rise to Hopes
for the
Flag.
BY +. ID. BONNEVILLE.

By T. ID. BONNEVILLE.
BY winning five out Of the last eight
games played, the Colts ana them
selves again in third place. Although
they have the position by q small
margin, and may drop back to fourth
place after Tuesdays GAME. IL is most
likely that they will be able to MAIN
tain the position ana even t. climb
higher before a great time.
Since the last visit ot the club TO
Roanoke the club mas undergone a
wonderful change for the better. The
Colts We're in Roanoke last at the
time of the flag raising by the
Champs. Shaw was out OF the game
for two days. Baker was not with
the club, Irvine was playing left. Big
bic at first and the twin iers were. not
going we'll.
In the present series the Champs
are facing a different aggregation,
and the result of the series will doubt
less be different. The Colts got a
good start by capturing the first game
from the Tigers i'm easy fashion. The
increased batting strength OF The CLUB
is responsible for the victory ind II is
likely to bring many more iii in
creased proportion to the number
played.
The locals do not look bad Ehw as
the league leaders. They have an
excellent chance to crawl 10 the sop
in the time that Is lef- them. and II
would not occasion mica surprise to
see them do so. The cinb is much
stronger now than at any time this
season. and anything that they may
do In the way OF win'iing ganits
would not be great surprise.
The expected slump Of the Dam
willie club has come, ana the Bugs
are gradually giving ground as they
drop a game here ami thsra. They
made poor showing Monday against
the Tars. probably the weakest club
fl The league. and when they face
some OF the stronger teams their part
viii be hard one to travel
Sheehan, OF the fa,s, held hem
sale Monday, and VIII IN Vance gees
in the box to work Ii viii laean an
other game lost. unless the fars are
in very bad fern in the field
The loss OF Joe Laugniin was IA
severe loss to the Bugs ana complete
ly broke up their winning comDiua-
ton. The great Work vi their pitch-
ers was due TO the excellent brain
when he was incapacitated the brains
OF the batteries were goue.
Callahan. the substitute catcher ot
the Bugs, was not the ntsn Ia Keep
up the winning streak ana the new
man. ReislinE. liz by no means able To
fiji Laughiin's place
Under the present conditions the
Bugs are likely to lose the ,ead al
though they have a tremendous mar
gin. Unless IauEhlin returns, how
ever. ii II d5hbtful IL they nave mar
gin enough to see them through the
season and get them tfir flag
Both Bunting and Dohsol are de-
ing we'll wifi the Colts gni are tut
filling the nice things that nave been
said about them. They came here
mest highly recommended, and had
they not made good the local mar
agettient would have been sorely dis
appointed.
The Colts scout In Carolina wrote
owner Bradley two letters about the
youngsters some time ago. saying that
they wsfe easily the stars of the league
In fiel6ing.. base running and batting
and that Richmond would make no
mistake In Buying them. The local
management Is so well pleased with
them BIRTH that settlement has been
made and they now belong to the Colts.
There is no danger of their getting
away unless they show a big slump
or titiiess they are drafted In the fall.
III Mondays game Dcbson was given
his second try -out and he showed a
complete reversal of form from that
of Saturday, when he made three
errors and failed TO get hit. He
cofihected With the ball for triple and
single out of three times up. He
accepted ten chances at the bag with
out error, and his performance was
highly satisfactory.
II is hardly necessary to say any
thing about Bunting, since he has al
ready made good and has shown that
he Is well placed at third, He came
up four times Monday and got one
hit "a triplej and scored run. His
1ieiding Is of the best and he Is salts
factory In every way.
The speed on the youngsters Is one
of their best features. They get away
from the plate quickly following q hit
and get d triple where many of the
other Colts would have 10 stop on
second for the same hit.
Brennan Ia stiii A likely candidate for
the position at first base, and after the
respective performances of the two
men IN Saturdays double header II
looked like he had surely won out
Dobson has shown such an improves
ment in his second trial. however. that
the fight now seems to be close and
I4awior will have hard time deciding
which man Is the better for tie club;
On account of his young blood and
''' ambition, Bunting viii probably be
the better man ii he can hit the ball
He 10 a cleaner and faster fielder thar
Brennan and many fans would be glad
to see the youngster land
If he Is not kept here at this time
he will be farfned out on an optional
contract, 50 that he can be called
back at any time this season and pal
in the game.
Msssitt has not been feeling particu-
larry well of late and has not beeh
working He had a talk with Uwfiei
Bradley Saturday and said that he
was feeling better and would catch
Mondays game. He Was hot in tiir
game; h0wever. and IL pyobabiy being
saved to work with HeFelie when he
goes In against the Champs.
The catcher question ~ now the
most important in the line-up of the
Colts In this department the locals
nre weaker than any other club In this
league, at least weaker than three Of
them u another receiver cosad b
\ M ssf 1T IT,