Evening star., 1911-08-09

There seems little doubt now that Post
ONCE will win the pennant In the De-
League. The first game or
the series yesterday was captured by II,
and that fact turns the tide In its favor.
Under the present circumstances Com
merce and Labor viii be lucky II it man
ages finally to win the championship.
With two games yet remaining to be
played Of the three-game series Tor
the leadership, Post Office ought not to
experience much trouble in winning at
least one of them. that being sufficient
to give 1t the championship.
Just as was pointed out q few days ago.
the factor that was going to work against
Commerce and Labor in the series was
its inferior pitching staff. 1t was stated
at that time that the Laborites did not
have a single man on whom they could
depend to hold the Mailmen in check,
and such proved to be the case. 1t is
very probable that Commerce and Labor
will bring Whitney from Ocean CITY.
NJ j., where he is playing independent
ball, to work in at least one and possibly
both Of the remaining games.
During the past two years great
many shafts of criticism have been
hurled at the Commerce and Labor tean'
but basing the assertion on the action
of the manager Of that club in playing
of the championship after having 1t
given to his club. there Is no further
room for anybody to say that the La
borites have exhibited unsportsmanlike
spirit
The facts Of the case are these: Had
Commerce and Labor won the four post
poned games that ii was scheduled to
play it would have had the champion
ship without question, as 1t would then
have stood half a game ahead of Post
Once, but this it did not do. failing to
win. one OF its contests from Agriculture
1t was admitted in a league meeting that
one OF the men played by the Farmers
was ineligible and that he was played
fact was brought before the arbitration
committee 1t declared the game forfeited
to Commerce and Labor, but Manager
Shoemaker Of that club instead or ac-
cepting the forfeit stated that he was
going to play the Post Office team a
series to decide the championship. The
reason for doing this. according to his
statement is that there might have been
some dissatisfaction had the pennant been
won In this manner and rather than have
that he would lose It, Such an action
Is rather unprecedented and deserves a
whole lot of commentator.
To consider tine action of the manager
of the Commerce and Labor team in one
light. 1t might be said that he was a
little bit too sentimental in taking the
stand he did, as there is no question that
IL the Agricultural Department used a
man who was ineligible the game in
which he was played belonged to the
Commerce and Labor team just as much
as II 1t had won 1t by getting the larger
score. Under the rules OF amateur base
ball, Il was an illegitimate act, and
should not have been condoned.
The game yesterday in the Independ-
ence League was one of the best that
has been played in that circuit this sea-
son. Until the last half of the seventh
inning the Kendall team was unable to
score more than one run on the st. Pau
club, a youngster from Hyattsville, Pioze,
by name, being the instrument against
which the league leaders found 1t almost
Impossible to register runs. Piozet pitched
grand ball until he weakened in the seventh
and allowed two hits, which with two
! bases on balls and an error netted -four
runs, bringing the total OF the Kendall
club up TO FIVE. The contest was called
after that chapter. Hughes finished the
inning In the box and struck out the only
two men to face him.
| Jimmy kerr's bat proved a big factol
| in the game between Post Office ant
Commerce and Labor in the Departments
League yesterday, the Post Office right
| fielder getting two hits. both of which
drove runs across the pan. Jimmy Is q
versatile player being able to pitch goot
ball. oesides putting mp good game u
! IL. Uutlieid and d; bat. lie viii y. obabl,