Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-07-09
MANY CLUBS LOW STANDING
IS DUE TO POOR PITCHING
Good Brand of Twirling Would Have Placed
Many Teams Higher in
Pennant Races

There is not a doubt but that poor
pitching Is causing many Of the teams In
the amateur leagues to drop back in the
race for the pennant in the circuits OF
which they are members. There are
many clubs which if they had had better
twirling to play behind during the season
would be much higher in the race than
they are now
great many instances might be men
toned in which il has been the case that
it is purely the fault of the twirling that
certain clubs are back in the second d.
vision instead Of up in the first. The
commissioners. in the District League,
have been fioundering along all year be-
cause of the lack of good twirhng stall
The ST. Martins nine, in the lndepend-
ence League, woGid now he very near
the top had 1t had a good pitcher to de-
pend OH during the season. The Eastern
Athletic Club can lay the cause of a
great many ~ its defeats TO the lack OF
some man capable OF holding the op9os-
ing clubs TO 4 minimum number of runs.
Agriculture and Interior are two clubs IN
the Departmental League which might
lay claim to better positions had they
better men in the box, while Commerce
and Labor, In the same League. can
blame the fact that II lost its best pitcher
as the reason that II Is not now at the
head OF the Departmental League CLUBS
And there are many other instances
which might be cited 70 show what bet
ter twirling would have done for the
clubs which are now in fourth or NTH
position
IL must be that there Is a scarcity Of
good pitching material in the amateur
circuits. There Is little doubt that such Is
the case. An old major leagne ball player
who has beer looking over the players In
the local amateur le&gues during the
past few days made the statement two
or three days ago that while there Is a
great deal OF promising material on the
local lots for the majority of the posi-
lions on a ball club the scarcity OF good
pitching talent is remarkable.
About the first thing that a manager Of
an amateur club ought to 90 in the spring
when he begins TO recruit his team Is 10
make sure OF getting good twirIer. A
pitcher Who can hold the opposing club
to low score is a mighty valuable asset
10 ball club. and especially Il this true
ia the amateur leagues. where the bat
ting is not SO very good at any time. Let
a. pitcher who has some ability get III
the box with . moderately good cub be-
hind him III most any Of the amateur CIR
cults and he will win the great majority
of his games His club does not have 10
get eight and ten runs 10 win as some OF
those do which are now back III the race,
in several of the leagues, but three or
four would generally suffice for him 20
get away with the long end OF the score
This afternoon at o'clock the Inter
state and Cornell Company teams Will
play a benefit game for Arthur Moves
the catcher who was severity nurt tive
weeks ago n game between Interstate
and AGRICULTURE in the Departmental
League Moves was member OF both
the Cornell Company and the Interstate
clubs
The following letter from Mr.. Stratton
the manager of the Interstate team eA
plains the matter FUZZY:
Sporting Editor star
You will doubtless recall that in q
base bail game between the Agriculture
and interstate teams OF the Depart
mental League, Arthur NoyeS who was
catching for the Interstate team, was SC
unfortunate IS to break his leg sliding
into third base. He will he laid UP for a
least siN weeks. and we have arranged 9
benefit game for him between the Cor
uel Company team and the Interstate
team which will be played at the Capito
City Park Sunday. the 9th instant. At
O'Clock pm, / understand that Mr.. Bets
has kindly consented 10 umpire.
! NAV say in passing that the Interstat u
feam las been strengthened BY the adGi
ion OF lumber OF Departmental League
stars and We expect 10 be able 10 give
cornell good game.
AIM am GuilcffnGnt OF illlS game ina
you may be able To make through yout
columns VIII he greatly appreciated bS
the nnders gred. Mr.. Cornell and all thu
friends or Moves. Very truly yours,
FRANK {. STRATToN.
Manager Interstate Team.
Players On the tail-end clubs in thu
amateur leagues should not become dis
coUraGed easily rs some of than have
given evidence OF being at present IN
fAr~ that rho Cifll which 4haN q MIA W
ing is behind in the race does not So,
that il mas entirely lost out in its fign
for the championship, as IL takes only IN
winning OF q game or two 10 put tn
leaders back into fourth position. For in
stance. II might he mentioned. that tn
Commissioners were al the head of tn
District League, with clear lead of
whole game. and now they are back il
third place. with tho leading team tw
whole games ahead Of them. a team l
never hopelessly out Of race that
cannot better it's position, even thong
II cannot win the pennant. \ great dea
OF credit Is generally given team whic
comes out of last place and goes int
the first division-almost as much. 1
fact. as is handed out To that club whic
by virtue of the STAG players il has cor
rallied 5 leading In the struggle The
there is duty which is owed 10 the res
OF the league by the teams which are a
IL might he said, practically out OF tn
race for the pcnnant. Simply because
club IS no leading in the race il shoui
not quit. s. that was the chance il too
when it started out AZ member Of tn
circuit.
Almost every report. thar comes frof
Lynchburg regarding the hall club in tina
town contains a rather glowing accoun
Of the work Of Harry Zanneli. the short
stop of the Interior and Eastern Athleti
club teams during the first art Of til
s~asoa. 1Ae statements which are mad