Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-05-02
BIG SURPRISES SPRUNG BY
TEAMS IN THREE LEAGUES
Supposedly Weaker Clubs Win Opening
Games-Over 10000 People Watched
Initial Contests in Amateur Leagues.

Surprises were sprung Yesterday by
several teams in the opening games in
the amateur leagues In three of the
best leagues in the city the teams which
were hardly figured a having chance
TO get away with the opener did the
unexpected and showed up surprisingly
strong.
In the Capital City League it was eX-
pected by everybody the Cornell Company
would have little trouble in getting away
with the first game. as ii presented in
its lineup some of the best ball players
III the District. but when it came to the
test the Sewerage Pumping station nine
was there with the goods. Martin. who
did the tvirling for the southeast team
had plenty of smoke and curve on his
balls and the Cornell crowd connected
with his delivery for but three safe hits.
While the Cornell nine was expected to
win = TO was the score AT the end
of the game. with the long end against IT.
With the advent of the Departmental
League teams the Interior team was an
other that proved itself not to be what
had been expected. Having played two
Il three practice games and having been
working oft more than any otter team
in the league with ills supposed bunch
OF stars. il was defeated by the Post Of
fee nine = to :. Lynch. who made the
Vale University nine look like push
league club week before last. was ham
mered hard bv the Mail Men in the third
and fourth for seven runs. If the Post
0ffCe nine shows up as we'll in the COM
ing games. after il gets in condition. as II
did in the opener. without having done
anything hardly. il is likely that the team
viii he we'll up among the leaders at the
end of the season.
In the newly organized District League
there was every reason to believe tnat
the much-Strengthened Commissioners
team would I've able TO take the lead at
the start over the Aloysius Club, but the
ChurChmen turned the tables on IT and
got away with the long end of |-to-l
score Previous TO the game the AloySluS
club looked to he weaker than at any
time i'm it's history. and il was Thought
that the District clerks would have little
trouble winning the first game of the sea-
son, as 1t has been working for quite
q while and showing up we'll.
Yesterdays opening in the amateur
leagues was undoubtedly the most auspi-
cous that has ever been seen on the local
fields. Men who are high in public life
were present at several of the opening
contests and took part in the exercises.
Practically all of the clubs went to the
expense of having bands present, and ar
ranging other special features for the
opening day that might attract the
crowds.
At almost every game IL is estimated that
the greatest number of people that ever at
tended a contest in that particular league
was present there being scarcely a game
which was not observed by al least 1000
enthusiastic rooters. 1t is estimated that
SomeWhere between ten and fifteen thou
sand people watched the opening con-
tests in the various leagues, and il the
enthusiasm displayed is any criterion
there is every reason to believe that the
crowds will not be diminished as the
season progresses
IF the Independence League teams
play the men they have registered we
will have faster base ball than has ever
been seen before in the circuit. said
President Roakes of that organization
yesterday. There is doubt that his
statement is true. as il seems that an
excellent lot of playing material has been
Corralled by the different managers. and
at present each of the clubs presents the
strongest lineup in its history.
That Virginia game was a