The Washington herald., 1912-03-11

! jump. After ten minutes of this tuggins
and mauling, the three lads were more
than ready to beat It to the dressing
room and take their rub down.
Pop Lanigan says there are several
mighty good basketball players among
the Nationals, and that Eddie Ainsmitf
and Bill Cunningham are fine goa
shooters. Every morning these lads, to-
| gether with Joe Engel, John Henry, Alva
| Williams, and Bob Groom. work with the
big ball while, and II does them a great
| deal OF good. r
Dixie Walker and Jerry Akers are the
only Nationals who are over weight, and
| these will soon be on the right side of
the scales. Dixie is working hard, rum
ming around the track, and doing every
thing anybody else starts, while Jerry
Akers is right there when some one Is
ready to work with him.
Akers weighs III pounds, just about
three pounds over weight. and inside of
another week Mike Martin promises to
have him in fighting trim.
kid Becker, the original pride of the
navy yard, is just a wee bit sore and
! stiff, due to the hard work Griff has
The work Saturday under the sKy in a
/ nasty drizzle, is blamed by Buck" and
he also says that never again for him
in rainy day during the training trip.
The young twirIers are showing some
mighty good stuff during the first week
at the camp, notwithstanding the fact
that they were compelled to work in
doors. Johnny Allen, the big West Vir-
Z
son form, while Joe Engel, the Wash
ingtOn sandlotter, is another who is about
right to work a few innings in a game.
Paul Musser the lad from Millheim,
Pa, is another who is showing some
good stun, and Manager Griffith will
have his hands full picking his twirlers.
Practically every youngster at the camp
has shown something in the line of pitch
ing ability. and the task of picking the
ones who will stick will not be an easy
job by any means.
The work of Alva Williams, the big
Illinois receiver, has made a big hit with
Grit. and this lad promises to show the
fans some real catching this summer.
Full of pep Al is always on the
jump, kidding the youngsters along and
working with the best A big. good ma
tured chap. Alva has won a home in the
hearts of the players from the start, and
there is never cross word heard from
this genial lad
Bob Groom, the elongated hurler Of
the elusive horsehide, is not taking any
chances with that arm of his, but is
working slow. Bob was the last of the
pitchers to report, and is not going to
allow that salary whip of his to catch
cold and get him in bad at the start.
'.Longshoreman" Cashion, as he has
been. dubbed by Cyclone" Ainsmith, hit
the hay Saturday night about s o'clock
and did not attend the practice this
morning in Fayerweather Gymnasium.
OF all the noisy and happy chaps,
Eddie Ainsmith has the other fellows
locked up. Eddie is one continual round
of laughter, and there is never dull
moment in the green room Of Hotel
Griffith.
Mike Martin, chief clerk at the Hotel
de Griff," as Tom Hughes calls it. is
sure one busy man, Having nothing to do
but work. Mike wakes the boys up, sees
that breakfast is ready, gets the sweat
ers out, sees that Griff is attended to in
the right shape, fills in at pitch, checkers
pinochle and any other game that is
started hustles the boys on the way to
the gym, gets their shirts out sees that
the ball and gloves are on hand, plays
handbalI, basketball, runs, catches, gives
several lectures, rubs the boys down,
takes care of the valuables, hustles back
to the hotel sees that dinner is ready
and then the same thing over again.
This, twice a day, is said to make Mike
fat. Yes, Mikes finds time to smoke a
cigarette.
And they say that Mike is going to
gain ten pounds while at Charlottesville.
No chance.
Ray morgan. leading piano tuner, is
getting ready to compose a new song.
# will be called, WHO'S DOM It Now?'
Dixie Walker, the Alabama Beauty.
says he is going to have the best season
of his life.
No matter who starts a new game
around the camp. Eddie Ainsmith has
to have a hand In IT. and strange to say,
the New Englander generally manages
to come out on the long end Of the
score. Eddie is right there, both ways
from the ace.
Coilegian John Henry is remembered
at the university for his work with the
Amherst club when they played vir-
ginia. Several of the rah rah boys speak
wei of John
And John Henry is also out for an
other championship. II he keeps up his
present pace. The way John Is going
at present. It Will not be long before he
will be even with Tom Hughes and
Buck" Becker in the eating line.