Evening star., 1912-09-06
BY n. c. BYRD.


The intercity amateur base ball series
will begin tomorrow. The team which
won the championship Of Richmond some
time ago will come here tomorrow to
play double header with the nine repre-
senting the Potomac Electric Power
Company, which is the winner Of the title
in the District.
Every follower Of amateur base ball in
the city is wondering whether or not the
team representing this city will win. The
implied question may be answered by
saying that 1t at least has an even
chance to finish in front. To sum up
the status of the two clubs in a few
words. it may be said that it is the gen.
eral opinion that the Richmond aggrega-
tion is not better than 1t Was last year
and that Pepco would appear to be OF
about the same strength as was the
American Security and Trust Company.
Taking that as basis, it will be under
stood that the two clubs are not uneven
ly matched The comparison with last
years teams is about the only method
by which a line may be drawn on the
worth of the two which will meet tDmor-
row. and while 1t may not be correct 1t
is the best than can be done.
In the pitchers box the Pepco nine will
class on more even terms than did the
American Security and Trust Company
last year. for the simple reason that not
only are the Pepco fingers of about the
same strength as those who did the hurl-
ing for the Bankers, but 1t stands to rea-
son that the Richmond club will not have
as effective work in the box as 1t did
when 1T came here last fall.
Both the men who did the box work for
Richmond in the 1911 series have made
good in professional ball. and at that
time were good enough to pitch in the
minors. The chances are that the Vir-
ginians have not a single man this sea-
son who is anywhere near as effective
as was either Strain or Boehling II any
thing Pepco should have the margin on
the visiting club in the matter of pitch
ers. it not being probable that 1t Will be
able to trot out any man who is the equal
of Barton.
Taking other departments of play gem
orally, it is not likely that Pepco will
be outclassed for the simple reason
that it is about as strong as any amateur
club playing ball in any part of the
country. 1t is mighty seldom that team
is found in amateur ranks that will
class up with the Electricians in base
running, fielding and hitting. 1t may be
that there are faster fielding clubs or
better hitting teams. but 1t is not proba-
BILE that one could be found that would
be stronger as an all-around combina-
ton.
The fact that 1t has been compelled to
play through the most arduouS series
any team has had to face in the amateur
circuits for years, Will undoubtedly cause
it not to appear at it's best 1t will get
but one days rest, and that may do 1t
as much harm as good. No ball club can
go through one hard series, then jump
right into another and put up its best
play. That is against all laws of endur-
ance.
Pepcos decisive victory yesterday over
Ninth was not surprise by any means
There was never time when 1t was f1g-
ured that the Churchmen would be in the
running for the championship. and that
they made as good a showing as they
did reflects credit upon themselves
The game yesterday went along for
few innings rather evenly, but couple of
errors and a home-run clOut over the
center field fence by Morris settled the
game for good and all. From that time
on it was only a question of how many
runs would be secured by the Electrf-
clans They had little difficulty to hold
'he lead gained In that period, playing at
all times a far better class of ball.
Billy Martin deserves great deal of
credit for playing at all yesterday. Just
before the game started Jack Dodge hit a
foul tip and the ball struck Martin on
the bridge of the nose, barring the flesh
TO the bone. Martin was taken to the
hospital, where bandages were placed
over the wound. He returned to the
game after nearly faintng from the loss
of blood, and with blood running down
his face all during the contest, played
creditable ball.
There are few fellows who would have
attempted to play the game after getting
the kind of wa1lop which came Martins
way.
Buck Howard. the Western boy playing
third for Pepco, is putting up the best
ball of his life right now. There has
never been time since Howard has
been playing around on the school team
when he has put up the article of ball
that he is now doing In yesters
days game against Ninth the youngster
did some mighty fine work. work which
undoubtedly classes him we'll up with the
best third basemen in the District
The best feature of Howards playing
now is that he is not only fielding fast
game. but is hitting the ball. 1t has al
ways been Howard's main fault that he
could not hit. and yet during the present
series he has been getting hold of the
ball with much regularity.
Beall. pitching for Pepco yesterday
was hit hard during the first two in
nings. but after that he had the situation
well in hand. 1t was his excellent sup
port which caused him to get away with
out having a lot of runs scored on him
in the two opening chapters, but as the
game wore on ne became much more
effective.
The reserved seat tickets which are on