Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-01-29
MATERIAL FOR NINE
Virginia Likely to Have Good
Base Ball Team.
WILL HAVE GOOD PITCHERS
Orange and Blue Will Miss But
Three of Last Years Team
This Spring.
Special Dispatch TO The Star.

virginia Is now looking to the good old
days of base ball to gain revenge and
from the outlook it appears that she
will come mighty near accomplishing the
desired end.
With seven of last years regulars, not
to speak of a raft of newcomers. not
hand, prospects are sufficiently bright to
warrant the prediction that the Orange
and Blue will show a mighty hand in the
national pastime next spring. OF last
years squad. Capt. and First Baseman
Carter. Catchers Findlay and Anderson,
Pitchers Eppa Rixley. Goodhue. Grant
and Holcomb. Shortstop Douglass and
Outfelders Neff and Minor Lille, are still
available, and, in view of the envable
record hung up, followers of southern
collegiate base ball may confidently ex-
pect REPETITION this year.
The incoming class brought out a
number of promising new men, some of
whom are gong to fight the regulars
to the bitter end for their positions
New York city sent down its all-star
scholastic shortstop. Babe Fleck. who
was picked as the best infielder in the
scholastic ranks of all Gotham. Fleck
Is tOuted as an exceptionally fast fielder
and reliable hitter. However, he will
have to play brilliant ball in order to
nave look-in with the veteran Douglass,
who was easily the best PLAYER in the
position that has ever represented the
orange and Blue. 1t is probable that the
coach will experiment with Fleck at the
position left vacant at third through the
loss of Blakely. F1eck has had some ex-
man for the place.
Ioud rangy youngster from Cathe-
dral School of Washington, comes to Vir-
elnia touted as an exceptionally clever
tw1rler. and although the Virginia team
is pretty we'll fortified I'm this position, the
youngsters work will be watched with
an idea to future development. If he
shows anything like the form that he is
said to possess the coach will at leas;
give him a trial in one of the less i'm
portant games. Eppa- Rixey. the big
southpaW who attracted attention all
the east last year through SEN
sational work in the box. is booked to
do most OF the twirling and is counted
the important games. 1t was mainly
through Rixey's efforts last year that
Virginia won the majority of her games
last spring, and came within an ace of
coping the southern title. which was
conceded to Carolina after a hotly con-
tested series. Rixey pitched the decid-
ing game, holding his opponents to a few
scattered hits, but loose fielding cost him
the game by l to 0.
Grant, formerly Of Episcopal High
or games last year with varied success,
and HolcOmb, one Of several followers,
are on hand to help out should they be
called upon Goodhue is probably the
best of the lot, and with better con-
troll will develop into an excellent run
ming mate for Rixey
Judging from the article of ball he
Played last season, Capt. Carter will not
be pushed for the job on the initial sack
Cannon, who played the position for
FlShhllrne ~ will
bear watching, but it is hardly probable
that he will figure in the race with the
veteran.
DRIVER, the clever little athlete who
played on the second station last year, is
one of three veterans who failed to re-
turn to college. and there will be a merry
scramble for his job. Bill RiXey, brother
of the tWirler. who played for Jefferson
School Of Charlottesville last year. seems
to have the call on the other candidates
at this time. The big fellow played a
consistent game both at bat and in the
field last year, and besides has played
ball in the neighDOrhood of the college for
a number of years. Koontz, from Shen-
Valley College, is another prom
iSing man who hopes to land the position.
Both OF last years catchers are back at
college ready to don the mask for
another campaign. Anderson, who has
five years and Finlay, who caught
number OF games last season. are both
in the race for the position again. Both
men have proven their ability beyond
question. and it is more than probable
that they will alternate in the games.
Carter. the big guard of last falls foot
ball squad, made quite rep as a catcher
up at Lawrenceville, and those who have
seen him work are touting him as like
ly man for the position.
There will be more candidates for the
outfield than for any other three positions
on the team. Minor Lille and Douglass
Neff of last years team are both avail
able. Tate Hume, who played in the
other garden. Is also at college. but will
not be able to play because of the four
year rule Memories, from a prominent
school in Mississippi. was on hand last
season. and although he practically
clinched a position in the outfield, was
barred at the last minute because of the
sure thing for one Of the positions in the
outer garden. In practice last year he
was a sure fielder. and one of the most
consistent hitters on the squad. Fitchett,
a veteran of two years ago, who was
forced to remain idle all last season, is
also back at college. and will also have
to be considered in among the likely men.
Bobby Gooch Of Jefferson School is still
another player who is going to fight to
the end for regular place, and his
friends in Charlottesville claim that he
will make good with vengeance. There
are probably a half dozen others who
could be mentioned, but they have yet to
earn their rep in this part of the country.
A coach for the team has yet to be
although it is more than prob
able that the team will again be in
charge of Umpire Rigler of the National
League At the present time Rfgler is
proposition that would keep
him at college through the season. 1t is
expected that he will be in q position to
give a definite answer one way or the
other at a meeting of the board of ath-
etic advisers that has been called for to-
afternoon. If he decides to stay
the year, no other name will be
On the other hand, should
he follow out his usual plan of leaving
early in April, member of one of the
teams turned out in late years Will he
called upon for the job.
The schedule Is nearly completed. ana
according to Manager Moore will give the
PLAYERS an excellent chance to show their
ability against the big teams of the east.
The opening game will probabiy be
PLAYED early in March. with the annual
date with jefferson School Of Charlottes-
Vile as the attraction. The schoolboys
always manage to turn out fast teams
and have yet to prove easy prey Tor the
college nine.
Games during the month of March will
with but few exceptions be with the
smaller schools in the south Two prac-
tice games will be played with the WASH
ington American League team. while
Montreal, booked to follow the Nationals
at Charlottesville, may also come In for
a couple of dates. The most important
of the home games will be played during
Easter week. when such teams as Yale,
Princeton and Columbia will be
met The last named Is newcomer on
Virginia's schedule. and a game that will
he played early i'm April Is being looked