The Washington herald., 1912-03-10
HARD TO PREDICT
SCHOOL WINNER
Local High School Mines Start
Season on Even
Basis.

With the opening Of the interhigh
school baseball near at hand IL is hard
10 make any predictions relative to the
way in which the tetms are most likely
to finish. To do this correctly would
be well-nigh impossible. ewing to the
fact that the teams this season will
line up with no nine as a possibility for
the prize.
To say that one team is stronger than
another would merely be guesswork and
statement wholly without foundation.
There has been no chance for Judges to
compare the relative strength OF the
five teams, none having had any action
as yet. Indoor workouts are poor means
by which to draw conclusions at this
early stage Of the game. The only way
for doping out some result is by weigh
ing the performances of the teams last
season and by balancing the merits of
players TO their teams with members OF
other teams.
During the season OF 1911 many sur
prises were sprung. This was only to be
expected, as high school baseball is ever
teeming with surprises, the results ever
in doubt. Technical, Western, and Cen
trail were the contenders from the start,
with the latter school the favorite be-
cause of the many men who were left
from their superior aggregation Of 1910
Tech had a strong team, but was not
counted on to win over the Central boys
Western was hopelessly out Of the run
ming. according to scribes. 1t will be re-
membered that Western opened their
season with a blaze Of glory by downing
the Blacksmiths, proceeding through the
remainder OF their schedule with Yicto-
ries, only to be defeated i'm their last
contest by the tail-end Eastern nine.
This made them even with Tech, who
had won the rest Of its games. Western
and Tech had both produced a novice
twirleT who made history for their re-
spective schools by their sensational work.
Tech won the game and the title, where
as it had been conceded to Western
when she was triumphant over the Man
ual Trainers and Central
A great trouble with many high school
teams is overconfidence. Until this very
grievous fault Is rectified the high school
athletes are going to find easy going ex-
tremely difficult. Many has been the in
stance in local high school contests
where this mistske has been the cause
OF defeat for an apparently superior
team by one OF the weak down and out
mines.
For that reason and for many others
II is, therefore, useless to make any
srte-season statements as to who will
be first in the High School League.
Just to deal briefly with dope be 1t
sad that the teams which fought II out
in the series last year will be the ones
whose chances for the pennant are best
this season. Western has a veteran
team. but is without a seasoned pitcher.
The many old players left at that school
will make a strong bid for the highest
honors, providing the twirler can be Sc
cured. Tech has some experienced men
at school. but not enough to warrant
their success. Central has fewer than
either of the other schools, and taking it
from that standpoint will have to work
under the handicap of breaking in new
men. Eastern, as yet unheard from in
circles. may spring a sur
prise, as il has old material in school
which may improve with experience.
Business may be in the running. but the
are against them, as the team
which represented them last year did not
have strength enough TO warrant a pen
crowd. What steps they
nave taken along better lines is hard to
,ssert.
The season this year will be a good
me. no doubt. Teams of even strength
viii make a better fight for the cup
when their chance TO win is as good as
hat Of their opponents. Who win win |
op honors, VINO will spring the sur
1rises, and which teams will prove the |
is beyond prediction. and |
my other statement to that effect would |
,e nothing short of dope.
Manager O'Day saws CoIuubus ia