Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-08-12

one man to get on first on balls. The
hardest AyreS was ever hit was on May
IL. when Roanoke secured eleven hits
on his delivery for three runs. He has
pitched six shut-Out games. and in six
teen of his games his opponents have
scored twice or less
Ayres' long suit is his speed, control
and ability to stand hard work. and. with
bit of experience under the tutorship
OF Clark Griffith, he ought to prove able
to go the route with the Nationals next
season.
The race in the Virginia League is one
of the closest in the country. Five teams
are in It, and no one can figure which will
win. Newport News is hopelessly out
ciassed, and cannot possibly get in the
running from now on From fourth to
nrst place in two weeks was the record
of the Petersburg team, but the Coolers
have no cinch. because Richmond Roa-
noke and Norfolk are only a few games
behind. Only about forty points separate
the leaders from the Portsmouth crowd
in fifth position. With no more accidents,
petersburg ought to finish first, with
red-hot fight between Richmond. Norfolk
and Roanoke for next honors, but the
race is so close that a bit of bad luck
may send Petersburg to fifth place in
few days. The first five teams are we'll
balanced. and the fight promises to wax
hotter as the closing day approaches.
1t required hardly more than week
for the Petersburg champions to regain
first place after Catcher Laughlin got
back In the game. From third place to
hrst was the jump. and 1t was done cas-
lily by this added strength.
Considerable comment has been caused
IN the papers over the circuit by reason
of the severe roasting one of the Peters,
burg scribes handed Umpire George Cow
an Unbiased reports show that Cowan's
work has been above the average, and
that, with experience, he ought TO make
a good umpire
Guy Titman seems To be playing the
role of utility player for several teams
lie just hangs around the eastern part of
the circuit. and every time an outfieIder
goes to the hospital Titnlan seems To he
PICKED up TO fill in as long as necessary.
IL I1tman could hit. his fielding would
keep him in a regular job.
AZ the close or the season the Roanoke
Tigers will play series of games with
Brlstoi or the Appalachian League Bris-
toi seems a sure winner in the Appaia-
ch1an, but Roanoke has a hard fight in
me Virginia League with the chances
slightly favoring Petersburg as the next
champions.
The fact that Greenville is being combed
!oI money TO Keep the team there going
in the Carolina Association makes II look
good for the formation of "A Virginia.
Carolina circuit next season. The North
Carolina teams are almost certain tn "a 81
their lot with Lynchburg and Danville for
1919. provided these two towns eyince a
desire TO get back on the map once again
y report has been started and no one
knows where it comes from, that Heinie
Busch is 10 be given d 5000 home in
OF Ch too
championship for the Coolers Busch is
fighting hard and if this report is true
there is some incentive for il aside from
glory.
DR.. II. II. Holmes a Norfolk veterinary
surgeon. elected from a recent Nor
folk Portsmouth game in Portsmouth be-
cause, IL is claimed by Owner Bland that
he was unnecessarily nasging Umpire
Bland. DIR. Holmes is quoted as saving
he will bring suit fer his humiliation and
shame.
Dutch Revelle. who trained this year
with the Atlanta team, after having been
sold four or five times To the New York
Americans. to be turned back To Rich
mond each time. has been bounced about
by the eastern teams of the Virginia
League mighty hard this Year He has
played with TWO or three of them start
ing with Portsmouth. This week he tried
il for Newport News and went well till
the last round when Richmond got to
him and sent five runs around with clean
hitting. defeating Revelle by the score of
=, to 4.
The first boys day here was a howl
ing success from every point of view, for
800 coming Americans had a section OF
the bleacheries to themselves and they
howled at every opportunity. Manager
Griffith made no mistake when he started
a free day for the coming fans of the
Capital city.
Ira Hogue. the Carthage tOhio) pitcher.
who broke into professional ranks here in
the spring of 1911, has been turned loose
by Spartanburg in the Carolina Associa-
ton to be picked up by Anderson of the
same league. Hogue is hard luck pitch
er. but he will strike his stride when
handled properly.
Ely, a pitcher turned over to Richmond
by Washington. got good start in his
first game. for he struck out the first two
batters facing him. He was sent in to
relieve Perryman and afterward the game
was won, giving him credit for victory.
Ely halls from York. Pa. where he has
been pitching a fine article of semi-pro-
feSsional base ball.