Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-08-22

Thus July II the league started out
under new schedule with all six of the
teams having a standing of more than
800, which has been maintained by all
OF them. with the exception of Newport
News In two weeks Newport News was
practically out of the fight. Portsmouth
having worked up to third place, dis
placing Richmond. Two weeks later
there was no change. excepting catcher
Laughlin was out of the game for Peters
had nosed the Coolers out of first place
by small mGrgin. August l saw
Laughlin back In the game and Peters
burg. having dropped to third place in
the past ten days. was again crawling
back to the lead. Portsmouth, having
and was in fourth place, with Richmond
three games behind Petersburg. in third
place. Then Petersburg began a series
of seven games with Richmond and by
winning six of them again took the lead.
By the beginning of this week Richmond
by taking double-header from Roanoke
In the latter city took second place.
while Norfolk was able to run around
Portsmouth and was fairly we'll installed
in fourth round with Newport News
mired in the cellar.
Beginning next week the teams enter
the home stretch with the remaining
schedule operating for the benefit of Pc
tersburg and Richmond. In the twenty
two games to be played, not considering
postponed games, Petersburg will play
fourteen at home and eight away. while
Richmond has thirteen at home and nine
away In this the Petersburg team has
the advantage, for from August % to the
close, with the exception of the morning
Labor day game, Petersburg plays eleven
games at home, while Richmond is away
considerably and Roanoke plays eight
away. three at home and then goes to
Richmond for the final series of four
games.
Portsmouth also has a hard schedule
and Norfolk is only a trifle better. while
Newport News plays seven at home and
fifteen away.
With these facts in mind it appears as
though Petersburg has the one big chance
to repeat. RichmOnds chances would be
nearly equal but fora lead of game or
two the Coolers have over the Colts,
while Roanoke. still fighting, has the
hardest fight of the season on its hands
to win.
President Boatwright has issued the Of
fetal batting and fielding averages for
the Virginia League. including games of
July =, and these show that Steve Crit
fin is not hurt in his sticking by being
player manager of the Richmond team.
for he is leading the circuit with an aver
age of .3G2 in 81 games. Not only do the
records show that this old war dog is
some hitter but he comes within about
OO3 of leading the base stealers of the
circuit. In 81 games Griffin has pur-
Joined 81 sacks. while Walter Heating of
Portsmouth. the real speed demon of the
league. has 80 to his credit in IS games.
The members of charmed class of hit
ters are: Griffin of Richmond, who is
hitting at 1862 in 81 games; Rogers of the
same team who has hit at 1888 in 10
games: Watson of Portsmouth. with
record of .327 in IS games: Nixon of
Portsmouth. 316 in 81 games; Dough-
erty OF Norfolk. .315 in % games; Burke
| and Carter of Richmond. $40 in 80 and
- games. respectively; Busch of Peters
burg. 300 in 81 games. and Hinton OF
Norfolk. 1903 in y games.
CHM Is the highest In the list for
the Roanoke team, with an average of
.293 in ninety-one games, with Holland
| second for the Tigers. and he is hitting
at .274 in eighty-seven games Manager
Pressly. who hit at .318 last season. is
going at a .256 clip this season.
| But the worst fall down in the entire
circuit is Buck Hooker of the Newport
News Shipbuilders Last year. while
playing with Lynchburg, Hooker hit
at .431 in thirty three games, leading
all sluggers in all leagues who par