The Washington times., 1912-03-18
Friends Say He Will Take
Advantage of Any
Offer.
CY RIGLER THINKS
WELL OF YOUNGSTER
Collegian Displays Good Baseball
Judgment and Has Great
:. Arm.
By SENATOR"

CHARLOTTESVILLE Va, March 1S.
If young Neff, the promising young
third baseman of the University of
Virginia team, receives an offer from
Manager Griffith to become a member
of the Nationals he Is likely to accept,
even though he may be farmed out to
ripen into form necessar ry to hold down
a job in the big league. At least, that
is his present attitude, according TO
college friends of his here.
Neff is q lad in moderete circum-
stances, and the glittering prizes with
in reach OF the crack baseball player
make him inclined to enter the lists at
the first opportunity. His opportunity
may come to him within a few days,
too, unless Manager Griffith concludes
that he has sufficient third base ma
terial.
Cy Rigler. the National League un-
pire and coach of the Virginia team,
thinks we'll of his young third basv-
man. He has a great arm" says
Rlgler. and as socn as he has picked
up more experience, should be a fine
third baseman. He stands up to tho
plate well, roes a good swing at the
bat, and is very fast OH his feet
"Furthermore. he seems gifted with
Impression on Griffith. Neff always
knows what to do with the ball in an
emergency, and should improve rapidly
When, played beside experienced profes'
Pleasant weather greeted the nifty
Nationals today, and George Mcbride
kept the entire squad hustlnR for two
t.S, h9IIs in th% mE'rning on Lemssti' astt
batting and fielding at great pace,
showing plenty of dash and predicting
victory over Virginia.
After lunch thss nrst squad reported
out. and was then folio we'd by the Yam.
nigans. with Walter johnson. Carl
Cs shlon. and Dixie Walker ready tc
twirl This squads practice continued
the collcgians.
Virginia, sorely humbled by satur.
days defeat at the hands of the Nation
ais, is wild to win today's contest witt
the Nationals Yannigans, and will send
Eppa Rixey, the crack southpaw twirl'
er, after the scalps of the young debu'
lantes
But Manager Griffith is just as eager
to see the Collegians beaten again, and sc
has decided to have Walter Johnson
the kansas Cyclone" "Husk'' Cashier
the Carolina Curver, and Dixie Walker
the Alabama Beauty" pitch three in
nings apiece. ard all three will be al
lowed to serve UP all they have in the
shape Of curves and speed. Virginia
simply must be beaten.
Eyes on the Youngsters.
The batting order Of the YannisaN!
hnds Al Williams, the slaShinG back
stop, In Il position where his long drive.
may count for much. Howard Shanks
whose performances here fUretcll hi
development into one Of the hest young
outficlders in the business, will play
left field and bat third, a responsible,
place Close watch will be kept on the
actions IF this young man, and i
would not he surprising IL he wert
promoted to the first team in feP
,lavS .'' Q
The Fhowin,; OF Chester spencer, tht
first bascman from Rochester, too, ma,
lie big with results. This ycungster Il
a beautiful heller and, If he can hi
hard enough, he should MAXI n pretty
fight for the berth On the Nationals thii
year. ..[...'...
last night to. attend, to the matter O
the big electric scor"board to te erecte,
a. the ball park, but he will, be herr
In time to watch the game from th'
players bench. The company in charg,
ment of space than was planned for i
and Secretary Miner felt that Griffith
presence in Washington might facilitate
matters
Mcbride In Charge.
Capt. George Mcbride was left in sol
charge of the teArl in the absence O
Manager Griffith, with instructions t.
carry out the same practice proCedur
that has obtained since the team re
ported here. Mcbride Is one Of tn
most popular players on the team, an
had little difficulty in carrying out tn
rrcurranged program.
Virginia has D. baseball squad of abou
sixty players, with about ten pitchers
four of them southpaws. Judging from
the teams showing against Washing
ton, a successful season should be forth
coming. The entire team plays wit
dash and spirit. Captain Carter is on
of the speediest first baseman ever see
on college team, and his display O
pep keeps the whole bunch up on thei
toes from first TO last.
Goodhue IS Best.
However. outside of Eppa Rixey, n
really good pitcher has been discovered
Goodhue, the football player, Is the bes
having fair amount of steam and som
curves. Grant has no steam and neithe
have Holcomb or Cannon. Holcoml
furthermore, uses his arm alone an
RAPIDLY tires.
Fitehett, in left field: Neff, at thlrc
and Douglass, at short, are the bes
performers FitChett Is a good hittt
and the others excel at the fielding en-
Of the game. though Neff may dcvelo
into a good hitter. Catcher Finlay hs
lots OF spirit. but Is far from being
smooth backstop, and is an atrociou