Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-08-20
BY H. C. BYRD.


IL is now certain that the Bankers
and Ninth will meet in the final series
for the city championship. Ninth is
sure winner in section e. and the Bank
team can hardly be beaten for the
honor in section A.
That these two clubs are going to
put up hard fight for the champion
ship of the District goes without say
ing 1t has been said that Ninth has an
exceptionally strong aggregation that
has been going along at not more than
half the gait it can hit. That being the
ease il is likely that the final series
will not only be hard fought but will
also be close. The Bankers have club
that is not easy to beat by any means,
and after having gone through nara
season very creditably that club will
not&lose out in the decisive and final
struggle very easily. Ninth is very
capable according 10 reports, and
should give mighty good account OF
itself.
The series should be well worth see
ing. The Bankers have what is undoubt-
eddy one of the best amateur clubs that
have ever played ball in the District,
when it is going right, while the Ninth
team has as its mainstays several men
who have done good work for PROBES
sional clubs in the minor leagues. Two
such combinations should furnish an IN
teresting series.
There is one thing that has been said
of the Bankers I'm previous years that
cannot be held against them this season
II has always been claimed that the Bank
team has gone in leagues in which there
were only weak clubs, against which II
could not help but win out. This year
PNSNg 70 rf
the regular season the Trust Company
pitted its forces in what has always been
recognized as the strongest league In the
city, and against club which has al
ways been rated as the most powerful,
1t started poorly, but later got going ana
after that lost only one contest. During
the last three-quarters of the schedule
the Bankers played twenty-five games
and lost only one. In the post-season
series five contests have taken place and
70 II have been placed in the won column.
The game that was lost was against
weaker club The Bankers cannot be
accused of trying to pick out the easy
spots this year.
Hoffecker pitched some mighty fine ball
for the Bankers against the PetWorth
club yesterday. Only in one inning were
the Federal LeaguerS able to do anything
with his shoots. and then the period was
started with a two-bagger over the left
field fence that could have been handled
on a good field. After Risdon had got
on by means of the high fly over the left
field fence the outfield was shifted to
play for Clayton, the next man up. who
is consistent left-fieid hitter. Contrary
TO what was expected. Clayton hit to
right center. The ball dropped safe, but
had the fielders been in their regular
positions it would have been caught.
There were exactly four hard hit balls
off Hoffecker during the entire contest.
Two were the hits mentioned, another
Ar1xy oh faaS- inst
left-deld fence and the other was fly
ball off Gallaghers bat, which was ham
died nicely by Myers. Hoffecker struck
out nine and had excellent control. 1t
season.
Davis is playing a better game around
third base than Is any other man in the
District. He Is fielding his position in
manner that is exceedingly clever and
way above the average of the ball gener-
ally displayed by third sackers in the
amateur circuits. If memory serves
IN about twenty-six games. which is
quite q record for third baseman.
II might be mentioned in this connec-
000 that Davis arm is much better and,
consequently. he is throwing with much
grsa&er force and accuracy. He is get
ting on the bases lot and is generally
proving himself to be very valuable
performer.
II would be a grim turn Of fate for the
Bankers IL they were to go into the
game with Trinity today over-confident
and lose. The Trinity lads should not
be moderated by any means. After hav-
ing the title practically within its
grasp after poor start. it would not
he fortunate turn for the Bank team
TO have the series result in tie.
Ninth is taking things easy in It's
game in section B. 1t is against weak
clubs and is running no risk of not
being in condition when it meets the
Bank boys in the final series next week
Emmanuel held the Christians to an
even score yesterday, yet there is no
doubt about Ninth having the stronger
outfit.
This pitching bail games is queer
proposition. GeSsford, who was batted
of the box by Sherwood, not sup
posed to be strong hitting club. has
since held Ninth to close scores. and
Ninth has been rated as one of the