The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-04-13
PETERSBURG SAYS
WILL HEAD COLTS
OPTIMISTIC VIEW FROM SOUTH
SIDE CITY MAKES IT i
BLANK FOR OTHERS.

Especial To The Richmond V!rginian.)
PETERSBURG VA, April IA
Heiue Rusch's 1871 pennant winners
and close contenders for the coveted
rag ia 1a12 are. from all appearances,
ready and anXiously awaiting the
opening game Of the 1913 season with
Steve GrifHn's Richmond Colts next
Thursday, the nth.
tfetne has succeeded IN getting to-
Eether az likely a bunch OF Youngsters
as were ever seen on a Petersburg
diamond. There will be several new
players in the lineup for the open
ing game which In all probability will
be as follows
simmons, right field.
sspysch aisky third base.
Spencer center field.
Busch. shortstop.
Barnett. first base.
Blackstone. left field.
Marable. second base.
Breuoarau or. T.auehlin. catcher
Hedkepeth or Vance pitcher
Schwartz and krepps. two other
Youngsters who are with the team.
ana who are showing up we'll both In
the field ana with the stick. are by
no means aat Of tho race for a pla&e
on the G0ober team.
f.eihs the Richmond yourgster. has
shown ap we'll as a baCkstop He is
run Of pep. and may YET replace some
other member Of the team.
Holmes and Richmond, the two
young pitchers. have both shown up
well, and II fIeinie thinks Il advisa-
HE to release either they VIII prob
ably nD8 berth with some team in
tho Virginia league.
Morganroth and Brooks are both In
good form. ard with more favorable
weather will give a good account OF
themselves,
Toe I.aughltn. the star catcher, Is
going slow Just as a means Of preserv-
ing that good wing of his until the
season opens. when he will delight in
cutting down that bunch of base pill
ferers, of which Mister Stephen Gr3f-
fin boasts. Old Joe ia right there with
the stick as a regular or pinch
hitter
Long Sam Brennagan has given a
good account Of himself I'm practice,
showing up especially strong with the
stick
Jim Barnett reported for early
practice with slight touch of grippe
and is not in the best OF shape, but
Jimmie is right there with the goods
at every stage of the game, and Will
give the outfielders of the Virginia
leagne something to do when the
games are on.
Uncle Ben Spencer continues to hit
the pill to all corners of the Held. and
from all appearances is getting some
thing into that top piece OF his which
was once called ivory, In the game
between Newark and Petersburg. Fri
day, he was seen smiling at Lea. after
striking out There Ia probably not
a better BAH player in the Virginia
State league than Ben Spencer when
he is disposed to play ball. II he con-
tinues throughout the season MS he
has started, the Virginia league will
not hold him another year. He can
hit-em- all and field like Hohus
Wagner.
Blackstone and simmons are filling
Tight and left garden to the satisfac
ton of all, and are right there with
the stick.
SkyschaIsky, AT third. is one Of the
fastest youngsters on the team, and Is
coming to the front with the willow.
Marahle, Mt second. Is showing up
we'll with the stick and in fielding,
and, with a little more training, viii
make a valuable man.
Heine Buseh's ability Is too well
known to comment on.
big Jim Vance is showing rare form,
and will administer an untold number
of defeats to Virginia league teams
this season, speaking from a pick :
wiclSian standpoint
Doe Hedgepeth has given good ac~
count of himself In practice and will
give any pitcher in the league a long
race for "a percentage of games won.
The Cockade City fans are beginning
TO express their regrets already in hav-
ing to lead Steve Griffins colts for a
third. consecutive year in the pennant