Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-03-12

to pitch to. walked the first time up, and
then went out on hard-h1t ball to the
pitcher. Calvo had but single chance at
the plate. and then he drove a sharp
grounder to the inf1eld, which he came
very near beating to first.
1t will be no easy matter'to choose from
the young outfielders. Every one of the
recruits has merit. and it would be a
question for experts to decide which OIL
the lot should be retained. The weakness
of one Is the strength of the other. and
the entire lot looks as If it could hit.
Calvo and Acosta have an advantage in
that they are inexperienced and very
young, and naturally will improve with
experience. but there is a lot OF anxiety
among the others.
AS a training ground there is not a
spot in the country which compares with
Charlottesville. for the very good reason
that the playing field dries out quicker
morning it was still drizzling, as 1t had
been the entire day before. Griffith tool
his plays to the gym during the forenoon
and gave them good workout, and
yet that same afternoon game was
played on the field. which was in very
good condition Notwithstanding the soak
ing rains. AS a rule. team Is kept of
the field for day or two at this sea-
local field has such splendid drainage
that an hour after heavy shower 1t is
good enough to play on.
If Frank Laporte is not in fine fettle
by the time the season opens it won't be
because he has neglected to work dur
ing the training season. Laporte is a tire
less worker and is rapidly rounding into
condition. One Of his favorite stunts is
to go into theh gym and skip rope Tor
an hour without stopping, after which
he tackles the medicine ball and takes
other strenuous exercise. Laporte wants
~ Onf dnvx fv,nv voc 10 IA
FORE He proposes to open the season at
second, and once there he figures that he
will be able to retain the position for the
rest of the season. Laporte is one OF the
best hitters in the league, particularly
early In the season. and 1t is already as
sured that he will be found in the lineup
when the Nationals tackle the New York
Americans April 10.
Bickers and Austin. the two young
pitchers who are getting their first taste
Of professional ball. are both showing to
good advantage. Bickers looks as II the
time Is not far off when he will be val
liable pitcher. He worked the first three
innings yesterday against the Regulars.
and he did not allow run and proved to
have perfect control of the ball. Austin
nings. but walked man, though he was
not hit safely but once, and it was Joe
Engel who made the hit, which OF
course was an accident. All this pair
good for this company, II their showing
to date can be taken as criterion.
Dutch" Munich continues to practice
with the team. The season In the New
York State League does not open until
about the middle Of April. and Griffith
wants Munich to remain with the squad
during the training season. before he re-
ports to Syracuse.
Ray Morgan was the star of the day in
the field He played a splendid game at
second and several of his plays We're of
the circus variety. His catch of Fosters
line drive, a ne-handed affair, in the final
inning probably saved the day for the
Yanigans, for had that hit gone through
there would have been trouble to deal
with.
Virginia has a husky young pitcher