The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-08-15

The Kansas State league finished its
sixth season, with Great Bend at the
top for the third time in succession.
This year witnessed one of the closest
finishes ever experienced by the
league, the final position of the first
three clubs not being determined until
the last series and but three games
separate Lyons in thir place from
Great Bend in first.
Great Bend owes much of its success
to Atty Wilson, who has led the team
to all of its pennats. At the start of
the season he had a bunch of raw ma
terial that did not look like it could
be nodded into contender and in fact
lost the first three games of the sea-
son to Salina, but he soon had the
bunch playing steady, consistent ball
and on August 8, ten days before the
close of the season, Great Bend went
into first place, never again to be
headed, although the Lyons club tied
them August 9.
Clay Center finished in second place,
and were one and a half games behind
the leaders. Clay Center set the pace
during two-thirds of the season and
looked at one time as if it would take
the pennant under wraps, but about
three weeks before the end of the sea-
son, its pitching staff went to the bad
and Clay Center had to be content
with second place. 1t had a hard hit
ting club and was ably handled by
Gus Arlington who was having his
first experience as a leader.
Lyons was really the surprise of the
season. Last year the club finished a
poor fifth, this year Manager Nelson
got together bunch of fighting
youngsters and had them around first
place during the entire season, in fact
they hung on until the very last series
and only four days before the close of
the season were tied with Great Bend
for first place.
Salina was the hard luck team of
the league this year.
The club started with rosy prospects.
Lon Try was engaged for manager
and he took the team South on a train
ing trip. 1t was thought that Try
would have a contender at all stages
of the race, but he either under es-
timated the strength of the lea que, or
has lost some of his old time cunning,
for after the first series Salina went
from bad to worse and along late in
June, Try threw up his hands and quit
Salina had a strong association behind
its team and although a tailender had
the best attendance in the league. It's
managers were given plenty of leeway
by the association in securing players.
but the links seemed to be on the
team this year. Salina is already plan
ming for next year and with a winning
team it will rank as one of the best
ball towns of its size in the West.
Several players will go to faster COM
pany this year. Morgan and Rumler
of Great Bend have already been sold
to higher company and left for their
new league. Sweet of Clay Center
goes to the Western league. Several
clubs are dickering for other players
and more deals will be closed shortly
Lyons has had offers for Pitchers
O'Byrne and Jepsen and OutfieIders
Dale and Featherhoff. Pitcher Mckee
and Outfelder Singleton of Clay Center
Third Baseman Sucker of SaIina,
Pitchers Riley and Stoffer of Great
Bend have attracted considerab BILE at
aud
higher company.
Considering the weather conditions in
Kansas this year, the season has been
satisfactory.