Evening star., 1914-08-23
Christians Have Big Advan-
taqe in Race for Amateur
Base Ball Title.
N. w. S. S. LEAGUE TO HOLD
FIELD DAY THIS WEEK
Interesting Events Placed on Pro
gram for Competition Next Sat
urday-Other Gossip.
BY H. C. BYRD.

rh. Ninth street Christians NOW have a
hic advantage IN the race for the anna
rcsr hasc ban championship OF the IFs-
tric; ruay have not lost a game in the
iutcrsectional schedule, have Won two,
while both their opponents lave been
defeated twice and have won only once
each. rs matters stand 1T present II ap-
r,ears that Ninth is the club that will
meet the Richmond champions for south
ern honors.
Although Ninth has what appears to he
q commanding lead. there is no saving
that it is certain To win. y triple tic is
possible. though such an outcome is not
desired by any means. The three clubs,
Treasury. Ninth and Eastern. seem to he
so evenly mstched that there is hard
telling Just WI at will happen- The great
est surprises possible are not unlikely.
None OF the teams has such a margin on
either of the others that victory can
be predicted for il in any one game. and
that being the case II is not impossible
that Ninth will lose the next two 1t
plays.
The postpon"mrut Of FRIDAY gave the
pitchers of all the teams the extra
dar of rest needed to get them on
edge again. with the exception of the
Treasury club. and there is no question
that the double-header of yesterday
was hardship on II Ninth. though,
seems to be a well fixed for hurlers
as any Of the other teams. Kelley and
Cheney have proved their capabilities
by beating the other two clubs in
manner which admitted Of no doubt
about their being worthy of the con-
fidencc of their teammates and fol-
lowers.
As had been said before. it is one of
tho most closely contested series ANA
tour base hall has ever known, and
thcre Is littl. real knowledge of what
may happen. 1T is certain that the
situation is such that Ninth appears to
he in first place too firmly to be dis
lodged. and one would naturally be
e ,tnpeIled To select il as the probable
champion if for nothing else than
its margin; but ii is a case of work
and work hard for every inch of the
way. and il may be that Ninth will
not win even now.
It was generally expected at the start
Of the present series that it would be
about the poorest amateur ball had ever
known, but such does not now appear to
he the ease. Ii would not be surprising
if as large a gate is drawn in these final
games has been taken in at the ma
iority of the previous competitions. FL
rancially. the series is not going to be
the failure that was expected. as the
amount taken in ut each contest has far
exceeded the expectations of those who
have tSse affair in charge
And in the matter of competition, moth
Ing better could be desired. The teams
we're closely matched In their various
sections. with the exception of one or
TWO clubs. and in the intersectional con-
tests some brilliant performances are be-
ing given. The class of ball played in
some respects is not what 1t might be,
but in many WAYS is very creditable.
There have been sensational plays made
at critical moments. plays that would
have don" credit to teams taking part in
a much higher class of ball. and the
pitchers have uniformly given good ac
counts of themselves.
Despite all that has been said concern
ing the poor season amateur ball has
been having, this is not a series for
which the supporters of the sport need
feel ashamed.
The field day to be held by the North
west Sunday school League next Satur-
day at Union League Park bids fair to
be very interesting to the followers
Of that circuit Besides a base bal,
game that is scheduled, there will be
the following events:
For seniors-Circling bases against
time, throwing base ball for distance,
bunting and running to first against