The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-04-19
FOR BATTING HONORS
 IS EXPECTED TO BE WARM ONE
Wrecking Crew of Southern Stronger Than Previously. Lord and Mccormick Are Dangerous Contenders
Ky ASA RouNTREE, JR.

Swelled in numbers, the wreckng bri gade of the Southern league this season appears unusually strong and the con test for Harry Welchonce's batting crown promises to wax warrn before the cam paign has spent itself. Several new and dangerous sluggers are enlisted in the ranks Of Judge Kavanaughs circuit this year and in order to retain his position at the head of the batting list Captain Welchonce of the Crackers will have to set an extremely fast pace.
 Tn 1913 welchonce acquired the lead ership in batting during the last few days of the season, nosng out George Robertson of the Gulls by meagre three points. Welchonce fin;sned with an aver age of .3SS and Robertson with one of .2S5. Up until almost the final week the big Gull outfelder was leading but by big spurt welchonce forged into the lead.
 ger will have to travel a fast gait throughout the season for competition will likely be warmer than before. Last year the race during the greater part of the season lay between Welchonce and Robertson but this time there are several more who it is believed will prove strong contenders for premier batting hcnors.
 Two New Contenders
 Among the most prominent are Man eger Briscoe Lord of the Gulls and Man sger Harry Mccormick of the Lookouts Both are fresh from the majors, Lord I, x.;r y,lo with hc in 1913 and Mccormick with the New York Giants. Although neither ranked near the top in the big league company they are expected to take kindly to Southern league pitching and make Q strong bid for the batting medal. Both have started out in wnirlwind fashion and are setting a good pace for their competitors. In the series just closed with the Barons Lo.d swatted 6O0, a pretty fair beginning.
 Another duo who wifi make things in teresting is Pete Knisely of the Berons and Tommy Long of the Crackers. The big Teuton was in the race for time last year but fell behind the two leaders near the flag end, although as it was he finished close fourth with 1926. Long was the leading rungetter in 1913 and hit for SIS.
 The Lookouts have two other possible candidates in Jack Johnson and Jacob son. Neither reached the 300 hall of fame but they are expected to go far better tEis year. Jacobson has begun as if he meant business. In tl-e second game of double bill with the Turtles Thursday he lifted two balls over the fence for trips around the circuit.
 Other Aspirants Among the others in the league this year who may possibly come to the front are Sloan and Callahan of Nashville, Flanagan of Atlanta, Magee of Birming- ham. Jantzen of Montgomery Love and Duggan of Memphis and Northern and Burns of New Orleans.
 circuit last year and Moey expects him to be up near the top when the season comes to a close. Flanagan is also an Imported B leaguer who yielded his war club last year for a high average. Sloan, who was with the Bllikens in 1913, but was recalled by the St. Louis Browns, and then turned over to the Vols, barely missed reaching the 300 mark last year, hitting .29S. callahan, Jantzen, Burns, Northern and Love are fair hit ters, but chances are against them prov ing dangerous opponents to Lord, McCor- mick, Knisely, Welchonce. Long and the others who have in the past proved them selves foemen worthy of the best in a pitchers repertoire.