The Washington herald., 1915-03-10
National Regulars to
Play Virginia Today
Griffmen May Find Going
Rocky in Initial Contest
of Season.
HARPER TO START GAME
BY WILLIAM PEET.

| Charlottesville. Va, March 9-They're
off. Now for some real baseball The
Nationals start the practice games here
| tomorrow. tackling the University Of
| Virginia team at $50 p. IN. Nine innings
| will be played. and good weather is sure
| to bring out a big crowd. because the
| college boys have a sneaking suspicion
that they can trip up the professionals
| ior the reason that the Nirginians have
been working outdoors for nearly a
| month.
| GriT admits that his ablest are going
TO lind the going rocky if those college
! hurlers start throwing hooks" as most
OF the Nationals have not looked at a
| curved ball since last October.
II is also fortunate for the Nationals
that Jack Bentley and Harry Harper
are in good condition. This pair should
| be able to prevent the colegians from
| doing a whole lot Of damage.
/ The regular Washington team
will not be called upon to go over
the entire nine-inninE route to-
morrow. as GriF has plenty Of
youngsters on whom he wants 10
| get a line. and he will more than
likely stick them in IL his regu-
lars show signs of distress.
| The biting cold wind from the noun
| tains which swept Lambeth Field today
did not check the practice of the Ma
tionals. Griff had his youngsters and
veterans out both morning and after
noon. devotinE all the time to batting
practice. The field was in first-class
shape and the sun bcamcd down bright
| lv Only the cold northwest wind made
| it a bit uncomfortable and caused the
athletes to keep continually on the
jump.
Tho pitchers at present are COINS
through the low bridge stase-that is.
they are using only straight balls with
medium speed. Consequently the line
drives whistled through the air and the
"shacsers" had plenty Of fork to do.
During the morning practice
Rondcau caught one of Thormah-
lens shoots on the point Of the
jaw. and drove the ball back at the
ePitchcr with such speed, that IL
sent the young sOuth-paw spraw-
ling. Shsnks nearly ripped a hole
through Jim shaw this afternoon
with a hot liner, and followed this
UP with n smash that put jack
Bentley hors-dc-combat, the ball
hitting Bentley on the knee. Bent
ley tonight is hobblinE around.
hut trainer Martin says II Is only
n bruise. and that Jack will be ali
right tomorrow.
This "low-bridee" stage will only last
q week or SO. for as the pitchers round
into shape. they viii he ordered to throw
curves: then the tables will he turned.
Walter Johnson donned the spangles
and worked ont both morning and after
noon. taking a few whirls around the
guarter-mle track to improve his wind.
Joe Bochling' also warmed up, while
all III" other pitchers were called upon
to go into the box and serve EN- up to
tlI, batterS.
Roudcau and Massey appear to be like
l. looking prospects. Both hit the ball
hard and give the impression that they
are going to make somebody hustle 10
hold down their Jobs.
Jack Ryan took official charge of the
| University Of Virginia squad this after
noon. drilling his young charges until
il was almost dark.
The Virginia students who gathered on
Lambeth Field this morning TO see the
practice let ont lusty cheer when
douglas Neff. last seasons captain. who
is now with the Nationals, walloped the
ball over the left field fence for the first
home run of the year. Neff appears to
hit az good as any Of the regulars, and
is sure to get into n number of ball
games during the coming season.
Bill CIymer. the new manager Of
the Toronto club. of the Internal
tioBal League. was caller here
tonight. Clymcr came down to
Orig for the purpose OF en-
GaEing Lambeth Field, and the
present Washington quarters for
his Toronto club. which starts
training about April 1.
Griffith was unable to promise the use
of the two houses where the Nationals
are at present lodged. because his con-
tract expires April l. but introduced ely
mer to the Virginia baseball manager
and left the two to talk matters over
1t is believed that the Canadians will
be allowed to work out on Lambeth
Field after the Nationals depart hence
Chick Gandil was out III uniform today
and said he felt no i'll effects from his
recent illness. Chick showed that the
long winters lay-off had not dimmed his
batting eye in the least. banging out hit
after hit during batting practice.