South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1915-07-05
TWO TILTS WITH
TRAVELLERS IS ON
BOARDS FOR TODAY
WheeIer'S Gang to Meet HOOS-
ierS in Double Header This
Afternoon Rain Prevents
Game on Sunday.


Smiths pennant winning band viii
celebrate independence Day at the
SpringbrOok enclosure this afternoon
with a dobule engagement. Twin
bills viii also be tn program in Bat
tie Creek and Saginaw. These six
contests VIII mark The close of the
FIRST half Of the Southern Michigan
league season. with the Hoosicrs as
the champions BIZ a goOdly margin.
Rain made the game scheduled
Sunday afternoon between the Crick-
cts and HOosiers impossible. Ed
Smith reported at o'clock that the
diamond was in serious danger of
floating away and that in pursuance
OF his Safety First" policy suggested
that none of the more rabid fans
venture 70 the park. The Crickets
were handed their unearned guaran-
te and FASTENED 20 their own dugOut,
via the c. r. r. r.
Vallandingham and LOudermilk are
the probable pitching selections Of
Pilot kOehler this afternoon. Vail
gave the boosters an interesting ses-
sion last "Wednesday when he hurled
and won a 12-inning game against
johnny Jones OF Saginaw. Louder
milk has been winning consecutively
for the past few weeks and is anxious
10 build up his record. which was
sadly shattered by the early season
losses.
There should be a large crowd at
the ball park today. inasmuch as
when the two games are finished this
afternoon the HOOsiers can be officially
declared champions of the Southern
Michigan league. The Smith club has
made a spectacular race for the first
flag. one Of the features Of the bril-
liant chase was the 10 straight win
record which ended Friday when the
Crickets defeated the champions in
a seven round fray.
The Travellers are scheduled 10 open
the second half Of the season at
SpringbrOOk on Wednesday They
will remain here for three days Tues
day viii be q day Of rest for the play
erS
Although South Bend has clinched
the pennant for the first half of the
season, the chances are there viii be
two lively battles this afternoon. The
HOLSTERS are anxious TO finish with as
high a percentage as possible, and Will
go out and try 10 take two games
to get revenge for the two Flint took
here one afternoon on a recent trip.
The last few weeks of the pennant
race saw nothing but South Bend.
When the locals took four games from
Battle Creek there was not much
question as to who would take the
pennant. Then Bay City came along
and lost four and Saginaw followed
without taking a game, and the pen
nant was clnched.
The locals success is due to several
things One is thar the team is well
balanced The indeld. the outfeld,
the pitching staff and the catching
staff which is Harry Lake have been
playing good ball They have felded
brilliantly. and there was not a man
on the team who at some time or
other did not come through with the
timely punch that won the ball game
Speed has been the slogan of the
team. Every man was sent as far as
he could go on every hit. They made
the other team throw the ball. They
were ever awake. took advantage of
every slip and won many games by
their daring on the bases. The team
was what is called a smart bunch
They know baseball. take everything
they have coming and carry the fight
20 their opponents at all times.
Battle Creek was their real Oppo-
ncnt. The CriCkets played good ball
in spots. but they are not in the Hoo
siers' class. They needed hits TO win
their ball games while The locals.
through their speed, won several with
only few safe swats.
The return TO form of Louie Lou
dermilk was a big factor in the win
ming OF the pennant. Louie started
poorly. but once he got going he kept
winning. Hiu was always to be de-
good ball, while Ed Duffy shook his
hoodoo and came through with sew
eral victories.
ESchcn's Arm a Factor.
Another factor was EsChen's arm.
With base runners hcsitating to score
on hits to center field. the locals had
the advantage. Helmers arm, too,
held many runner back on third.
BrOder the third member Of the out
field, is not 10 be overlooked Bert is
the best lead-of man in the league.
and I'm addition TO reaching first base
a big percentage OF his trips, cracked
out several drives that won games.
GrodiCk. Edmiston. KOehler ana
Real. the inheld. dug many out of the
dirt. Beall at first played in brilliant
style. while Edmiston covered miles
OF territory. Grodick aind Koehler
were always IN the game. and their
hitting was as brilliant as their neld-
ing
The pennant was not won on a
nuke. It was won because Smith has
the best ball team IN the league. The
team is one that would give squads
in higher leagues a run for their