The Washington herald., 1915-07-25
Martinsbure Will Have Hard
Time to Beat the Leaders
OUTRAGE Is Close.
ZACHARY JUMPS CLUB
BY HARVEY A. BUSH.


Martinsburg. W. Va, July 2i-with
practically 60 per cent of the Blue
Ridge League schedule already gone
into the won and lost column. it now
appears to be a reasonable certainty
that Frederick will win the initial
championship. While Frederick STUN
bled badly during the past ten days,
as had been predicted by the writer.
she did not entirely crumple into a
heap, but fought her opponents to an
even break in the games played. Last
week Martinsburg took three in row
from Frederick, and then took the
opening game of a three-game series
from Hagerstown. and appeared to
have squared away for gruellins
fight with Frederick for the leader
ship OF the Baby Circuit" But trou-
BILE that had been brewing in the ranks
of the Martinsburg club for several
weeks came to a climax during the
other games of that series with Ha-
gerstown, and as a result Martinsburg
lost both by the same score, 80. These
losses came at a crucial period. and
appear to have proved disastrous to
the teams chances for the pennant.
Notwithstanding the fact that she has
won three in a row since the double
licking at the hands of Hagerstown.
The loss of these two games to Ha-
gerstown is blamed by the local man.
agement upon the detection of Catcher
Robert Zachary, a Washington boy.
who had done most of the backstop
work for Martinsburg this season. Be
fore these two games Zachary had de-
manded more money for his work,
being dissatisfied with his salary, ana
declaring that he would jump unless
an increase in pay was granted him.
The management refused his demand.
but owing TO the fact that the hand
of the other catcher, Johnson. was
badly split, Zachary was put behind
the bat in the two crucial games.
Zachary's actions caused Umpire Cleary
to put both him and Third Baseman
Shipley out of the game and to fine
each SIS, and the team became democrat
lied. Hagerstown winning both games.
The next day Zachary made good his
threat TO jump his contract, going to
Cambridge. Nd, to play in an indie
pendent league. Pitcher John Mumford.
of Washington. also received an offer
from Cambridge. but refused to jump.
Since Zachary jumped, Johnson, a
Baltimore boy. has been putting up
a great game behind the windpad. and
hitting at a $50 clip. Catcher Charles
Hasson, of Newport News. has signed
a Martinsburg contract, and will re-
port Monday. Hasson was let out by
News as a result of that club
Joe Laughlin, late manager of
the Hagerstown club. Laughlin is an
older and more experienced backstop,
who is expected TO do more with the
young pitchers than younger man
could get out of them.
While Martinsburg has won seven
out of her last ten games, and Fred
erick could do no better than win
five out of ten, the Frederick team
has a lead of six games over the To-
Gals. with but 40 per cent of the
games yet to play. it is be-
lieved that only the most extraor-
binary sort of luck and good work on
the part of Martinsburg will enable I
this club to pass Frederick. In Or
der to win, Martinsburg must take
At least twenty-five out of the remain
ing thirty-four games she has sched-
lled, while Frederick is breaking even.
II is not at all improbable that Mar
tinsburg can win twenty-five games
during the remainder of the season,
but il is doubtful that Frederick will
win only half her remaining games.
This is the contingency that faces Mar |
t,nsburg, however, and IL we are to
win the pennant this year, we must
AXE at least nine more games during |
he remainder of the season than Fred |
rick wins. At present Martinsburg is |
going far better than Frederick, and |
should the former keep up her good |
work and the latter take a slump, the /
ocals would have a most excellent |
chance to win out. Martinsburg has |
ost but FIVE games during the past
hree weeks, while Frederick lost ten
n the same period. II the two teams |
Ut taip relative the /
md of the season, Martinsburg could |
win easily. But Frederick has a strong |
aggregation. and may strike another |
streak-in which event Mar
insburg's chances would be decidedly !
Him.
Martinsburg is pinning her faith on
Ter hurting staff and her bunch of
litters. In Lefty" Clarke, Frank Hoef-
ecker. Johnny Mumford. and H. L.
Douglas, the locals have unquestion-
IDLY the strongest quartet of pitchers
n the league. Every man is going !
strong, and it is seldom that as many /
Is two runs are earned off any one
II these in one game. Clarke has pitch
d three full games against Frederick.
md while he lost one by single
core, Frederick did not get single
armed run in the three. Douglas has
pitched four games, and while he lost /
me to Hagerstown by 3-2 score. bu,
wo runs have been earned on him
n the four. Mumford and Hoffecker
ave been equally good in their games.
md have been winning consistently.
n hitting the team is now going
stronger than any other club in the
ircuit. The team has made 100 base
tits in the past ten games, having
team average of close to 800 in
hat period. OF the first ten batters
n the league. Martinsburg has five-l
rawlings, the league leader; Morris.
Crimson, Donnelly. and Westenhaver.
he latter the utility outhelder. who
as been hitting for more than 400
n the five games he has played. In
he past week Mumford and Shortstop
Iayes have also been hitting around
he 800 mark In Wednesdays game,
yon from Hanover by ia. Mumford
,ot home run triple and q sim