Evening star., 1915-03-23
as Win From Colts to -Four Pitchers Display Effectiveness
BOEHLING AND JOHNSON SHOW
FORM AGAINST VIRGINIA TEAM
Both Pitchers Display All That Goes to Make
Effective Mound Word-Players Suf-
/. fering Much From Cold.
BY ]. ED GRILLo.

ASA Ling A'Au>A1
BY. ED GRILLo.
CHARLOTTESVILLE. Va. March 2s.-
Both Walter johnson and Joe Boehling
demonstrated again yesterday afternoon
that they are rapidly rounding into their
best form. The Nationals two star
twirlers worked three innings each
against the Virginia collegians and dis
fective pitching.
Their performances were under cona'-
tions most inauspicious. for it was per-
haps the coolest day the athletes have
experienced here. 1t was so cold that
only six innings could be played and the
hundred or more spectators who sat
through the sessions did not complain
when the game was abandoned.
johnson relied solely on his speed.
Two scratch hits were charged against
credit. Boehling pitched as if 1t were
midseason. He used curves and change
Of pace. was not hit safely at all and
also famed four. Just what these pitch
work under suitable conditions will be In
teresting to note.
If Manager Griffith contemplates COM
ing down here next spring. it will be
necessary to supply the players with
an arctic exploring outfit, for it Is plain
that the ordinary ball players para
phernalia Is by no means warm enough
for this climate. 1t was real cold in
the afternoon yesterday and for what
purpose the game was played Is hard
to understand The players have
reached that stage where they are
growing about having to go out on
the field. and SO many of them are suf-
fering from colds that when getting-up
time comes in the morning there Is a
regular coughing concert. This place
was never Intended for training ball
players, unless the season opened in
July and the players started work
here in June. But March is out of the
question. though all these facts are not
apt to have any effect on Manager
Griffith, who, being bundled up In every
way possible, even down to an extra
heavy pair of golf shoes, considers this
shape for a championship fight.
Russell, the A. and NJ College pitcher.
for the first time since he hurt his arm
the first day he reported. pitched to the
batters yesterday afternoon and showed
that he has a lot of stun. Russell re-
ported here without having done any
work this spring. 1t happened that he
saw DOtn Harper anu bentley, WHO us1o
been in training for ten days at An
napolis, cut loose. and he followed suit.
with the result that he could not raise
his arm for couple Of weeks. Now he
has come around again, and his work
in practice would indicate that there Is
a chance for him to be developed into
a first-class pitcher.
Ramiro Seiglie has some ability as a
runner and thrower and stands up
fa} }r1 Of ho q
from being a real fielder and has much
to learn In this respect The protest
which Manager Moran of the Phillies
has made against Seiglie signing with
any concern to Manager Griffith or any
one else. There is no more chance for
Seiglie to break into the Washington
lineup than there is for him to jump
over the Washington Monument. .Seig-
lie needs to learn a whole lot, and with
experience he may be a fair ball player
in few years from now.
All this talk about Grifith probably
making changes in the lineup of his
team is not apt to materialize, at least
until after the season Is under way and
some Of the players have demonstrated
that they are not up to the necessary
standard. Right now there Is but one
Hank" Shanks, who is not hitting up
to his mark yet by any means. Nor
gan gives every indication of having
good year. and this also is true Of
the wonderful fielder of old. Incl
dentally, he is picking out good balls
to offer at. and he is sure to hit lot
better than he has been. The chances
paign with the regular team as it is
now made up. If there is change 1t
will be later, after the season is under
way. Then he may find it profitable
to put stronger hitter In Shanks
place, but that remains to be seen.
White. who plays first base for vir-
ginia. is sure to make player OF big
league caliber some day. He is not
intended for first base. however. but
belongs in the outfield 1t is reported
that Jack Ryan already has some sort
Of an agreement with White, whereby
he will get a trial with the Nationals
next spring, when he will graduate,
There is a chance of hard-hitting.
left-handed outfielder now with one
of the southern colleges Joining the
Nationals later in the spring. Mana
ger Griffith has a very strong tip on
this youngster and he is going to have
one Of his scouts go down and look him
over This player is touted to be
hitter of the Joe Jackson type, and is
said to be equally effective against
There is another game scheduled with
Virginia for Wednesday, but unless the
weather is warmer than it was yester
day 1t will be called off. Weather con-
ditions here are remarkable. Yester-
day morning. for instance, it was
balmy. though the sun did not break
through the mist and clouds until after
noon. 1t was clear and bright in the
afternoon, but SO cold that real base ball
was out OF the question. Similar con-
ditions have prevailed ever since the
has been a promise of real spring
weather from time to time. the fact of
the matter Is the players really have
been compelled to do nearly all their
work in weather which is more like
that which one finds in the middle of
winter.
The development of John Henry into
a much better hitter than he ever was
before will mean much to the team.
Henry has taught himself the art Of
hitting to right field and he is clever
at it; Most OF his drives are close, to
the bag and are not grounders but
line drives which would be sure to go
safe. Once in a great while Henry
pulls the ball into left. Griffith looks
for Henry to hit forty or fifty points
better than he ever did before and If
this expectation is realized the Ma
tionals are sure to average more runs
per game than they have formerly
Sieglie looked much better in the
morning game yesterday. He seemed to
be over his nervous spell and. besides
produced a run, handled himself well
at the plate.
Now that Jim Shaw is allowed to use