Evening star., 1915-03-28
AYERS AND BOEHLING
READY NOW TO-
PITCH EFFECTIVELY

(Continued from First Page.)
support a high-class minor league
team. The town Is very much worked
up over the fact that 1t is now going
to compete with big cities like Buffalo.
Toronto and the others, and interest
in the game has never been greater
here. Dunn, who will run the club,
and is its principal owner, feels much
encouraged with conditions here, and
expects to have no occasion to regret
having had to vacate Baltimore.
There was decidedly more finish to
the Grifemen's playing today than
at any other time this spring. The
games with the Colts did not bring
out the Regulars real caliber OF base
ball, but today there was a real rival
and the players felt that 1t was up to
them to show something. which they
did Their fielding was perfect, to De-
gin with, and there was some sensa-
tional work done by the infield. which
was forced to perform on neio "hicn =
was only completed last TUESDAY: ana
naturally is rough and hard to Judge
houndinp balls on. But the visitors
went through the nine innings without
making anything that resemoied a
wobble. and there was dash and com
potency in their general playing "hich
won the applause OF the cro"o.
John Henry hit the ball hard every
time up. but was in very bad luck, nay
ing all sorts of sensational plays Hidue
on his offerings, which rooned nm
of no less than three hits. me IN u.
nroysment in Henry's hitting is one o.
the brightest spots in the Nationas
nrospects. for nothing will help more
than to have a catcher IN the hhe.up
most of the time who can come
through with a hit. Unless t,n1s W,i,am1s J
reva heen iamentably weak with the
stick near the bottom OF the nsl. ana
So 10 much room for improvement
right there.
ebar,ev Pick, who was Ill while at
Charlottesville. has aimos. enI,les ,',ars al III
ine the position Of utility inf1eider.
pick has that Job absolutely cinched.
for he has convinced Griffith and every
one who saw him in action tnat ne IS
great hitter, and he will Improve, Tor
he contends that he has never been
able to hit up to his standard during
the early weeks of season ana tnat
he is only at his best when the Weatner
gets good and warm.
with an Improvement in the weather.
which Is predicted for this section, and
Walter johnson slated to do the pitch
ing, there is very apt to be record.
Waking crowd out at the local ball
park Monday Interest in Johnson here
is remarkable. He is the one ball
nIaver who h much talked about here.
and every one in the city seems TO be
anxious to see him in action.
John Henry is catching even more
brilliant ball this spring than he ever
has before, and Henry has for the past
two or three years been classed with
League. But this spring John seems
to be an even better strategfst than
ever before He is handling the pitch
ers with good judgment. and this is
particularly true Of the young fei-
lows whom he has been catching all
spring. Johns ideal disposition helps
these boys. who have lot Of respect
for his Judgment. And the one weak
ness which Henry had. his inability to
hit. seems to have been overcome. for
an extent that he promises to be a
very dangerous batsman the coming
season.
before Henry started on that tour
through the west and to Honolulu last
fan Manager Grifiith instructed him to
mt IN an the time he could in batting
practice and be particularly watcbful
to try to learn to hit into right field.
Henry did this. and he has attained
much knowledge Of the art OF place
hitting ana ne also mas iupFoScu HS
stride and swing. which Is responsible
for his general improvement in batting.
Both Ayers and Boehling, who live
here and of course are remembered by
the local fans. were given quite re-
sspoo "ass s ana eois w.4s
plauded whom they fooled the local
batsmen into striking out
Chic 0andu II rounding into form
very rapidly. He 10 not only begin
ming to hit tho ball In his fashion. but
is limbering up and playing a brilliant
game around the bag. In the sixth in.
ming he and Morgan pulled a double
steal % Dut s, nnahks q, ~. t;o Wno had t~o ans
ball and the efforts Of Gandil and Nor.
gan did not count: but they both RAJ
well and GandiPs slide into third VA
! . peach. easily svadinS the third base