Evening star., 1915-04-05
BY j. ED GRILLo.

last season.
Their work against the Cincinnati
| Reds, a major league team, was the
first real test they have encountered
this spring, and they acquitted them
selves in a most satisfactory manner.
Neither was scored on, and but two hits
were credited to the locals. Both were
made while Boehling was on the rub
Der, and but one of them was clean-cut.
Mollowitz made 1t in the fifth inning.
The other is given to Clarke. who hit
slow bounder down the third-base
line, which Foster overran in trying to
handle it with one hand.
Boehlins's pitching was magnificent.
He had almost perfect control, and not
a single ball was hit hard off his de-
livery. Shaw did not allow hit, but
he had more trouble in locating the
plate than did his teammate, though
he pitched magnificently during the
four periods he off1ciated. Behird this
pitching the Nationals played high
grade ball. The infield showed to
much better advantage than did that of
its opponents. Its work was smooth
and finished, while that of the locals
seemed bit crude in comparison.
Milan and Shanks did we'll in the out
field, and Milan also had the honor of
leading the players in hitting, getting
single and a double, and he also stole
itors' first run in the fourth inning.
Much favorable comment was eX-
pressed on the playing of the Nationals
by some men of note identified with
the game. Barney Dreyfuss, the own
er of the Pirates said after the game:
Griffith has a splendid-looking team
1t Is fast, and the two pitchers he used
today certainly are in good form and
ought not to have much trouble win
ming their games
President Hermann Of the Cincinnati
club thought the team looked better
than the one which played here last
spring. and he was loud in his praise
of Boehling and Shaw.
From a reliable source it is learned
that Benny kauff. the leading Federal
slugger. who 1t was reported recently
signed a contract with the Brooklyn
Federals. is still free agent. not hav-
ing signed with the Brooklyns. as re
Rorted. 1t seems that when the In
dianapolis club. Of which Kauff was
a member, was sold to the Newark
interests. Kauff refused to be consid-
cred in the transaction and consulted
a lawyer. who informed him that the
sale of the Indianapolis club to New
ark made his contract void and that
he was a free agent. Upon iearnins
that this was the case, kaun opened
negotiations with National League
club, and about this time the story
was sent out that he had signed Tor
three years with Brooklyn. which. how
ever, is denied Kauff may be signed
by club in organized base ball, but
many of the club owners in the fold
object to allowing any player VINO
jumped a contract to go to the Fed
erals to return to organized base ball
There is club in organized base ball
which has a claim on Kauff and he is
charged with being jumper.
Barney Dreyfuss declared himself
TO-DAY so far as Ed Konetchy is con-
| cerned. Dreyfuss said the contract
which that player had with Pittsburgh
undoubtedly was binding. and that he
from playing anywhere but with Pitts
| burgh. But he does not want kon-
etchy back on his team, and, there
| fore he will very likely let the player
drop. Dreyfuss said that Doc John- :
ston, former Cleveland player, who Is
now holding down first base Tor the
| Pirates, has done very satisfactory
work this spring and that he is not go
| ing to make any change In that posi-
tion.
'sThe greatest surprise is Wagner. al
second base" said Dreyfuss He is
playing wonderful game there
though the job is new to him i
seems to make no difference to tins
| wonderful player where ne Is prayed
he shines in any position.
Henry and Ainsmith caught an excel
lent game yesterday. Both threw Wen
and handled the offerings of Boehilnf
and Slmw to perfection. Grlthth wa,
the only Redleg to pilfer ana that va
on decidedly questionable play. Nj.
Ian and Mcbride both made succeSslu
| steals Of second.
Catcher Clark got on in the third or
a scratch hit. He had no sooner reach
ed the bag then Boehlins picked mr.
off Boehlings motion TO nrst oase l.
| = work Of art He usually has the run.
ners diving back to the bag when ne
is uitching toward the plate. so decep.
tive is his motion. Boehling is beyont
question the most improved pitche'
there is on the Nationals STAFF, and ne
seems destined 10 nave ino9' ''
cessful season.
Harry Harper and Walter johnson
are slated to do the p'tchins ioi .n'
| scheduled to play with the NatlonaE
This afternoon. Griffith expects Harpe
10 show the same kind of form thai
he has all spring, though he Will ne W
against a much stronger t1al.. la, ~,
has faced to date. The final game WIZ
the phillies will be played Tuesday
and II is very likely that bentley
Hopper will do the pitching on thai
occasion.
| Tho attendance here yesterday was a
tdisappointment not only to the Nation-
ais hut to President Hermann or the
Cincinnati club. The day was brignt.
and 1t was comfortable in the sun, but
n bit chilly in the stands. which no
doubt affected the attendance. There
j wNre a few more than 5000 paid. and
4 this was just 2,20O less than attended
the Sunday game the Nationals played
here last season. Most of the attend
/ ance here was in the bleachers. which,
i under existing conditions. was the most
comfortable place in the inclosure.
| Eddie Foster played a splendid game
at third, his pick-ups and throws being
appiauded by the fans, who watched
the playing very intently. Foster is
throwing almost perfectly this spring.
where heretofore this was the only
method by which he ever contributed
r. the error column in the box score.
Morgan and Gandil are not yet hit
ting up to their standard. but they are
coming forward rapidly and in due time
will be doing good work with the stick.
Milan was very much in evidence yes
| terday He singled in the infield in the
fourth and promptly stole second. He
| took third on Gandirs out and scored
when Won Kolnitz booted Morgan's