Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-08-25
BY n. C. BYRD.

The Agriculture team, by reason OF the
advantage gained yesterday as result of
it's victory over the Machinists, ought to
win the amateur base ball championship
of the District The Farmers have only
to split even in the two remaining con-
tests and they certainly should be able
to do that especially when the condition
of the Machinists' pitching staff is con-
sidered.
The two teams are to meet again today
CHI the same field-that of the Railroad
Y. NJ. c. A-and play will start, as usual,
at o'clock. The chances are that Nops
will do the finging for the Farmers. while
Manager lie Clair of the Navy Yard nine
will simply have to put one of his men
in and take chance on what he will
accomplish. Hines, one of his pitchers
has done the catching the last two days,
and Hartley and kuhnert have been IN
the box on both occasions, so it is not
probable that either of these men will be
capable of showing his best wares. 1t
seems to be about the best thing to pitch
kuhnert. The southpaw in yeSter-
day and getting away well, when he was
removed to allow Hartley to come into
the game. kuhnert might pitch winning
ball this afternoon, and certainly it would
appear that he would be the logical choice
There probably will be no other
changes in the teams, with the eXcep-
ton of the possibility of Giovanettl
taking up his burden back of the bat
1t seems like fate is against the Ma
chinists in that they are compelled to
place pitcher in the most important
position Considering that Hines has
not been used to working behind the
plate, he has done remarkably well,
but is not as efficient as Giovanetti.
Hartley was not as effective against
Agriculture as he was in his game with
reasons-he was opposed by better
batters. did not get as good support
and himself did not have as much stuff
on the ball. Hartleys pitching of Sat
urday and Monday had it's effect on
him, and he was not ready to do as
well yesterday. Also the Machinlsts
played poor ball back of him at times.
AS a matter of fact. it was about the
poorest fielding exhibition they have
given in quite while.
There is no denying that Agriculture
has good ball team. 1t is weak in
some particulars, just as any nine or
ganiZed under such conditions is pretty
likely to be, but even so. it is one that
will put up great fight in any series
it may enter with another amateur
club. Johnny Shugrue, at second base.
has been a star at Georgetown for the
last two years, though most of his
time has been spent in the outf1eld.
Reds Cusack has also held down
regular position on the Blue and Gray
nine for some time, as has Red Nc
Carthy. Frank Pee was one of the
most capable outfielders in the city last
year, while Eddie Carroll is much
improved ball player, too. Lemeric.
Bailey, Strait. Fraser. Nops and Owens
partments. There are several excep-
tionally good batters in the lineup
and not one who is not dangerous any
time he faces the pitcher. Considering
all things. Agriculture looks to have
the strongest team in the city and the
one best fitted to go into the inter-
city series.
Owens star pitcher of Agriculture
and rated by many as the best amateur
hurler in Washington, failed to show
at his best yesterday. owens did not
have his usual control, and was hit
more freely than he generally is. owens
did not have the speed and curves he
nearly always is able to serve in his
repertoire and he was not as much OF
an enigma to the navy yard men as
most of Agriculture's followers eX-
pected.
1t certainly is to be regretted that the
games cannot start early enough to al
low sufficient time to finish them. The
contest yesterday between Agriculture
and Machinists only went five innings
and it is ridiculous to have important
championship affairs discontinued be
cause of darkness at such time. In
the first place, the supporters of anna
teuy ball are entitled to full nine
innings, and then to quit play at
such a time does not show the real
comparative strength of the clubs.
Many times one team has a good lead
at the end of five innings and is behind
at the end of nine because it's players
cannot stand the strain of the regula
ton period. If the Machinists win to-
day. thereby evening up the series, it is
to be hoped that the final and decisive
contest tomorrow will be begun early
enough to allow nine innings to be
played.
yesterdays game made more than one
hit. Had the game gone nine in
nings though, the chances are the
pitchers would not have escaped as
easily.
There was a great deal of discussion
when the Aggies had men on second
and third and Eddie Carroll hit line
drive straight at the first base bag
The ball stuck the bag, seemed to
skip the top of it and knocked up
the lime dust on the right field foul
line about a foot on that side of the
base Shorty Hughes. who was be-
hind the plate, ruled the ball fair and
two runs scored. Dick Woodward
showed his value as an outfield UNI
pire. though. by coming in and stating
that the bag in foul territory
and that the ball had not gone fair
Hughes reversed his decision, made
Carroll bat over and sent the base run
ners back. Carroll then did just about
such case-struck out.