Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-03-04

tai unheard of md unheralded a couple
of months baci,
mike" MuFuin promises to have at
least a hall dozen twirlers in shape by
the time the second squad of Nationals
arrives at camp next Sunday. The genial
health preserver is highly pleased with
results attained thus far, and can see
no reason why at least this number
should not be ready to go the route as
signed for early season games by the
first of the coming weel-
Harry Harper and Jack Bentley look
fit right now. and from the way Booth
Harper steamed 'em over in practice
yesterday afternoon and this morning
he, too, should be able to face the
vets" in order to give them the nee
essary batting practice. Besides this
trio, Martin has singled out Joe Engel,
Jim Shaw and DOC" Ayers as the near
readies." Not one of these men had
been doing much in the way of base
ball work up to the time they arrived.
But each seems to be in great shape
as the result of plenty of exercise in
the off season. Shaw has enjoyed a
lot of outdoor pastiming, such as ice
skating and road work in the vicinity
of his home on the outskirts of Pitts
burgh, and appears to be in even bet
ter shape than when he started out a
year ago. lie is down TO Praying
weight, and up to the present time has
not experienced the slightest trouble
with his pitching wing.
DOC" Ayers has kept in shape
through the winter season by resorting
to gymnastics at Richmond. Accord
ing TO the Hillsville boy, few days
passed but what he took exercise, and
plenty of it. Ayers is much lighter thar
he was Il year ago, when he reported
carrying more than go pounds. This
was really more than he could afford to
hold on to-. and it was necessary for
him to put in whole lot of practice
before he was ready to do himself JUS
tice This is not the case now. He
is down to 100 pounds. which he de-
clares is just about good weight for
him. He is not enjoying the best OF
health for the reason that he spent
many a sleepless night through the sew
eral weeks his mother fingered before
her recent death. But with the advan-
tage of plenty of sleep and good. sub
stantial food for the rest of the week,
Ayers feels that all will be well in a
short time.
Joe Engel put in the best winter he
has experienced since he Joined the
Nationals, as far as keeping in shape is
concerned. lie attended to about every
thing that remained to be done at ms
recently acquired farm in Virginia, and
as a result is ready to jump right into
harness and do himself justice. Just
what effect the good start is going to
have remains to be seen. But if it fails
to make Il different pitcher out of him
the hopes of Manager Grifhth, Jack
Ryan and all the rest will go amiss.
Ray Morgan has been taking off
weight so rapidly that Trainer Mar
tin is no longer worried IN the least
over his condition. Morgan has reduced
his avoirdupois by at least ten pounds
in hn fa>y 1aU 70 bpen
promises that more will disappear be-
fore the week is out.
No player in camp is working harder
or showing better spirit than Morgan.
The course of exercise that has been
mapped out for him is exceedingly
strenuous. But this does not bother
the second-sacker in the least. He
does not intend to let anything stand
in the way of his fight to retain his
position at the midway station.
Yesterday Trainer Martin added to
his weight reducing course. After Nor
gan had worked hard on Lambeth
Field he was taken to the Fayer-
weather gymnasium and kept busy
with the medicine ball and dumb-bells.
There was nothing the matter with his
appetite when lunch time rolled
around.
1t is rather surprising to note the
few cases of soreness and general in
disposition that have come to the at
Mention of the trainer thus far Some
one mentioned this fact yesterday, and
"A superstitious individual was much
perturped by the fear that boasting
might change conditions. For the first
time, yesterday, Martin resorted to his
magic touch at the expense of the
three veteran players. John Henry.
Eddie Ainsmith and Ray Morgan. Not
one of the three complained. but Mar
tin wants to forestall any chance of