Evening star., 1915-03-06

| around in hotel lobbies and swap
| stories as means of passing away time
! when the elements are unfavorable to
outdoor work. Reports have come this
way from the south bemoaning just
such experiences, especially in Florida,
where the team now encamped already
has encountered more rainy weather
than the Nationals will see during their
entire period of training.
Joe Engel and Eddie Ainsmith are
leading basketers with the advance
squad, and if the weather is not favor
able enough this afternoon to permit
outdoor work teams captalned by these
men will play game of the regular
forty minutes duration.
Neither had announced a lineup up
to last night. Both. however, are clam
who seems to have something on a
number who were singing their own
praises before the sport was started.
Every time Ryan works with Jack
! Bentley he spends a half hour or SO
later telling what great pitcher the
Soungster is going to be this year.
Ryan appreciates, as does every one
else. the remarkable form the Sandy
Spring boy showed in the dying days
of the most recent American League
race. His work against Connie Mack's
Athletics stands out prominently in a
success of the Nationals was due in
large measure to his individual ef
forts.
Since the close of the base ball sea-
son Bentley has put in lot of hard
work on his farm. with the result that
he has broadened out He also has
grown taller. year ago Jack tipped
the beams at 40 pounds and was six
feet tall in his stockings Now he
is fully ten pounds heavier and an inch
taller.
To watch the youngster in his work
outs. one would suppose he had been
in the game for years rather than for
the one or two seasons that he has
worked under mick" Altrock, Jack
Ryan and others who are boastfully
proud of having had a part in his de-
velopment.
Bentley now pitches with the grace
and ease of a veteran and has varied
assortment that is bound to prove
troublesome to teams that oppose him
this year. To the exceptional roper
toire claimed last year ne has added
something substantial in the way of
cross-fire delivery, an asset that has
spelled fame for many an ambitious
young twirler.
1t now develops that the cold Eddie
Ainsmith complained of yesterday and
for which he remained away from the
scenes of practice was contracted the
first night he reached Charlottesville
and which has only been aggravated
by the raw conditions the night before.
Instead of reporting the ailment to
Trainer Martin. the big catcher tried
to effect secret cure. The plan did
not work. and when he was still feeling
the effects and saw that a jaunt
through the beautiful white" night
might bring on recurrence ae broke
the news. The proper treatment was
prescribed at once, with the assurance
that all would be well within twenty
four hours.
Jack Bentley will graduate from the
teen" class Monday. A year later to
the very day his fellow-townsman,
"Cy" Clarke. will do likewise. There
Is Is apt to be something in the way of
of the Marylanders.
Some one here is the recipient of a
letter from Washington fan in which
exception is taken to a recently pub
1ished statement in reference to the
work of Oscar RUSSELL former North
Carolina and Agricultural College
twirler. in base ball game played on
Georgetown Field against the Hilltop
pers a couple of seasons ago Russell
according to the item. had been respon
sible for two long drives, a home run
and triple. at the expense of Capt
Fienli of Georgetown Said fan went
on to say that neither Russell nor any
one else connected with the game had
ever accomplished such feat, and that
IL Would take second edition of Ty
Cobb to do so.
Russell was further condemned for
his boastfulness. Now as a matter OF
fact. the youngster did just as was
said. And. furthermore the informa
tion did not come from him, but from
Mike Martin, who trained athletic
teams at the North Carolina institu
| ton last year. For the benefit of the
misinformed fan it might be said that
Russell is one of the real modest chaps
, OF the camp. youngster of sterling
QUALITIES, who is certain to become
generally popular.
Virginia students and citizens of
charlottesville are following closely
| the work of Douglass NefY. former
varsity captain. who is going to make
! a bid for regular position in the Ma :
tlonals' inf1eld this year.
Mem was great ball player in the
| coileges. In fact, far more promising
| 'han any lnfielder that had been pass
ed on by Griftith's advisers. The Ma
I tionais leader was elated over his sue
| cess In signing the youngster. and at
the time made the statement that If
| would not be much of surprise to
| him We're Neff to come through in
| comparatively short order, and deprive
| one of the regulars of job.
| Mem task is difficult one 1t is a
! nara matter Tor a youngster, regard
! less OF the attractiveness of his ma st
| record, to break in and GUST n man
| who has been in the game for wears.
| and whose actual playing ability has
| stood the test. But Mem is determined
| to night, even against the strong odds
Joe Engel has been one of the lead
4 3d.