Evening star., 1915-06-13
BY n. C. BYRD.

Tennis is detracting considerably
from amateur base ball, according to
a former star player on the local sand
lots. great many of those that have
attended the contests as spectators, or
have taken part In the actual perform
ances on the diamonds, are turning
their attentions to the courts. and base
ball is suffering. Here is the rather
interesting opinion as expressed by the
former amateur star:
Il have no doubt that tennis has de-
tracted more from the general interest
in amateur base ball than any other
ore thing. 1t seems to me that hun
1reds of those who used to play base
bail are now taking up tennis, and
even more of those who formerly
showed their interest in the game by
attending are now engaging in actual
J!ay on the courts. You would be sur
prised to know just how much tennis
mas grown here within the last two
years: several leagues have drawn
much attention. especially the one in
me government departments, and be-
sides that hundreds are playing on the
,lub and private courts. Yes, if tennis
is not hurting amateur base ball moth
ne is
Ii is very probable that the War
team will be dropped from the Depart
mental League. That club forfeited
again yesterday, making its second
consecutive failure to show up for con-
tests and its fourth time for the sea-
son. That kind of action will hardly
be tolerated by the league officials. es
pecially as the rules of the organiza-
tion are specifically against it.
1t would be rather difficult to get a
team to take the place of War. but the
circuit could go along with one club
less if il could not do better. Certainly
Is n he haf ha clr hE
which will be on hand for all the
games.
the annual swimming meet of the
Washington Canoe Club will be held
next Saturday. June 10. The event will
b. open to all registered anna teault
swimmers and II is expected that many
from Baltimore will take part. The
finish of all the events will be in front
of the club, just above the Aqueduct
bridge. These contests are scheduled:
Fifty-yard open, 50-yard novice, So
yard scholastic. 440-yard swim. fancy
diving. one-mile swim. In addition to
these there will be one special race at
100 yards for members of the Washing
ton Swimming Club only. Gold. silver
and bronze medals are to be awarded
the winners. second and third men. The
entry fee will be so cents and the list
will close Wednesday, June 16. 1t is
expected that Commodore Spaulding of
the American Canoe Association will
he the guest OF the club on tne occa-
sion.
The Marines of the Government
League will try their luck against the
Dr!llery club Of the Potomac circuit
this afternoon at 2:30 o'clock in a
game on the Anacostia grounds. There
is considerable rivalry between the
two teams. as several members of the
Drillery belong TO another branch of
the army-the engineers.
Suess. who does the catching for the
printers in the Departmental League is
better receiver than he is generally
given credit for. His work in every
contest. while not brilliant, is consist
enf, and he proves capable of handling
his pitchers well a all times. The only
a il!t to find with his work is that he is
Of! IN his throwing once in awhile
Z M O. fhe I.acrnsse team Of