The Washington herald., 1915-08-22
Morris Club Dropped Flag in
Blue Ridge Circuit Because
Weak Defense Work.
GOSSIP OF THE LEAGUE
By HARVEY A. BUSH.


less than a week of the schedule of the
Blue Ridge League yet to be played at
the time this was written, the positions
of the first four clubs seem to be def
nitely determined in the first pennant
race of the baby circuit of organized
baseball, with the standing of the other
two such a matter of doubt that 1t may
require the final game to determine it.
At this time Frederick practically has
the leadership won, with every prospect
Of finishing the season with a percentage
around the 200 mark. Martinsbug is
equally sure of second place. with a per-
centage slightly above the 600 mark.
Hanover will finish third. with a per-
centage of about SIS, while Hagerstown
is sure of fourth place. with probable
percentage of 400. At this writing Get
tysburg is in fifth place, but one game
ahead of Chambersburg, which was
forced this week to AXE the cellar posi-
ton. held for so long by Gettysburg. As
Chambersburg has four games next week
with Martinsburg, while Gettysburg is
playing Frederick and Hagerstown
neither of the trailers will have. IAN easy
time. The prospect seems to favor Get
tysburg. however, she has exhibited
unexpected strength in the past against
both Frederick and Hagerstown. while
easy for Martinsburg.
Martinsburg' chances for the cham
pionship of the circuit seemed to be very
bright as the teams squared away the
list of August for the last month of the
race and money was freely offered at
odds that the locals would carry off the
flag. But the team developed an unex-
pected weakness in fielding that cost
game after game during the first two
weeks of this month and which finally
destroyed her chances altogether
This weakness in defense had been
shown in many games previously. but
had been. in great measure. counter
balanced by the clubs strength in hit
ting, and the recognized ability of the
pitching staff. In Lefty Clarke, port
slider secured in June from the Wash
ington Nationals: Johnny Mumford. VINO
was also with Manager Grifiith's squad a
portion of last season: r. l.. Douglas. a
speedy slabbist secured from the Balti-
more Federals, and Frank Hoffecker. a
Baltimore boy, who was one of the stars
of the Tri-City League last ye1r and was
with Jack Dunns Richmond 1nterna-
tionals part of this season. Martlnsburg
had a quartet of pitchers that practically
all the clubs admitted were the strongest
staff in the league. But even with the
advantage OF good clouting and strong
after the first of August and lost a num-
ber of games, and the pennant with
them by amateurish and inexcusable err
rors in the field. 1t is a notable fact
that practically every time the team
played good ball in the field it won. OF
the twenty-eight games lost at the time
this was written. twenty Of them were
put in the wrong column by reason OF
poor fielding.
During the past few days the team has
been shifted considerably. and decided
improvement has been noticeable IN the
defensive play. Manager Country" Nor
ris is again at first base, and has been
playing a great game there, in decided
contrast to his previous attempts at the
initial sack. Shipley. a Washington boy
and one of the stars of the Maryland !
Agricultural College team. has been
playing at second and putting up a bet
ter game than any who has essayed the
pivot station for Martinsburg this year.
Short Long. a Washington boy. who
was with Richmond a portion Of this
year. is now played regularly at third, !
and is putting up a fast game from mis-
shoulders down. ''SkeetS" Hayes an }
other Washington boy, is still playing |
the short field brilliantly. despite his !
many errors. Reggie Rawlings. one OF
the most valuable mon OF the team, is |
putting up a great game in left while |
Durborow is now playing regularly in !
center having been shifted back to that |
position from right. The right garden is
being played by Mumford and a local
lad named Westenhaver- Johnson is do
ing all the catching. These players and
the other three pitchers-Douglas, Clarke
and Hoeffecker-comprise the entire Mar
tinsburS squad at present. and it is likely
the season will be finished without
further change.
Rawlings. Morris and Johnson con-
tinue to lead the league in hitting
among those players who have played
a majority of games. While Rawlings
poor luck in driving many smashes
into the hands of the outfielders con-
tinues to follow him. he yet secures
enough safeties to hold his average
we'll above the 300 mark In one
game this week he hit for triple,
double and single. Morris and John
son have both been making many time
ly doubles of late. these counting
heavily in the run n-Eetting. Durbor-
ow's hitting has greatly improved dur
ing the past month, and he now ranks
among the 800 hitters of the league.
of which there are fewer than
dozen. Hayes is also hitting close to
the 800 mark these days, his speciality
being sharply-driven singles to CEN
ter and right center.
Tommy Connolly. secured by Fred
erick from Manager Griffith. is said to
be slated for berth in the Inter-
national League at the close of the
Blue Ridge League season, and should
make good" with ease. He has not
only been putting up a good game in
the field, but his stickwork has won
number of games for Frederick.
Tex Myers, who was with the Jersey
City 1nternationals a portion of this
season, continues to put up a great
game for Frederick, and is hitting at
a $40 clip. Monk Walter and
"Katsy" Dean. the other Washington
boys In this league, are putting up a
great game in the field for Hagers-l
town. and both are hitting over .275.
Walter is known as the horseshoe"
man of the league. getting on more
often on infield errors than any other |
player in the circuit Announcement !
comes from Hagerstown that both will |
be among the players reserved by that !
club for next season. Both men would
like to come to MartSnsburg. and a | ,
deal for their transfer has been sug-
gested. but no definite steps taken. 1t
is hardly probable that such a deal
will be made, the Martinsburg
would not give up the
players wanted in exchange.
Herzog and the Car.