The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1916-03-23

Some Eve hundred loyal fans graccd
the grandstand Mt the West End past
inning grounds yesterday Afternoon
and saw Manager Billy smiths
charges put in the best practice of
tbs week. with twenty-one men out
in uniform and the grounds in great
shape the players were given nara
workout, and at the cose Manager
Smith expressed himself az being very
well pleased with the days prac-
tice.
In the afternoon the players were
given long batting practice. and at
times IL looked as II corps OF car
penters would have to be called iS
70 repair the outfield walls, but the
signs in the outer gardens protected
them to a certain extent and only lit
tie damage was done to the fence.
y.orln Solan came near being found
guilty OF losing another ball He con-
nected with one of Manager Smiths
Blenders and sent 1t to the left field
fence. IT struck the wall about one
inch--it may have been a little higher
for we didn't have the time to meas
IRE it--from the top OF the fence, and
bounded back into the field. Anyhow,
II was some wallop. All of the other
men also welded their trusty clubs
with telling effect and the victims in
the outheld were almost breathless
when they came in to take their turns
at the plate.
FIELD Positions Well.
Following the batting practice the
infielders took their places and they
began tossing the sphere around the
@eld az II they had been working out
for some two or three weeks. Again
Captain McDermott looked after the
Founders around the hot corner,
while Marty Nye and Al Kaiser played
the second and short positions, re-
spectively Eibei and Kelliher alter
mated at first base. Kaiser is an out
fielder and merely rlied in at short
until the arrival of another infielder
While none OF the players were per
mitted to let out at any time during
the practice. they had the old globule
travelling around the infeid at rapid
gaits at times.
All of the outfield candidates. as
we'll as the pitchers, who we're not
engaged In batting balls 10 the outer
gardens. chased balls in the outfield.
Catchers wapfes, Thompson and
o'Donnsli worked at the plate during
the infieid practice. Catcher Solan
hurt his thumb In Tuesdays practice
and was unable to do any catching
Or rather Manager Smith didn't deem
10 advisab Bile to allow him to take any
chances with the injured digit As a
result. Solan batted few to the out
feiders.
Campbell Springs Surprise.
Several of the pitchers Were given
a chance to show themselves on the
mound All of them displayed fairly
good form, but Manager Smith was
especially attracted with the work OF
John Campbell. the youngster who
halls from the mountains OF Grayson
County He Is tall awkward and
loosely constructed, but he put so
much steam behind his benders that
he made them all sit up and take no.
tice He was the surprise of the af-
ternoon. He had so much smoke be-
hind the ball that he had MANY Of
them jumping away from the plate.
Despite the fact that he appears to
be awkward, he fieIded his position
in great style, and while he was not
thoroughly familiar with covering irst
ON buntx. he improved steadily while
hs was In the box, and within. the
next few days he Ia going 10 look bet
ter, unless our representation goes
astray He has a wind-up somewhat
similar to that of our old friend, DR..
Yancey Wyatt Ayres. and he halls
from q county not so far from the
mountains of Hilisville, where the
aforementioned DIR. Ayres first saw the