The Washington herald., 1916-03-20
Griffs Pitchers Ready
..... To Start Curving Ball
odd Fox" Satisfied that First
String Players Can Ham,
mer Fast Ball Hurting.
ONE PRACTICE Is HELD
BY WILLIAM PEET.

Charlottesville, Va. March ls-Those
outfielders and all others who have been
walloping the ball to all corners of the
lot during the practice games here last
week. are going to find things breaking
tough the next few days. for Griff has
half dozen twirlers who are ready to
start curving the ball. and who will be
ordered 10 do so starting tomorrow.
Il am perfectly satisfied that the men
have selected for my regular club can
all hit fast ball pitching, but you know
we will be forced to bat against spitters,
curves, and often the emery ball, during
the championship games. and our last
week here will find my slabmen uncork-
ing plenty of stuff. those who are far
enough advanced l mean" remarked the
Old Fox tonight
Griffith continued. while the recent
cold spell set us back a little l am never
theIess satisfied with the progress my
players have made. You can say for me
right now that we will not only be in
good condition to open the season. but
will trim most of the National League
clubs we are scheduled to meet when We
get back to Washington for the exhibit
ton games at National Park"
HurIers Curving Bail.
Jim Shaw, Bert Gallia. George Dumont.
Doc Ayers, Charley Humphreys. Tod
Sloan and Jack Bentley have all been
throwing curves the past few days and
state that the muscle soreness usually
attendant has entirely disappeared.
which means that these chaps will start
hooking" the ball for keeps during the
intcrteam battles. which start tomorrow
morning. providing the weather is pro-
pitious.
When the Grifrmen tumbled out their
beds this morning It was clear and cold.
lVV. tai snI
to warmer weather in the afternoon.
Consequently. every ball player in camp
was ordered 10 report to the gymnasium
at 80 o'clock and dress for practice.
The afternoon workout was not at all
hard to take. as most OF the players pre-
ferred practice to an afternoon OF idle
ness.
The weather moderated some, but the
wind was very much in evidence, prov
ing the only hardship and marring an
otherwise perfect day.
1t did not take long for the news to
spread downtown and among the college
students that the Nationals were plan
ming to take to the field. Consequently. a
goodly throng OF students and towns
people watched the practice, easily the
largest crowd before whom the Nationals
have played since coming down to camp.
Work in the Hollow.
The youngsters minus Nick Altrock.
their leader held batting practice in
SLEEPY Hollow working until all their
pitchers were used up.
On the main diamond the regulars bat
ted against Doc Ayers. Jim Shaw, Bert
Galia and George Dumont in the order
named. Later the regulars put in nearly
an hours hard work of fielding.
Charley Jameson has been drafted from
the Yannigans and took his turn at the
bat also in the field with the regulars
today, which strengthened the belief that
Grif is figuring upon using Jameson
when the season opens.
When asked about the matter tonight
the Old Fox said, Yes, Jameson has
made a big impression upon me during
the past week | may use him regularly
but cannot say for sure. ! still MAIN
tain that Barber is good bail player
and should be a slashlng hitter. Barber
is in a slump Just now but l look for
him to come out of 1t at any time"
Jameson being n left-hand thrower his
logical position is right field and there
he will play when Griffith decides to use
him.