The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1916-05-21

by ERNEST POLLARD.

they nave met during the HrSt week
of their Northern invasion, the Rdch-
mond Virginians will open the second
week tomorrow afternoon with con-
fidence galore. The performances of
the Virginians during the past few
days have been very pleasing to Man.
ager Billy Smith and he hopes to take
at least half of the remaining games
away from home.
Today Richmond will pack up their
personal belongings and shake the
dust OF Canada from their shoe soles.
They will depart for Rochester. where
they will open a three-game series
with Tommy Leach's heavy hitting
Hustlers Monday afternoon.
1t will be remembered that the
Rochester clan broke up Richmond's
winning streak in Richmond and cap
tured three out of the four games
from the Virginians. The Hustlers
have one of the best hitting clubs in
the International League. but the
Richmonders are anticipating no lit
tie trouble in disposing OF them.
However. Manager Smith believes that
IL the pitchers come up to expecta-
lions his proteges will be able to at
least make a formidable showing
against the Tommyttes.
Play League Leaders.
Following tho series WIKI TSOEHtSteT
the virginians will again invade Cam
ada. being the guests of the Montreal
Royals Thursday, Friday. Saturday
and Sunday. After these games Billy
Smith and his boys will open the
third week of their stay away from
homo with the Providence Grays,
playing the Rhode Islanders Monday.
Tuesday and Wednesday. Tuesday.
May 80. being Decoration Day. the
Virginians and Grays will play games
In both morning and afternoon. Fol-
lowing this series the Virsinians will
go to Newark for one of the most
important series of the road trip, be
ing scheduled to meet the fast trav-
cling Indians four times. At the pres
ent time the Newark FASTENERS are
going at rapid gait. and every eff
fort will be made by the Virginians
to put crimp in their pennant- win
ming aspirations. However, very few
of the teams have been able TO do
50 np to the present lime and wheth-
er the Richmond boys will be able 70
accomplish anything with the league
leaders is purely matter OF specu-
lation.
The virginians have already knock
ed the bottom out OF the old dope
can. for few expected 10 make such
formidable showing against the
home teams on their first Northern
invasion. There have been many sur
prises sprung this week and Man
ager Smith promises TO give the old
wise guys another severe jolt before
Richmond's initial road trip comes
to a close. The Virginians have been
playing the brand OF baseball that
Will win most of their games for them
on any baseball field, and II they
N, EXHIBIT ions I'm
the field 1t will take the best teams
around Mr.. Edward Barrow's circuit
to stop the local boys.
Have Fifteen More Games.
The Virginians are scheduled to
play fifteen more games before re-
turning home. However. the above
schedule will show that most OF these
games are with tho best clubs In the
International League. Richmond has
only three games with Rochester, and
after this series they will play the
Montreal Royals, Providence Grays
and Newark Indians In order named
four games each. Considering the
fact that Richmond Is playing the
games on foreign grounds, the club
will be lucky to annex seven out OF
the fifteen contests, but Manager Billy
Smith has a lot OF confidence in his
underlings and he expects them to do
even better than this. 1t must be
remembered that visiting club is
always at disadvantage. and unless
1t il much better than the home team
1t will have to travel at a rapid gait
to divide honors in series.
l. That Richmond has fighting ball
club was thoroughly demonstrated
yesterday afternoon in Toronto. In
the first game the Maple Leaves had
them to / until the ninth inning.
They went after the Canadians with
a vengeance In this frame and sue
ceeded In evening matters. While
they finally lost the encounter. they
met defeat still lighting. The same
pep" and fight characterized the
closing encounter.
The virginians' alright fielding has
been the main feature OF their first
week away from homo Both the
outeardeners and infielders have been
displaying great form. and this inn
pregnable defense has been one of
the big factors In Richmond's three
victories on the road. This brand OF
baseball 10 hard to beat and the other
clubs around the Barrow circuit are
not going to experience any easy time
nosing them out
Manager Billy Smith Is a fighter
and ne is a manager who will not per-
NIT any of his underlings to quit until
the last man has gone out Billy Is
one of the easiest managers with his
players in the business but a man
must play ball for him or else his
sojourn in these parts will be brief
little News Forthcoming.
While there has been little news
coming from Manager Billy Smith
since he took his departure. the rumor
that Allan Russell will wear a Rich
mond uniform this season will not
down. The local management believes
that the fact that Toronto succeeded
in landing Urban Shocker means that
the former Richmond pitcher will
come back here. However, nothing
recently has been heard from Wild
Bill Donovan with reference to the
matter.
That Richmond will get Sam Rice
from Washington Is practically a GER
tainty. The deal between Manager
Smith and Clarke Grifith Is still
pending, but his release to the Rich
mond club will probably be announced
before the middle Of this week. Will
liam Poet, the we'll informed sport
Ing editor OF the Washington Herald,
recently stated that Rice was GER
tainIy coming to Richmond. ,.g~'s
1t looks a. II Manager Smith made
a ten-strike when he landed Sandy
u