The Fargo forum and daily republican., 1916-04-24
New Players Show Up
We'll; Good Crowd at
the Opening Contest

About 500 fans saw the Fargo Moor
head league team in action for the
first time this season at the Moorhead
park yesterday afternoon, when they
met Erny Melander's Moorhead Red
Men in a practice game. The term
looks good and Unglaub has wealth
of material on hand to choose from.
If other teams in the league will fol-
low the rule laid down to keep strictly
within the salary limit this season, the
Graingrowers will be in the race from
the jump If preseason work is any
thing to judge by. Yesterdays game
was in the nature Of a workout and
but little attention was paid to the
fine points of the game. Most of the
pitchers got trial on one team or
the other, and while they were in
structed not to extend themselves, at
least showed control, the difficult thing
to attain this early. Hitting was free
on both sides and the locals have sure
ly got some clouters who will be heard
from during the season about to open.
The diamond was in awful condi-
ton and had dried little If any since
the heavy rain of few day since. 1t
was a sea of mud and fast fielding and
base running were out of the question.
The score was 13 to l in favor of the
leaguers, but no one paid much atten-
tion to the count, the fans being in
tent on watching the new players in
action. Purcell was sent in as lead-off
man and came through beautifully.
In five times up he got three
singles and a double and counted four
times. He covered the left field posi-
tion we'll, missing one fly, a foul
Schultz verified the early prediction
made of him. He plays third like a
whirlwind and is flend with the stick.
He gathered three hits, one Of them a
four ply drive over the left field fence
Willard, one Of the new catchers hit
for 1000, getting two safe ones in
twice up and registering two counts.
Leroy was loaned to the Redmen part
of the game and while he was hit free
ly it was under instructions to let his
opponents hit. At bat he sent beauty
over the left field fence. registering the
only count made by the Redmen. Ryan
pitched the last two inings for the
Indians and allowed but one bingle.
His only time at bat he got a pretty
single to right. L. Smith, went the
first three innings for the leaguerS,
held his opponents to three hits and
famed one. He pitched fine ball and
will doubtless be retained as one Of
the regulars. Rook pitched five in
nings and showed that he Is possessed
Of both speed and stuff, though he did
not let himself out to the fullest ex-
tent, acting under the managers in
structions. The old men were in the
game at the start and each received
a hand from the crowd as they came
to the plate. Some gave way later to
the newer talent so that the crowd had
a fine opportunity to look the whole
bunch over.
1t looks like the Redmen were going
to be stronger this season than last
when they carried off the local
amateur championship. Most of the
old players have been retained by
Manager Melander and yesterday they
performed in as snappy a manner as
was possible under the poor ground
conditions. 1t was the first time the
team had been together this year and
they went into the game without any
practice whatever; acquitting them
selves well.