The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1916-03-12
COLLEGE PITCHER
Signed BY GRIFF
Kenneth McGovern, of Knox
College, Iowa, to Report to
Nationals Next June.
BOOSTED BY ALTROCK
BY WILLIAM PEET.

Charlottesville, Va, March n.-kenneth
McGovern, standing six feet two inches,
with speed to burn and a good curve ball
thrown from the port side, has been
signed by Manager Griffith for the Wash
ington ball club and will join the team
June l.
II was upon the recommendation of
Nick Altrock that Griff landed McGovern
but in doing so was forced to buy the
pitchers release from the Clinton Oowa)
club, of the Three-Eye League. as Nc
Govern had signed a contract with this
team and was to- join them soon as
he graduated from Knox College next
June
I've got just the pitcher Griff has been
looking for" said Altrock in describing
his protege. II saw McGovern work in
Kewsnee, ILL.,. last fall, and was greatly
impressed with him. He's going to make
good sure; just you mark my words"
The Old Fox tried to get McGovern to
report here at once, but was unsuccess-
ful. for McGovern, who is a senior at
Knox College, Iowa, insisted upon COM
pleting his course.
The only other pitcher, Altrock, ever
recommended to the Washington club
was Bert Gallia, who after being put
through the acid test made good with a
vengeance, and Altrock thinks that
this big fellow McGovern will eventually
deliver the goods.
In camp today the Nationals had two
stiff workouts and played a nine inning
exhibition game with the University of
Virginia. A strong wind from the
mountains kept the boys on their toes this
morning. but both the first and second
squads engaged in batting and fielding
for two solid hours.
Prior to the game with the college boys,
Walter Johnson, Jim Shaw and others
pitched to the batters. while over in
SLEEPY Hollow Altrock put his charges
through the same stiff course of sprouts.
Altrock's bunch this morning worked
under a handicap. for Howard Shanks
drove most of the balls pitched to him
over the left field fence into the
shrubbery at the base of the railroad
track. That boy Shanks sure was the
demon slugger today.
Instead of complaining about sore
muscles and other ailments usually
apparent after the first days practice
the regulars this morning were unusu-
ally cheerful and most of them de-
clared that no i'll effects whatsoever
were felt from the hard practice peri
DDS OF yesterday. all of which augurs
well and speaks volumes for the con-
dition the athletes were in before re-
porting.
johnson, Milan. Mcbride. Foster and
others need only a few weeks of the
present brand OF weather to Mt them
selves for the coming season.
Clyde Milan. usually a late starter.
is showing wonderful form for this
time OF the year. In the exhibition
game this afternoon Milan delivered
three clean wallops, scored two runs.
and drove in another He also had his
eye on the ball during practice this
morning. hitting all pitchers who
faced him.
Tod Sloan. the big right handler
from Linden, Tenn, who worked the
last three innings against Virginia
this afternoon. looks to have plenty
OF stuff, and with nobody on bases
showed fine control. He appeared to
be lost without his wind-up when
there was a man on first and develop
ed a wild streak, which Grih Will at
tempt to overcome with the proper
kind of coaching.
Nobody attempted to steal bases on
Charity, who caught the entire game
but the big fellow showed a lightning
peg to first base several times and kept
the runners close 10 the bag throughout.
Little Schwab got his first taste OF
high life this morning "nen ne was as
signed to cover shortstop for Altrock's
second team. Schwab possesses a strong
throwing arm and is fast on his feet.
There is plenty OF hard work ahead
for the Nationals next week, as Griffith
proposes to start playing morning and
afternoon. In addition the Nationals will
hook up with Virginia on Wednesday and
Saturday afternoons.
1t is much too early to make predtc-
lions or to get a correct line on the
Nationals at this stage Of the game. but
the appearanceof the squad in such good
physical condition. the willingness on
the part of every player to get out and
huFtle, and the apparent goodfellowship,
make 1t plain that the club which rep
resents Washington during the champion
ship season is going to give the fans Of
the Capital the best they have in them.
In other words the boys will be out
there trying to win every day.
There is not dissatisfied or disgruntled
player In camp. The newcomers are
clean-cut young men in every respect and
a credit to the game.
Doc Ayers, the big pitcher was given
permission to spend Sunday in Washing