The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-05-05
'CHO|CE OF COLLEGE CHAMPION S.L. A. A. IS KNOTTy PROBLEM With Collegiate Baseball Season Drawing to Close,
 Expected Harangue
 Begins
By c. W. GREER

University May 4-(Special.) )--With the collegiate baseball season drawing to a close and the usual harange over cham ponship standings echoing and re-echoing throughout the southland, supporters of the crimson contingent of the s. l. A. A. are busly engrossed in the effort of de- termining just where they are 'at. As general proposition the merry month of May will find Alabama s baseball team anchored within two or three degrees of the top of the ladder. This season, how ever, for some unbeknown cause there has been a change in the order of things. The crimson got away with bad start, and they have been prone to the cratic ever since. On their home grounds they have been able to cop but brace of series-one from Mercer and the other a lone battle, from the Howard Baptlsts Of other engagements staged here, they have divided the more important ones, One series to Southwesterns they have lost.
 One week ago, with Auburn and Van derbilt going like real champions-to-be-, Alabama would have been content with ~-Ac standing A single week has wrought wondrous changes Auburn has lost an S I. A A. series, Vanderbilt has been defeated by Tech, while the crimson has copped two battles from l.. S. U., the only team in the south, by the way which was able to take a series from the University of Illinois.
 Alabama's double victory over L. S.. U. has stamped the crimson machine a mystery. The Lousanians generally were considered the dark horse in the S. l. A. A. race Before meeting Alabama they had not lost series. The crimson jour Eeyed to meet them a sadly disorganized team. Mickie Ladd, a veteran infielder, was unable to take the trip on account of his studies Dink Hagan, veteran number two. already has taken football and ba sl1etball trips and the faculty all lowed he had had his share of the trav- cling for the session, and decreed that he also remain at home. Josh Rainer, a veteran outfielder, also failed to accom- pany his mates. Six of the men who played against l.. & U. in the first setto were freshmen. And Alabama won the battle by 9 to 8 margin, with the freshmen starring. The feat was dupli- eated the next day, and again the fresh men starred.
 PRESENTS KNOTTY PROBLEM
 And now, as heretofore mentioned. the exact status of the crimson presents a knotty problem. As yet they have to meet Vanderbilt and Mississippi A. and M Should the freshmen contingent con- tinue to mystify and Alabama get away with both series the situation will be something like this won five S. l. A. A. series. tied three series of like order and lost none. It sounds fairly propi- tius, but the situation won't bear analyz- ing. In other words. one of the s. I. A. A. series recorded on the Alabama side of the win column was taken from How ard and this lone victory will not boost height. Again Alabama lost a series to Southwestern, an aggregation which has an athletic standing about on a par with the Baptists. And still again Mis- sissippi college and Milsaps two of the smaller colleges of the south, each drew tie in two-game programme. None Of these teams has had more than fair success this season. Alabama won a se- ries from Mercer here, but another couple of draws was the best that could be done with Georgia and Mississippi uni versity.
 And there you are. Should Alabama be awarded the championship as the only college not having lost an S. I. A. A, series. what will be done to quiet Geor- gia, Mississippi, Mississippi college and
  Milsaps, who tied the crimson on their own ground? And where will that put southwestern, who downed the crimson ? And what about Mercer, who downed Au purn, who defeated Georgia who fought Alabama to tie? It. sort of house that-Jack-built proposition. and the more you dope it out the more involved it be- comes
 Aiabama's eleventh-hour comeback de- nghts her supporters, but at the same tune It presents the dopsters with an enigma not unlike those which merit the consideration of the proverbiaI Philadel phla lawyer. Reports from Baton Rogue oeserine the crimson as the strongest ag- gregation that has invaded tho I .o,,is;o,, sWamps this season, and that includes the university of Illinois and the New York Yankees. If such be the case verify tbe crimson has undergone a wonderful .lansloiinatloh .oa thanks to change of scenery, Turkey Tom Roman ana bis wonderful freshmen sextette.