Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-03-13
BY j. ED GRILLo.
Special Dispatch to The Star.

I
! CHARLOTTESVILLE Va, March 10.
This was June weather here today,
and the Griffmen put in one of the
most strenuous mornings since they
| have been here. In addition to in
dulging in a lot of batting practice,
! Griffith set them al learning the fall
away slide. This is new to several of
the youngsters. and they were kept at
/ it for fully half an hour. Some sand
was strewn around second base. so as
! to make the sliding easy, ana Judge,
| Barber, Foster and Milan, the latter
, acting as instructor and demonstrator,
| led the way The others initiated, ana
| soon shove marked signs of learning.
though it will take several weeks be-
fore they perfect themselves in this
| respect.
| One of the most important features of
| Il teams play is running, and Grifnth
proposes to have his fast men taught
the art of getting away from the bag
| and the finish with the fallaWay, SO
| that it will be difficult for the baseman
| to touch the runner.
| Indications are that within the next
week the team will get in near to play
! ing condition. The predictions are that
| the present warm spell VIII continue
| for a week or so and Griffith is sure 20
| take advantage of the favorable condl-
| ton to drill his players as hard as they
can stand it. Great Improvement IN the
general work of the athletes ALREADY
| is noticeable. 1t is most likely that
with the starting of the interteam Sc
ries tomorrow that the forward stride
| in condition of the players VIII De oe-
| cidedly more rapid.
| Orders were given this morning for
he al Ilyh
overweight to adopt the habit OF run
ming around the track.
Jim Shaw, Joe Judge, Doc Ayers
and. of course, Ray Morgan were as
ming track which encircles the big
| field They donned their heaviest
! clothes after their fielding WORK WaS
| over, and every one of them perspired
enough to lose from five to SIN POUNDS
of their surplus weight.
| Manager Griffith is not overlooking
any opportunity to get his men IN pray
| ing condition and when at ABOUT
| clock yesterday afternoon the weather
was found to be balmy and the usually
| chilly wind was absent, he conciuded
to take his athletes to the two nelds
and give them a good workout
| 1t was by far the best day the Grill
men have experienced here ana they
| put in about two hours at hard WORK
| Fully an hour and half was spent at
| batting practice, Shaw, Dumont ana
| Boehling taking turns on the siao
against the regulars while HUMPHREYS,
| Sam Rice and Dahlin worked agalnst
| the YaniSans on the prep held. Ihen
! fully half an hour was put in at infeld
and outfield practice and runs around
| the field ended the day. There already
| is considerable improvement in the gem
| eral condition of the players and with
in three or four days they will be IN
,teh
| real form. But it is not intended ny
| Manager Griffith to play two games
daily between the first and second
teams until about Tuesday. because ne
exert themselves until they have been
seasoned a little more.
! When the twirlers get in these con
tests they are apt to try harder thai
is good for them this early and Crit
, fifth believes it will be wise to give
them at least one more days WORK
before starting these games.
/ Wednesday the second contest Win
the Virginia collegians is slated, but
it is likely that there also will be a
game in the morning between teams
| made up of the big squad.
There now is no one on the sick list
In fact the reports that there was an
epidemic of tonsilitis prevailins mere
we're grossly exaggerated. There were
some colds prevalent. but just as sooI
as Griffith arrived and got down 70
business all the illness disappeared
OF course, some of the athletes nave
sore muscles. This ailment always iol-
lows the first few days exercise. but
on the whole the squad is in hne shape
and with good weather continuing VIII
he ready to show some good pail Dy the
! time it reaches home.
| Nick Altrock gave an exhibition OF
first base play during the second team
nra ctice Yesterday afternoon that had
n bout a hundred or more fans who were
attracted to the park by the practlce
convuIsed with laughter. Nick did all
sorts of circus stunts and demonstrated
that he can do much with pau as
any one identified with the game Some
seen AItrock perform before were as
founded at his ability with the mitt.
Altrock is very enthusiastic about
Kenneth McGovern, the lett-handeo
pitcher who he discovered at kenawha
IN. last winter. Nick says McGovern
in his Judgment, has as much stun as
anv left-hander he has ever SEEM bar
ring the great Waddell. and he is tt
make every effort to induce the young.
ster to get here as soon as possible sc
that he can be developed in time to be
of help to the Nationals TINS season.
When Griffith announced. about
o'clock Sunday afternoon that he hat
made up his mind that it was too nice q
day to sit around idle, there was not q
kick from the players. who were siad
to get out and put in their time to ad-
vantage If there ever was goot
spirit on a ball squad in training il
exists in the one that is training here
The older members of the team are