The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-05-04

The Barons played regular baseball yes
 terday against Roy E1lams clan of cham
 pions and experienced little difficulty in scoring a victory in the initial clash of the three-game series. The Vols played a nice game, too and had they passed the first round without having a costly explosion in the inner defenses, the Bar
 ons would have been forced to the limit to score the win.
 It certainly looked like old Jupiter Plu- vious was going to interfere with the battle at almost any moment. However,
 he probably wanted to give the Vols all
 the oportunity In the world to win. The game had been completed only short time, however, until the rain began to fall
 The Vols still show their weakness with Roy Ellam out of the lineup. However. Dolly Stark the former pilot of the Mem phis Chicks, is on the short field in the
 gap caused by Roy's injury. But he is
 not near the calibre man that Roy is. Dolly is a brainy player and is a good man to have on any team in this respect, but he could never accomplish what the former Baron field leader can.
 Despite the fact that there are few changes in the Vols from last season the team does not appear to be the same one which copped the rag for Nashville. The outfield is as strong as the one last
 year. Pete Knisely is as good as Gus Williams while O'Brien, although prac- tically helpless against left-handers, is a. fine fielder and will bat more than Billy Lee Howard Baker is again in
 right.
 The infeld is intact with exception of
 short. Dick Kaufman is again on first; Tommy Sheehan on second and kores on third. When Ellam gets back in the game the infield will be exactly the same
 which was practically impregnable last
 year The catching staff, with Gabby
 Street and Moose Marshall is also the same.
 The weakness of the Ellamites this year, however, is in the hurling staff There is no Tom Rogers or Floyd Kroh. Dick Wells is back again and will twirl about the same ball over the 300 mark. Pug succeeds Kroh. He will win more games than any other man on the staff Roy has two young pitchers in Art Deca- tur and Jonnard who have prospects of developing into dependable twirlers. They are uncertain and may fail to deliver, all though past performances indicate that they will be above the average hurler. Wiley Taylor is a good pitcher but has a lot of hard luck attached to him. Bill Ellis is from last years team but Is not above the average.
 Roy needs one more twirler who will rank among the leaders and then his outfit will be ready to be considered in l in the flag hunt again The Vols play good ball defensively and have several dangerous hitters. A little strength in 1 the box and the Vols must not be over l looked in the mad rush to pick the con- | tenders The old pep must also be in 1 stilled.
 1 Moeys men will clash against the Vols today. Either Preacher Perryman or Arthur Johnson will be called upon to work, while Roy will probably send Dick l Wells to the front with instructions to
 repell the Barons, Wells, however, pitched 1 Sunday and Ellam may send Bill Ellis in l the box
 l The Baron cheftain Intends to give Howard Douglas a chance as soon as the big fingers arm rounds into shape.
 Douglas is promising twirler and Moley
 does not intend to cast him adrift until
 he has been given fair chance to make
 good,
 l Umpire Jack Kerin pulled a real "bone' yesterday. In the seventh session, Jack | I called the game on account of darkness. He astonished the fans and everyone else. i It was too dark to play ball. however.
 and Jack was right in this respect, but when he did the unwise was starting the I game again in about 10 minutes. The ball could hardly be seen and the eighth and ninth innings were played with the 1 field almost in darkness The fans and Ellam protested Jacks decision in calling the game, and were glad when hostilities were renewed.
 However, it gave the players little rest and besides might have saved the day for the Barons. This little incident will not go down in history against Jack s | character, but it is about the first time game has ever been called on account of darkness and then play resumed