South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1917-05-02
Blenders LEAVE
FOR RICHMOND
Club in Shape For Thursdays
lnaugurai-FOuTteen Ath-
leteS Taken Along.

With confidence oOzing out of
their systems the Blenders in charge
Of Ed and Harry Smith left this
morning for Richmond Ind. where
they will inaugurate the Central
league flag chase Thursday.
Before leaving the Smiths express
ed themselves as well pleased with
the lineup which will start the
game Thursday and predicted vic
tory in the opener and also a few
more before the teams returns here
for the opening game next Wednes-
day.
Fourteen players we're included
In the party. They will be Basnang.
Collins. Reilly. Tydemau. LaRoss,
Callahan, Allen, Grodick. Kelly,
Smith. Hill. .Schettler. Robertson
and Willis.
Three men were not taken with
the club. They were Rasmussen, "A
pitcher, and Hogan and Julian, in
fielders. Julian was handed his re-
lease by Harry Smith Tuesday He
was released outright and has open
ed negotiations for a berth with Mar
shaltown in the Central association.
Arm Bothers Rasmussen.
Rasmussen has had considerable
trouble with a kink in his shoulder
ever since he has been with the
squad and smith deemed il advisable
TO let him remain here and rest the
arm. Rasmussen says that ne has
worked hard all winter and believes
that the work frightened the mus
Giles. he says he is forced TO let 20
of the bail, when pitching. sooner
than he wants TO and as a result
the throw goes high and on the in
side. Warm weather is expected TO
remove the trouble.
Although ne was left at home Ho-
gan was not handed his release. The
young fellow. who is only 10 years
old. has not been able TO strike his
hitting stride yet. lie is one Of the
fashiest felders who have stepped
on Springbrook diamond in quite
a while but his weakness with the
bat is his one handicap which may
keep him of the squad.
Team Much strengthened.
Sport writer's over the circuit
have said that South Bend has the
same lineup that il had last year
and they are not figuring the team
for a high position. Here is where
they have the wrong dope The
club may look practically the same
on paper but when it gets out on the
6all held it looks radically different.
IL is true that the outheld will
present the same faces il had last
year. However, the players are not
the same men in spirit that they
were in 1915. They are a fighting
gang of athletes and have set their
hats for a place In the sun an the
Central league race. Bashang and
Tydeman seem 10 have their places
cinched while merry night is be
ing waged between Reilly and Col
Inns for the third vacancy.
Jimmy has not been hitting as
hard or as consistently in practice
as he did last year. while Hal has
come through with some timely
blows in the practice games. Last
year Hal also had the same charac-
tertistic. In his short stay here he
broke up several games and scored
winning runs by a timely clOut
whichever man lands the job will
win il on merit alone.
One Vet i'm Infcld.
Joe Grodick is the only old face
seen around the infield. Two OF the
other three have been in the cen
trail before while the third is new &c
the league Joe has been switched
from second base TO third base and
has been plsyins steady consistent
baseball at the hot corner. He has
not been getting as many safe clouts
as ne should but he has had a bunch
OF tough luck on his drives in the
practice games.
over at first base. the old reli-
able spike" LaRoss has supplant-
ed the scintillating George Beall
Harry may not make so many beau
tifuI circus catches as his predeces
sor but he is not afraid to tackl,
anything coming his way and wher
he gets started hitting VIII more
than counterbalance the loss o
Beau
Yves Callahan was one OF the
bright lights of the Wheeling in
neld last year and promises to re