The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1917-08-30
LOSE FIFTH STRAIGHT GAME
Worst Beating of Season Administered by Builders
Exchange Club of St. Paul
By "Bobbles'

NI6aSuSS60ORE than few argu-
UlEES$Xde0 ments, disputes, etc.,
NYgYM}MRH as to what really hap
lNAD pened at Recreation
Park Saturday afternoon could be
heard after the game (?) was over.
There were some who insisted that
the M. S. P.s didn't get single
hit; others said that the opposing
pitcher had famed twenty-seven
M. S. P. batsmen and that none
had reached first base; majority,
however, claimed that no ball game
had taken place. Probably the
latter contention is the more sus-
ceptible of proof, because it re-
quires two teams to play a regula-
tion game and there was but one
team out there Saturday that could
qualify as such against stiff COM
petition.
The locals do not even look like
a ball team any more and play less
than ever like one. They put up
a laughable attempt at playing and
that lets them out. There is no
team play of any sort whatsoever.
Against anything like real pitch
ing they are helpless and unable
to get on the bases. From most
any viewpoint the present COM
bination- is impossible as ball
team, but it's the best that can be
scratched up inside the walls.
The claim is often set forth that
there are many players here super
ior to those now on the team and
that they have never even received
a trial. That statement may or
may not be true, but if such play
ers really are here they are hiding
their light under a bushel and
keeping their athletic talents pro-
found secret. We feel sure that
there are not nine real ball players
in the place, because there has
never been a manager of the team
who did not exert every effort to
find and try out any inmates who
were said to possess talent. They
have even spent their time in try.
ing to develop this or that player
when his first appearance absolute.
ly convinced them it would be time
wasted.
Some good amateur teams have
been appearing here the past two
months, and whatever good base
ball has resulted is due to them.
1t is idle to expect the locals to
beat such teams they lack but one
thing, the players. 1t is natural
for the fans to want to see good
teams come here, and it is just as
natural for them to want to see the
locals put up a determined opposi-
tion. That can only be done by
securing players from other
sources as has been shown here
lately. The addition of two or
three good players braces up the
balance of the team, causes them
to play better ball through re-
newed confidence, and lightens the
task for our pitcher. A little help
of this nature from outside sources
is not difficult to secure. for the
vicinity abounds with ball players
and pretty good ones at that, as we
will all admit. The loss of three
players, through release, since the
season opened proved a severe jolt
to the team and their places have
yet to be filled satisfactorily.
In Saturdays game the visitors
toyed with the locals for eight in.
nings and in the ninth their good
nature prompted them to allow
the M. S. P.s their one lone tally.
Wagner pitched a great game for
the visitors allowing but three hits
and one base on balls. He also struck
out nineteen M. S. P.s In the Sec
ond Har leaned on a slow one for a
solid double. That was the only
solid smash our boys got, the other
two hits being of the infield scratch
variety-both made by Lew.