Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-03-25
ELEMENTS HAVE WEEPs
AND PREVENT BALL GAME
several Hundred Fans Visit Training
CnInp to Find Grounds Too
Wet for Playing.
NORRIS RELEASED BY SMITH
outfeldcr First Try-Out to BE Turn
eel demonstrations Watch Hurlcrs
Toss Ball .About-ScyeraI Men
Look Good to Fans.
ny "tfONTN."

fans who journeycJ out 10 tho West
hampton training camp of the Nir-
&inians yesterday afternoon in the OK
pcc'ation Of seeing the local Intcrna-
iional League team play the Richmond
College Spiders. II was the kind OF
sunshine sufficiently warm to melt even
baseball players fairly itch TO unloosen
arms and TO put few twists TO the
old sphere.
lut such was not TO be yesterday All
during the night before and the morn
ing the elements had ragged and wep,
copiously The ground at the training
camp was like the mire Of the Marine.
ana. IN spite OF the fact that several
complaints Of diamond poiishers and
;'Tua eradicators labored on the field for
fhe better part OF two hours. i, Was
Impossible to make the ground fit
for - game. So the sun smiled
h!andiy. almost ironically. at the DIS
appointed fans. the ambitious players.
ana the disappointment he had caused.
H. For the players were out, in spite
the rain, wet grounds and sore arms
At handicapped them The Virgin
hAns spent practically the entire day
Out some OF the kinks by retiring TO
~aiSh ground and tossing the pellets
back and forth. Coach Frank Dobson
got his men TO tn. neld in plenty Of
time for the battle. but one glance at
the field convinced him OF the mpos-
sbiiity OF playing. The Spiders toss
I'd tho ball about for a short time and
thcn retired for the week.
There was bat one development Of
Yesterdays work worthy OF real note.
Uncle billy began pruning his squad.
Norris the scin-pr from Tate, Ga,
who came here as an outnelder. was
given his unconditional release yes
,crday He had made no plans last
wight. but expected 10 return TO his
home State Tonight. The youngs;er
had not got into condition before re-
porting here. and with several men
present apparently having the MAX
.ng of excellent, gardeners in them. BIZ
= Is deemed IL unnecessary To retain
Morris longer. Morris is the FIRST. but
i, j. improbable he will preccde some
OF the others from the local camp by
many days.
Wcuther Disnppointcd Many Fans.
Whiic many of those who visited the
lamp Yesterday were disappointed con-
Sderahly ia not being able TO see a
game played, number OF them had
thcir FIRST opportunity OF getting
glimpse Of the prospective Nirsinians
Except for the pitchers. however, not
even "a fair estimate OF the ability OF
thu mon could have been secured ns
q result OF the afternoons work. The
nurIcrs were lined up on the side lines
and spent some time hmbering their
arms to Reynolds. l.cibs and Erhman.
utncr members of the squad. though.
were forced To content themselves with
4 'junting, fielding hunts and chasing Il
few iiics. Regular practice OF any
kind Was out OF 10" question entirely.
Thus far IL is probab BILE that the out
iielders have furnished more accurate
basis for the Judgment OF their ability
,han amy other men on the squad.
Bnly Smith is not saying much about
any of tho men. He realizes that all
OF them require several days in which
TO set settled to the training camp
routine and III looscninI UP their
muscles. However. by Monday che
probation time viii have expired. and
from then on III. men will have to
show tho local leader something If
they expect to remain on tho squad.
Tho outfielders, as class. appear
10 have been in the better condition
when they reported at Richmond. Most
OF them have shown speed and vary
ing ability to cover ground, but none
of them has been tested out thorough
~ In hitting as yet. All Of them will
he sen, through the mill during the
early part Of the present week. Thus
far. Ray Elsh, landlord. Fisher Bruce.
Distcll and Zinnell all have been doing
fair work I2lsh especially has been
Conspicuous for steady playing and
-a.bilty to cover considerable territory.
Players Rounding Into Shape.
Among the inficlders. several men
have been tearing things up slightly
around the various corners. Red Me-
Z, Dermott has not got into shape yet.
but il Is known what he can do. and
he probably will be regarded as
regular for the time being AT least.
Stenbrcnner is another tried player.
and Billy Smith possibly has cata-
&c logucd him i'm tho same class with
NHIcDcrmott.
Mooers. the local boy. is again doing
good work. and one would think he
probably will be retained during the
training season at any rate. Unless
other places on the infeld are strength
cned through deals now in contempla-
ton. Moocrs possibly may be used as
utility man. Otherwise he may he
farmed out for more experience. Both
Curry and McMath have been showing
: ability. and give promise of develop
ment.
Bill Reynolds is the one experienced
catcher, and appears TO be in the best
Of condition even at this early time in
the season. He undoubtedly will do the
greater part of the work in the exhibit
ton games, and. unless Billy is able
TO secure unusually good men from the
big League camps, no doubt will start
the season with the Virginians. Leibs
has been working hard of late. and
probably will he given an opportunity
" for work in some of the exhibition
= contests Erhman also Will get his OPP
portunity for real work during the
practice games with the Spiders during
this week.
Concerning the pitchers, probably
less can be said than about any OF the
other men at this time. Rebel Cooper
appears to he in the best kind of trim,
rs result Of his steady working dur
ing tho winter Mt the local Y. NJ. G.. a..
and fans who were present at the camp
yesterday and saw him working out
predicted he would work several Of tho
exhibition games, and possibly tho
opening contest with Rochester here.
Gcyer, the Detroit boy. appears to have
considerable OH the ball. az does Ncks
late OF Norfolk. and Barnes. who came
here from Lexington. NC. Hoffman
Rxs not got his arm In shape as yet.
and is taking no chance of injuring