Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1917-04-01
KENDALL COLLEGE MUST PUT FORTH EXTRA EFFO
SOONER BASEBALL
OUTLOOK BETTER
Neil Johnson Plays in Non
conference Games; Mccain
CincheS First.

beginning n practice season with ma
terial that looked decidedly mediocre
and working thru month without
seeming to make much progress, the
Sooners have suddenly blossomed out
with squad of men on the baseball
field that look decidedly like win
ners. Shifts have been made in the
past week that look like the simplest
thing in the world now that they have
been made, but no one but Coach
owen seems to have thot of them be-
fore they were announced.
Present indications point to Nc
Cain at the initial sack, where he was
put during the second game with the
Edmond teachers "A week ago. when
Brilliant had to be out of the city.
He is decidedly not veteran at the
first base place, but fans seem to
think he will make a star there be-
fore the season ends in case owen
decides to give him the berth rcgu-
larly. He is faster than Brilliant,
and he seems to be just naturally
lucky on getting fast pegs that come
to him from most any direction.
Neil johnson at Short.
Then to fill the vacancy left at
shortstop by shifting Mccain, notice
has been given that Neil Johnson star
of former years and one time captain,
will be out regularly to hold down
the infield place in all games in which
he will he eligible. johnson has al
ready played all the time allowed by
Missouri Valley and Southwestern CON
ference rules. so he cannot play in
contests with colleges in these or
ganiZations. owen believes that after
"A man has passed his first year OF
work that he is entitled to stay in the
game Just as long as he continues to
be n bona fide student and passes his
work.
This shift leaves Brilliant for his
old berth at left field. where he is
considered "A fixture. Tommic White
was developing into a good man for
the place also. and he may now b
shifted into the competition for right
field
This plan leaves the field well cared
for with teams not in the Missouri
Valley or Southwestern conferences.
but il leaves q team without "A short
stop when Sooncrs play three-year
schools. The solution may be Briscoe
at shortstop. He is "A good man any
where. lie is n good fielder, he is in
the first water among Sooner twirl
ers and he plays shortstop SO well
that there had been talk among fans
of his playing the place regularly dur
ing the season.
And besides this. Wright has been
playing at shortStop for several days.
He played there during part of the
game with Southwestern, and he has
been working there in practice.
Wright is one of those "all-around"
baseball men. He seems to play well
almost anywhere he is put.
E,rn,,,, Ip,,.n W.tI I..It,.I
With the real season just begin
ming, owen finds himself with every
place on the team well filled, and
with chances of developing before the
season ends one of the best mines he
has had in recent years. Whisenant
has dropped into the receiving place
naturally, and he Is doing some work
there.
Wilmoth is playing a star game at
second. lie has been doing some
great work at batting and he has been
picking up grounders in near big
league style. Lookabaugh had some
what of a record of blowing up" in
the pinches last year, but he has been
picking up everything this season.
With any of the three shortstops
the infield should prove to be near
alright. And the outfield is even
less problem now. Brlllhart back
in left field means that Capt. Charles
Price will stay, OF course. in center,
and that Brilliant, Tommie White,
Couch, Doc Wallace and almost half a
dozen other men will be in the com
petition for the two side garden
places. They all field well and all are
good hitters.
AS for the twlrling proposition, in
dications still are that owen is forti-
fled better than he has been in for
mer years by good deal OF course
nothing has shown up in IA class with
Emmy" Ponder Che was in a class
alone among college pitchers of the
west. but Briscoe and Fooshe and
Jones and Wright are all doing work
that. with the kind of support that
can be expected from the other men,
should mean winning team.