Evening journal., 1917-09-24

It's all over and New Castle is doing
the shouting.
The All-Wilmington league cleaned
up its 1917 schedule on Saturday, New
Castle winning the championship over
Pioneers by the margin of one game.
Nandever, half a game behind New
Castle dor the lead before the day be-
came history, dropped to third position
one game behind Pioneers after Glenn's
wallopers outclassed them In both games
of a double-header. New Castle chnched
by its shut out of Browntown. Now
Pioneers wants series Of games with
New Castle to demonstrate that while
the rivertOwn team may be champions,
they are not a better ball team than the
Wilmington lads. New Castle is willing
today to take the chance, and unless
the boys change their minds details Of
the big series will be announced in a
few days.
Vandever lost its last days chance to
tie up with New Castle for the league
honor because Bill Crouch wasn't right.
Out Of the game for three weeks, Bill
couldn't get his speed balls under con-
troll, and In consequence Pioneers made
toy Of his delivery. Fish, the Penns-
grove strong man, in Pioneers lineup
for the first time, took all the heart out
Of Bill by getting three hard smashes
Off his delivery in the first game and
actually winning for his team. On the
other hand, Hofecker, who has been
working in mid-week games at Carney's
Point, was better than ever. letting
Nandever out with six widely scattered
singles. Harry Bradford, Kaitch and
1ivennore were the only Nandever boys
10 get two hits apiece out Of the ten
that the 1915 champions collected In the
two frames. Jimmy Taylor was high
swatter of the day, with FIVE bingles
Pugh gamered four and Elsh three
Pioneers total hits for the day Of
Crouch and Dutton was %.
New Castle actually slid into the
championship, clinching the honor In
their first inning by scoring three runs
of the Browntowners. Clancy held
the visitors TO seven hits and famed
nine men.
The league season was successful
from every viewpoint. Until July. Bran
dywlne, with Harry Hoch on the firing
line. was the best bet, but with his
retirement the Fire Eaters gradually
fell back until the rain OF early Sep
tember put them out Of the running
As It was, they took the series from
every team in the league except VII
mington steel and Browntown.
New Castle did not assume a flghtinl
attitude until they won the double
header with Eden on August IS. Tha
defeat put Eden out OF the race. New
Castle took the lead on Labor Day b.
defeating Wilmington Steel. and as rail-
on the preceding Saturday prevente'
the New Castle-Brandywin game, an
subsequenlly prevented games will
Nandevcr and Pioneers. New Castle ac
tually drifted pennantward. lt was
case OF Pluyius giving New Castle tn
benefit Of the breaks. However, tn
river town team played good ball al
season. Their pitching STAFF was on
Of the best In the league and their OF
fensive brilliant In every game. Eddi
Mcdaniel has the honor OF giving IN
town its second league champion ba
team, Jack McDevitt having hande
over the Del-Mar League cup 10 IN
town two years ago. Both Eddie an
Jack are wide-awake baseball men, wh
today are receiving the consratulation
Of a wide clscles Of friends.
Although noscd out Of the champion
ship. the Pioneer team played tn
most consistent ball OF the season, an
it Is almost a sure bet that they woul
have finished on top had not rain CT
them out of their games with Edel
Brandywine and New Castle. tn
whole team showed pep every minut
and when they were not winning the
were loosing by a one run margll
Hoffecker, Of course. was the high spo
although every other man on the tea
put up a fashy offensive and defensi'
game, the like Of which was not see
on any other team Of the league. wit
the same team back In the fight ne
years Pioneers ought TO be the ~
champion.
The Brownson, Browntown and ste
teams were the also rams, BrownsC
being the disappointment Of the yea
The final scores:
PIONEERS-VANDEVER.
First Gamei