The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-09-15
NAVY BEATS ARMY
AT POLO GROUNDS
Stengcl Bats In Run That
Gives Seamen Victory Over
Camp Merritt, 1 to 0.
JEFF PREFER VICTOR

The ordinarily stern visage OF Rear
Admiral Usher could have sported Il,
wider smile when he left the Polo
Grounds yesterday afternoon II the al
lied fleets had wiped out the German
navy. The Admiral had Just seen the
Brooklyn navy yard nine. representa-
tives of the Third Naval District. COM
manded by Admiral Usher, triumph over
Camp Merritt for the army and navy
baseball championship of this section of
the East.
Navy, 1; Camp Merritt, O--tells the
story. The boys in khaki and the boys
In navy blue fought as every Yankee
should and a lone run decided the issue
in favor OF Uncle Sammy's sea branch
or the service. The sinewy right arm OF
JEFF Pfeffer. leading National League
pitcher two years ago, and the big bat
OF Casey Stengel, one of the most feared
sluggers in the major leagues, swung
the balance in favor of the Tars.
Brig. Gen. Judson, commander OF the
port of embarkation. and Col J. a. Mar
mon. commandant at Camp Merritt left
the Harlem ballyard with the knowledge
the doughboys while defeated. were not
disgraced and that they went down fight
ing to the last.
The run that sent the Nays flag hut-
tering triumphantly to the top OF tho
mast was battered across by the big
bludgeon of Stengel In the third inning.
With Sheridan on second and Hickman
on first with two down in that frame, the
Nays big gun caught one of the shoots
Of Rube Bressler, the former Cincinnati
Red, who was on the firing line for
Camp Merritt. amidships and rammed
the ball for into left for a clean single.
Then "Casey" Connected.
Stengers timely thump sent Sheridan
across the plate with the lone and VIM
ming run and planted Hickpan on third.
Stengel went to second on the throw OF
Rosef. which failed to nip Hickman at
third. The former Dodgers were
stranded when Bressler corralled Irvings
smoking line drive. 1t mattered little, for
Stengel's mighty war club already had
smashed the way to victory for tho
Navy.
II Stengel was Nays Atilla on the
attack Pfeffer was the seadogs' Hora-
thus. Big JEFF. who came on from the
Great Lakes Station week ago to enter
the Officers School at Pelham Bay, q
bit bigger and a bit browner than Of
yore. had the same cannon ball speed
the same cloak model curves and the
same iron nerve and deadly control that
long made him the Nemesis of the Ma
tional League batsmen. He set the
Camp Merritt sluggers. several of which
were big league stars OF the first magni-
tude. down with three scattered hits. He
famed seven and only issued two bases
on balls.
The cool nerve and stout heart that
oftimes have safely brought Pfeffer
through National League crises twice
stood him in good stead Yesterday
Twice George Whitfield, former star Of
the Philadelphia Nationals and captain
OF the Camp Merritt nine. came up with
two down and men on ahead. only to
have Pfeffer tighten up In the pinch
and turn him back.
McGaffigan, former Phillie, first man
to face Pfeffer after Admiral Usher had
thrown in the opening ball. walked and
took second on the sacrifice of Andrews
In answer to the yells of the Army
rooters that he had left his range finder
up at Pelham Bay, Pfeffer, after put
ting over three straight balls on Bress-
Ter. calmly struck out the former Red.
He then caused Whitfield to poke an
an@mic grounder to Sheridan, who tossed
George out al first.