New-York tribune., 1918-04-28
Violet Nine Is Improved
After Disastrous Start
Early Lack Of Practice Has
Been Overcome-Nine
More Games Listed

New YorAUnivers ersity's baseball team,
after getting off to poor start in its
first two games, largely through lack of
practice, began its efforts anew last
week. The team has been working hard
under the guidance of Coach Raymond
Kellogg, assisted by Captain Mike
Tetelman, and the men rapidly are
rounding into shape.
The record OF the Violet nine for the
season so far shows two defeats and no
victories. The first setback was re-
celved at the hands Uf Union College
on Saturday, April 20, when the up
staters came through with a lucky rally
IN the ninth inning, winning by a score
of 4 to 3. The second defeat was
checked up against the New Workers
iast Wednesday, when Columbia
showed them under with q II to score.
The Bronx men seemed to have stage
fright in this contest, making eight err
rors. Only five runs tailed by the Blue
and White were earned.
Prospects for q good team at the
start of the season were very gloomy.
AT first the athletic authorities decided
accordance with the wish of the gov
ernment, this decision was later re-
versed.
OF the fourteen men who formed the
varsity squad last YER all but three
We're lost either through graduation or
enlistment in the service of the coun-
try. For this years team there were
Captain Tetelman, who was also cap
tain last year and held down second
base; Floyd Egan, the Violet's star all
around athlete, who was first baseman
fielder and heaviest hitter on the team,
and several second string men who
have made good this year
Nlth these three veterans for nu-
cleus Coach Kellogg has whipped to-
gether team that should in the future
win majority of its games. Despite
the defeats in the first two games the
Violet showed up fairly well. Though
tically green team, the men pull ed
together we'll and displayed some fine
team work. The hitting seems to be
the main strength, but it has not been
timely enough. The fielding has been
ragged and can stand much improve
ment, particularly in the infald. The
work of the pitchers has been all that
can be expected at this early date and
should greatly improve with the warm
weather.
For his inner defence Coach Kellogg
has strong combination, although the
left side is composed Of newcomers.
the difficult corner and holds mort
gage on the position His work in
handling sacrifice bunts has been able,
while at the bat he has done well. Loew,
the basketball and tennis star, has been
covering the short field He is a fair
batter, and although his fielding has
been arratic he should steady down
With little experience.
The outfeld looks good. Frank
Conne!l, the only veteran, has been
shifted from his old position in centre
with the team. He was the teams
heaviest hitter last year and bids fair
to repeat.
Covello will be in centre. He is
big fellow and meets the ball viciouslv.
lie covers lots of ground and has a
powerful throw. Bromley and Es-
quirol have been alternating in right.
Bromley is the only left-handed hit
ter on the team. Both men are strong
with the stick. Esquirol is also the
teams utility man. He can hold down
any position in the field
The team is we'll fortified behind the
bat. Hal" Draffen, new man, has
done all the catching to date His arm
is his best asset. He is a dangerous
man at the bat and steadies his pitch
ers we'll. His experience on upstate
teams stands him in good
stead. Newman and Covello are also
good backstops.
The twirling department is entirely
of green men. Link, Poval-
ski and Sulzer, all right-handers, are
the regular trio. Povalski and Sulzer
depend mostly on their speed for eff
fectivcness. Link is quite the oppo-
site. He has a large assortment of
curves and change Of pace With
little more experience under fire, these
men should make q formidable corps.
There is no obvious reason why the
Violet should not make better show |
ing in the remaining games and par
allel the fine record of last years nine. |
The unreasonable weather of two
weeks ago played havoc with the New |
York teams schedule. Manager Jo- |
scph Billo was forced to call off the
first two contests Of the season-one
with Stevens on Wednesday, April 10,
and the other with Rutgers on Satur-
day, April -. Both these games were I
to have been played on Ohio Field.
Nine games remain on the Violet
schedule. Four of these are to be |
played at home. A feature of the |
played with the Pelham Bay Naval Re-
serve nine. Two dates have not been |
sled as yet. Ono of these is for June /
; Alumni Day, when the season closes.
are pending with one of |
The local colleges for this game on |
Ohio Field.