The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-05-20
~ Up to the Minute
~ SPORTING NEWS
~ FROM EVERYTHING.
OFF THEIR STRIDE
Kaws Unable To Break Thru
KOeStner.HOvlik DefenSeS.
Nee Says Loss of Stars Should
Not "Hurt Very Long,"

If Sundays crowd was legitimate
evidence, there are at least something
like LOO baseball fans in Topeka who
think enough of their team to go to
games when conditions are ideal. And
ou,te a few demonstrated that they
have the real fan instincts by making
a noise and riding the umpire hard
when he made decisions that were
distasteful to them.
Sundays game was similar to Sat
urday's in that the IZzies of Bald
Eagle Isbell won both. One differ
ence was that they won Saturday by
the score of 8 to- while sundays
was a to / accomplishment. An
other difference was that Saturdays
was an earned legitimate success,
while Sundays was not, the kaws de-
feating themselves by showing weak
spots and by failing to solve the OF
ferings of Pitcher Hovlik.
Fans Planned Umpire
An error figured conspicuously in
the first run made by the IzzieS ana
their next two came after what the
fans considered favoritism on the part
of Umpire Shannon shannon was ac-
cused-justly or unjustiy as the judge
may see it-of giving Wichita bat
ter four strikes and this batter got on
the paths by being hit with a pltcneo
ball. Wallen was already on When
this happened. and after Wolf had
out a safe one that scored both run
ners. Washburn's homer in the ninth
was the only run the Izzies hung up
that the fans felt they were entitled 70
and many thought that this shouio
have been only one base nit
However, the real reason for the de-
feat was the failure of Nee's men to
hit Hovlik. Until the ninth inning
they had touched him for only three
scattered blows and in all he was &C
= ,s%k, frtl ra
One Hopeful Moment.
In the last half of the ninth it
looked for a few minutes as tho the
rare last chance rally might by some
chance be put over. Trainer ana
Roche. the only Kaws who had the
scored on a wild pitch. Meyer walked
and there were no outs. With good
many pitchers such reverses might
have been sufficient to call for an ava
ton demonstration, but Hovlk kept
his hooks firmly anchored and cut
down Cleveland, Bradley and Nee
in order.
Wells. one of Topeka's well known
semi-pro stars. was drafted for serv-
ice and was given the difficult task
of holding down Wuffli's position at
short and of leading off in the batting
order. IT was a big undertaking for
any lad and he showed that he felt
the responsibility, altho he handled a
couple of chances very nicely and fig
ured m a double play with Bradley in
one of the few spectacular events of
the afternoon.
Saturday an Off Day.
Saturdays game was gummed up
with too much koestner and not
enough James for the Kaws to make
Il showing. Roche, Block. Wuffli and
Nee were the only Topekans accredit-
ed with hits and Roche drove in the
only run with sizzling triple in the
eighth, scoring Trainer who had
walked to first. On the other hand
the Izzies knocked James about merci-
lessly and Higgins, Jayness successor.
was treated with little more respect
Wolf and Yaryan were the only bats
men who did not fatten their averages
and Wallin found the offerings so
easy that he got five hits out of five
trips to the plate. Even Pitcher
koestner batted at a 500 clip.
few pessimisits who were out
Saturday and Sunday predicted the
loss of Wuffli and Hanger will prove
disastrous blows, but Nee is not that
kind of a gloom artist. He goes on
the theory that there are as good fish
in the sea as have ever been caught
and he says he already has his lines
out for men who will fill the positions
of these two in a satisfactory manner.
Abbott also is confident the sacrifice
made to the army will not prove a
handicap to his club for more than a
few DAYS.