The Washington herald., 1918-03-13
Ayers I'm shape.

Ayers I'm shape.
Harper is almost in the pink of con-
dition and was the first to leave the
field at both practices as the big
southpaw just could not hold back
on putting the old zip in the ball The
Hackensack wizard is further adj
vanced than any of the players here,
while Doc Ayers, who has been pass
ing a plow on his Hillville farm all
winter, will need but very little more
work before he is in shape.
Uncle Nick has his eagle eye turned
toward Mel Lynch, as the weight
picked up by this youngster should
be a big help to him and he too has
been placed in the nursery class.
The great spring weather which
came with sunrise this morning made
things tempting for the athletes.
Both Martin and Altrock were be-
hind the boys all day calling them
down for using too much zip and pun
ishing them with an extra hike around
the park. Uncle Nick is well salts
fed with the work the entire crew is
doing and claims it is one of the first
times in his twenty-five years Of train
ing that there's no slackers in the
Larty. George Du Mont Is coming in
Tor some careful tutoring as the Far
so express is almost down to weight
and is not allowed to work any over
time.
The chief tutors at the Hampton
Terrace Annex are a triffle worried
tonight about the whereabouts of
Earl Yingling. the Cincinnati south
paw, who was due here Sunday. AL
trOck is anxious to get this south
paw down to work as he believes
the Minneapolis holdout of last sea-
son will be a big help to the Ma
tionals this year. Eddie Charity
stated tonight that he was sure if
EingIing could get himself into
the shape he was in during the 1914
10. season that he could hold his
own in Ban B. Johnson's circuit.
Trainer Martin must have some
thing happen every day, to take the
pleasure out of this life. II has been
a pretty r6agh job for the Cherry
dale mayor to straighteh out the
arrangements here for the Griff clan.
as he has quite a few setbacks
handed him. First II was the ac-
Comodations at the annex and then
the fixing up of the park. These
were followed by the fire at the
park and the lack Of shower baths,
towels and coal, but after practice
this afternoon the coach Of 'the
f academy Of Richmond County nine
walked into the club house on the
safe and sane trainer and demanded
the right for his pupils to use War
= rem Field.
There is no head or tails as to
who is the rightfuI owner of the
Augusta ball club and park, as
when the South Atlantic League
blew last summer. the club went
into the hands of the receivers.
Each Of these former stockholders.
officers and even the receivers take
great delight in granting permits
for the use of the field. but to date
nc one has trespassed. as Mickey
Mike is holding his own and shows
a contract that is iron bound.
Martin has granted the use OF
the park to the 'fSammies." stationed
at Camp Hancock, Wednesday after
noon. March %. 4 good card of
fights has been arranged in which
Tommy O'Toole, the old Pittsburgh
lightweight. is to meet Jerry Mar
tin, of Scranton. Pa, in a fifteen
round battle. Eddie Ainsmith, the
mainstay OF the Nationals receiving
staff. has been approached to act
as the third man in the ring. Al
though he has not officially ac-
cepted. he is telling the boys at the
annex each night what a great third
man he is in the roped arena.
Dark clouds are over the hills of
South Carolina, back of the head
quarters tonight. but the native
sons do not predict any rain. The
Nationals were delayed but three
practices last season because of bad
per have arrived here there has
been nothing like a downpour.