The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1918-03-24
SAM RICE BELIEVES
HE'LL REACH $50
AVERAGE AT PLATE
BY BRADLEY CHESTER.

ASpOTtlnR EQlIOT, Augusta CnrOnlclol.
AUGUSTA, Ca. March 24.-Sam
Rice has visions of hitting $3.50 This
season. 1t is all because of the man
ner in which he pounded the pill
yesterday when the Griffs beat the
star artillery team from Camp Han
cock. o to ..
Sam gathered three hits in FIVE
times at bat against the soldier
pitchers, and that doesn't help his
seasons average a bit Why then
is Sam counting on hitting up among
the leaders in the American League
this year? Here is the inside dope:
The outflelder. who finished up the
1917 season in the 800 hitting class.
gathered only two safe blows in last
seasons practice games. He beat
that mark by one in the first nine
inning brush in which the Groffmen
have taken part for the calendar
year, and as Sam is a firm believer
in mathematics, he has it all figured
out about this way:
Ty'n Have to Hustle.
ar 1 can start off getting three
hits in the first practice game where
| got only two in many last year, II
looks as IL l can keep the ratio up
when the big league season gets I'M
der way, and H. + can this guy Cobb
will have to keep moving right
along"
There isn't a question but what II
the dope runs along the line Sam
hopes II willard he is a firm be-
lever I'm the value of a good start
that he will force the American
League leader and the other knights
of swat who led him in 1871 to look
to their laurels this year.
Sam got of to a bad start in prac-
tice last year, and he didn't start
any too well once the regular season
opened. He had bone bruise on his
thumb and this interfered with him
when he was at bat. Once he struck
his stride he passed all the other
Nationals in batting manners last
year and was the only one OF the
to finish in the 800 class.
This will be a OF day for the boys.
They put in hard work every day
during the week despite two days OF
rain, and Griff is glad to give them
a chance to rest up. Tomorrow they
Will begin their last week Of real
training here.
Sore Arms Plentiful.
There are some sore arms in the
squad as a result of the strenuous
work last week Jim Shaw. George
Du Mont, and Earl Yingling are on
the hospital list, but none of them is
troubled seriously. and trainer Mike
Martin Is counting on having them |
all in tiptop shape when the season |
opens.
The Grinrmen didn't have any
trouble taking the Soldiers into camp |
M NJ IN
| twO-run lead in the first inning, !
added two more tallies I'm their next !
urn at bat. drove the Soldier pitcher |
hat started out OF the box in the |
seventh under a load OF three more |
counters. and finished up on the Sec
md pitcher they looked at with two
more.
Rice led the Grifmen in hitting
With his three safe blows, while Fos-
er. Milan. and Lavan each got two.
rhe shortstop was robbed OF two
more by some fast fielding on the
art OF the Soldiers. He cracked out
l double and Foster and Shotton
ach turned in a triple.
johnson on Mound.
Walter Johnson worked the first
wo innings for the Nationals. and
my iAau 10 pltCh fourteen DdI4S 10
etire the Soldiers in one. two.
hree order. Only one ball was hit
o the outfield on the star twirler.
Mollie Craft took up where John
on left off. and, but for bad fielding
n his part in the fifth inning, the
oldiers wouldn't have scored. \
Tild heave by the young Virginian to
et a runner at first let in two runs.
lie allowed only four hits and famed
our batsmen. a creditable perform
nee.
Score by innings: R.H.E
amp Hancock. 600 O20 600 4
\ ashington. go 600 32x-9 IA
Batterles-Camp. Hancock. Roper.
'odd. and Powers: Griffs, Johnson.
raft. and Ainsmlth, Charity. I'm
ire. Nick Altrock.