Evening star., 1919-09-05
RECRU|TS0CCUPY
GR|FF'SATTENT|0N
Pilot to Size Up Youngsters.
Nationals Split Double
Bill With MackS.
BY DENMAN THOMPSON.

In the three weeks remaining be-
fore the base ball campaign of 1919
shall have become history Clark Grif-
fifth plans to take long strides toward
| rehabilitating his club for another
race. He has gathered enough new
players to constitute an entire team
and by the end of the season should
have a well defined idea Of the ability
of the recruits. In his effort to plug
the yawnnS gaps at short and second
he has picked up a flock of infielders
to the almost total exclusion of fly
chasers. Frank kelliher, who aspires
to play first, being the only one OF
the youngsters who has seen service
shanks relieved of Unfolding duties
he will be eligible for the garden.
but Hanks real forte is the utility
role. in which by reason of his versa
tility. he is eXcelled by no one. Ell
forts to find good right-hand hit
ting outfielder will not be relaxed,
although there is none in sight now.
In the opening game tomorrow with
the Yankees of the seventeen re-
naming to be played at Georgia ave-
nue. before the curtain is rung down
the Nationals will present an almost
entirely new infield, with Claude Da-
wilson at third. Frank Ellerbe at short
and Stanley Harris at second. Inc
latter has been out of the game Tor
the last few days nursing a pair OF
damaged fingers, but is expected 10
return tomorrow and remain in the
lineup for the rest of the season.
The Buffalo youth gives evidence OF
good ground-covering ability and ap-
pears to be fairly sure in his held-
ing He has a good arm and firm,
flat-footed stand at the plate. which
bespeaks latent hitting ability.
he stick that much Is
expected of Gov" Ellerbe. The
South Carolinian takes a good cut at
the ball and has habit of meeting
it right on the nose. He has the not
unusual fault in youngster OF goinG
after bad balls. but should overcome
this in due time. His actions in the
field remind one greatly of George
Mcbride He has the same long,
gangling arms and gives evidence
of some Of the captains unparalleled
ability at touching runners at sec
ond His throwing arm is strong to
degree On several occasions In
the series at New York, Boston ana
Philadelphia he has thrown out from
deep short runners who ordinarily
would be credited with hits against
| the Nationals.
Davidson appears to be competent
| fielder. How we'll he can hit re-
mains to be seen.
Griffmen Split Twin Bill.
II washington's pitchers had been
! reversed in the dual tilt that marked
! the Nationals final appearance OF the
| season on a foreign field at Philadel-
| phia yesterday they would have
! grabbed both ends Of the double.
| header and. incidentally, the series
| AS it was, they dropped the wind-ur
| battle, Ga. after taking the opener
30 and split even in the set of four
| contests.
| johnson was Johnson in the hrs'
| game. He yielded only three blows
and but for an error by Ellerbe thu
| two unearned runs registered by tht
Macklets would not have accrued
| cruit, "Gunga' Zinn. who came W
| from Waco, Tex. full Of boiis and am.
| bition. Large Quantities of bandas
| ing around his neck gave mute testi'
mony to the ahliction and that he as
pires to higher things was made evi'
sent in against Walter. He probably
will wait until he fully regains his
| health before making such request
| again.
| Fourteen safe drives, including one
! for the circuit by his distinguished
against the hurler. who had tria
| with the Phillies couple OF years
ago. Every member OF the cast ex'
| cept Agnew got a blow. Menosky be-
! ing the leader with three.
| Mike proved a regular demon on de-
| Tense throughout the sojourn in Phil
! adelphia. He collected a pair OF raps
| in the Wednesday game and got twc
| more in the nightcap yesterday. his
| total of seven hits in eleven times al
bat giving him an average Of .s3e foi
| the three combats.