The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1919-04-14
|IlHNTA|NE[RS ARE
LACKING IN Pep
But Saturdays Game Shows
Ehey Are Full of Base
ball Promise. gss4

hcCR0ANToWN. April IA. West
Virginia lost her opening game here
cm Saturday to the Wheeling semi-pro
club BY the score OF 4 to 2 but there
was nothing In the result OF the con.
test that Indicates the Mountaineers
to be weak. The team ht we'll enough
and Yielded well enough and every.
thing that seems to be necessary ia for
Coach Shelton to have the opportunity
10 straighten out few flaws In the
keam-piay of the organization. Once
Or twice there were poor exhibitions
OF baSefunntng. Twice short files fell
I for hits because there was not proper
ro-ordina.ion between the infielders
. ana outfielders. Once an outflelder
apparently forgot that theer was a
rune ron first and after catching a
ly he lobbed the ball In allowing the
runrer to advance. And, on still an
ether occasion there was a mixup in
the 1nfield on a slow hit ball that
should have been easily fielded but
which went for single. Everyone
Of these hobbies contributed directly
to the scoring of the visitors and they
were smart enough and wide-awake
enough to take advantage Of them.
The one general criticism of the play
Of the team was that 1t lacked in
Apep. OF course, since the opponents
were not q college organization, this
lack Of ginger might be accounted for
"a that way, and at all events the rem
edy for this situation Is easily avail
able. and no doubt 1t will be remedfed
before the next regular encounter.
AS above stated, the team hit we'll.
Martins two-base blow in the seventh,
however, was the only hit that came
when hits meant runs. In the first,
fourth. seventh and eighth West Viz
Kinia could have scored had hit been
forthcoming at the proper time, and,
as rule, 1t was hitters Of known abii-
sify who failed in these pinches.
SO, instead Of laying Saturdays de.
feat to the weakness OF the Noun
taineers, 1t must be attributed to the
strength Of. the visiting team. This,
indeed, is the answer. Wheeling
brought here q team, which was ad-
niittedly not in as good condition to
inlay as West Virginia but it was made
up Of experienced ball players who
took advantage of the lapses Of the
M0nntaineers, less experienced men,
and won largely through fine pitching
ana timely hitting. King, the visiting
hhrier, pitched a heady game and had
mneh more "stuff" than West Viz
ginia's players had been looking at in
practice this year. His curves broke
sharply and he had plenty of speed.
At only one stage, that In the seventh,
did the Mountaineers hit him consist
entity. Here Hafrick and Turkovich
both singled and then Martin came
through with slashing double that
scored both men. 1t looked as il King
was due for a lacing but he frightened
snp and disposed of both Latterner and
Dawson. good hitters, without much
trouble. Turkovich, Pride and Martin,
tNnfo only new men in the lineup Of the
West Virginia team played well. They
: each got a bingle in four tries and
nelded perfectly. The field was IN
POOR condition due to Fridays rains
and Il was to be wondered at that more
+ boots did not occur. The outfield
lcokedw ell on the defense. taking care
Of five dtfticult chances in good
shape.
Ohio University come here next Fri
!, day and Saturday for the opening
: kames Of the long schedule Of "a col
sleKe games and the visitors are reput.
ed to be strong this year. So far as
knoWn Shelton contemplates no chang.
Is IN his lineup, and, indeed, there is
no: apparent need of 1t. A good shot OF
3s.ginger" Is the panacea for the trou-
bles that manifested themselves in the