Evening star., 1919-03-29
YOUNG NATIONALS
UNDER FIRE TODAY
Meet Regulars in First of
Series in Application
of Acid Test.
HURLERS PRIME FOR GAME
BY DENMAN THOMPSON.

AUGUSTA. March 29.-The first ap-
plication of the acid test-actual per-
formance in sure enough games-wlll
be applied this afternoon when team
made up largely of youngsters who
aspire to jobs with the Nationals
tackle the regulars in the initial con-
test of 1919. Starting Monday the
program will call for two games a
day. and it is on what they show un-
der fire in these intraclub clashes that
the numerous candidates for major
league berths in the capital will stand
or fall.
BY the time the Griffmen reach Chart
lotte, N. c., less than two weeks hence,
for their opening exhibition with the
Phillies, any doubt remaining as to the
relative ability of the assorted dozen
candidates now boarding at the expense
of the Washington ball club Will nave
been disSipated. GOOD !lhe can oe
gotten on a players ability by watching
his actions in practice, but 1t takes a
real game to bring to light hidden Den
ciencieS and unearth latent posslplilties
With favorable weather more than
score of contests will be staged at War
rem Park before Augusta is bid adieu
for another year. and by the time the
date for departure arrives 1t VIII pe
pretty we'll established which are the
.oats and which the sheep.
"You don't have to pick ball players at
d training camp" says Manager Grifnth
"Just start playing your games and you
can find out in d jiffy what every man Is
worth. They will pick Il emse'Ves.
Although there is notn,ns itbse tbsn
chance for the victors to crow over the
vanuuished, the riding tactics adopted
by both squads during the week OF pre-
para ton has established an intense r.
valry which makes 1t certain tne oat'ie
this afternoon will be for blood.
TO prepare for the contest the pitchers
let out a few notches yesterday, curves
and real speed being in evidence for the
first time. Except for those occasions
the Youngsters couldn't resist the temp
tation to slip one over when the boss
wasn't looking. So spirited did the work
become that "Hoss' Milan, after belng
busted off three times. in row py
that might have proved serious by BUST
ing one back at Mike Martins protege
with such force that Adrian took the
count The ball was batted on nne
and came so fast that Lynch was unable
to sidestep 1t struck him amidship and
doubled him up, but he appeared none
the worse for wear at the dinner table.
This morning Nick Altrock and half
dozen of the Juvenile hurlers were ex-
cused from pitching in the batting prac-,
tice to have them strong for the after
noon encounter. 1t is Impossible TO pre-.
dict the outcome with amy degree OF
accuracy, as it is not known Wnlcn
pitchers will work for either side, and
it is likely some of them Will be called
on to do duty for both teams.
With the likelihood that Sam Agnew
will catch for the Colts they are
expected to show maximum or pep.
for the veteran lbackstop is one OF
the liyeliest men in the squad and
keeps the players hustling whenever
he is officiating with the mask. Ag-
new is chock full of ginger. He is
talking things up at all times ana IS
bound TO have his infielders on their
toes. Agnew is a powerfully built Ie1, Eel,
low with a whip of steel. He still
has a front of aldermanic proportions.
but at the clip he is working should
be down to weight within three
weeks He has the reputation OF De-
ing slow man on the bases. but
there is nothing sloth!ike in mis- &C,
tions back of the bat; he hops around
with more speed and energy than the
general run of windpad artists.
Ike Davis is progressing under
the tutelage of Griffith in acquiring
to such q large degree by Eddie Fos-
ter Under the pilots direction Davis
and Shannon are learning to shift
their feet and hit the ball into right
field Horace Milan could employ this
trick to advantage if he acquired pro-
fciency at it. Horace is hefty wal
loper. but is one-field hitter, a great
majority of his drives going to the
left Charity is another GriHman
opposing fielders lay back deep near
| the left field foul line for. He also is
practicing the shift and with such
:! field fence this morning. 1t is likely
Charity will be given more work
| back of the bat this season than has
| fallen to his share in former cam
paigns. The Beloit boy never really
| has been given chance to show just
how good receiver he is. If he gets
the opportunity to work in the game
regularly his work is going to sur
| prise the fans. and he probably will
| hit at such a clip that Griff will be
10th to take him out There Is little
question but that Charity is the best
! batsman in the ranks of catchers in
| the American League.
| Davis and Shanks are perfecting
! team work in their joint supervision
some fancy stuff at the expense of
| the rockies this afternoon.
| Prospects of the deal for Robert
| son going through may be said to
I have improved. To date Washing
{ toms chances for acquiring the
J speedy former Giant have been
! rather remote, but the wire pulling
that Griffith. McGraw and Hickey
| have been doing is taking effect and
it would seem now that there is an
| even chance the Norfolk man may
be added to the Nationals roster.
| 1t has been learned that the Chi
cago club of the National League has
! all but agreed to waive on Robertson.