New-York tribune., 1920-03-28
|Fordhan Nine
'ToOpen Season
Next Thursday
Infield Presents Only Seri-
GUS Problem for Coach;
Strong Pitching Staff

! roruhaW pasepall squad enjoyed
some real workouts last week. Greet
ed with weather that would be consid-
cred ideal in a Southern training camp,
the Bronx collegians have been getting
plenty of batting and fielding practice
and, as a result, Arthur Devlin, the
Fordham coach, has obtained good
line on his material before the opening
of busy season.
Although the players have had no in
door practice and have been outdoors
for scarcely more than a week, they
are rapidly rounding into midseason
form under a program of intensive
training, and practice games are now
being played daily.
Devlin made the first cut in the
squad yesterday afternoon and the sur
vlvors now number six pitchers, three
catchers, eight infielders and six out
felders.
Despite the loss of Frank Frisch, the
brilliant shortstop, and of "Buck"
Sweetland, the star catcher, there is
every reason to forecast that the
present combination will prove even
stronger than the formidable 1919
aggregation which was runner-up to
tne holy Cross nine for the champion
snip OF the Eastern colleges. All the
departments of the team will be con-
slderably stronger this year, with the
possible exception of the intield.
Two Veterans in Infield
1t must be admitted, however, that at
present the infield problem is causing
Devlin no little worry. The combina-
tlon now consists of Mclaughlin at
hrst base, Hoctor, Of Clason Point
Academy, at second base; Captain
Lefevre lie at third, and Start, of Xavier
High School, at short. The veterans.
Lcfevre and Mclaughlin, are plavinr
their positions in admirable fashion.
Start IS making a heroic effort to fill
frIsch's shoes at short and it now
looks as If he will be capable sue
cessor TO the Giant young star. Hoe
tor IS playing we'll enough in the field
but he is woefully weak at the bat.
The outtield will undoubtedly be the
strongest departm of the team. In
Blll Buckley, the star centerfelder.
fordham has one of the best outtield-
ers IN the college world to-day. He is
extraordinarily fast on the bases and
covers wide range of territory in the
field. Moreover, he is a powerful h;tte
ana Devlin has placed him in the clean
up position in the batting order.
Halloran and Keough, both of last
years team, will play the two other
positions in the outtied.
from present indications the pitch
ing staff Will be more formidable than
IN IN many years past. The veterans
FINN and MacNamara, will be able TO-
take their regular turn in the box from
the start of the season. In addition
I;a,s MI;a1ers, s youngster from WATERFOWL
Hlgh School, and Culloton. formerly of
Ulster Academy, will be available for
mound duty.
double Duty for HalIoran
~ IS possible also that Haloran. the
iisho nelder, will be called upon to
slIare the twlrlng burden in case of
emergency. He has had considera Bile
experience as a pitcher and has turned
IN several victories for the Bronx nine
IN tne past. His most notable achieve
m lnehI was a victory over the Baltimore
orloleS, champions of the Interna-
tlonal League. at Baltimore last snr;no
Marnell, of Hoboken High School
and Cousineau, of Watertown High
School, are the leading contenders for
the oackstop position. Both are show
ing up we'll behind the bat. and there ia
little to choose between them.
The Maroon nine will open what will
undoubtedly be the most difficult lob it
has ever undertaken when it meets the
Boston College team at Fordham Field
next Thursday. 1t is likely that Fitz-
patrick, the New Englanders' pitching
ace, who registered two victories over
the local nine last year, will oppose the
Fordham batsmen. Either MacNamara
or Culloton will probably be Devlin's
choice.
The Bronx collegians will make their
annual Southern trip next week. Thev
will meet Villanova, at Vilanova, Pa.
on April 4 Johns Hopkins, at Balti-
more. on April 8, and Georgetown and
Catholic University, at Washington, on
April 9 and 10 respectiyelY