The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1920-07-08
TRI-COCNTY ALL-STAR TEAM.
Bamberg Gets ), Blackville 2, Allen
dale, Williston and Denmark 1.

One of the editors of The Herald
having asked the writer to furnish a
little base ball dope" he can think
of nothing better than the selection
of, an all-star team of Tri-County
leaguers. However, the writer does
not consider this in each instance a
very easy task and is not unmindful
of the fact that his judgment will be
severely criticised many times by
Herald readers. Nevertheless, he has
seen each club in the circuit play at
least two games and will state his
choice for each position as best he
can, giving his reasons therefor;
angels can do no better.
First comes the pitching selection
and this requires considerable thought
because there are at least five mighty
good pitchers in the league. But as
the teams only play twice week and
each team carries only one top notch
hurler it would seem necessary to
pick only one for the all-star team.
In the beginning the writer must ad-
NIT that in the great l to 0 gape at
Allendale last month Weeks, pitching
for Bamberg, had more stuff on the
ball than any pitcher he has ever
watched work anywhere. But Weeks,
a great tWirler when he is right, has
always had the misfortune to stay
out Of condition about half of the
time, and that fact alone bars him
from the honor of pitching for the all
stars. Schultz, WHO pitched the same
game for Allendale, while possessing
a world of stuff, like Weeks, has been
of very little value to his club since,
and as pitcher must be named who
can be generally depended upon to
deliver the goods, Schultz is also
eliminated. Babe" Adams, of Barn
well, must get honorable mention, for
"Babe'' is a world beater at times, but
at other times and not infrequently,
"Babe" couldn't find the plate with a
Metropolitan tower searchlight.
Everyone knows that control is chief
essential to successful mound duty.
Watkins, of Blackville, is pretty
good pitcher, but he has $4,000
arm and $40 head and is easily rat
tied. Norris, of the same team, is a
frst-class pitcher, but he's a better
batter and all round ball player than
he is pitcher, and will be placed in
another position. This narroWs the
candidates to two men. Kits, of Will
1iston, and Smith, of Bamberg, both
steady, reliable and splendid pitchers.
But in each of the three games the
writer has seen Kits work, he has
failed to come through at the close
in anything like as good style as he
started; invariably he has weakened
at the finish. AS this, his sole weak
ness, inability to stay the full route, is
fatal to any finger, the call goes to
Ellis Smith, of Bamberg. This boy
has everything, speed to burn, bewild-
ering curves and breaks, well-nigh
perfect control, headwork, experience
and stability, and harder worker
donned a uniform; always in fine con-
dition, he starred in the four games
the writer saw him pitch and for all
round value to a club is probably the
peer of any pitcher in' 'lower South
Carolina. In his first four games he
walked two men, hit none, allowed the
sum of three runs against him and
gave up a total of 13 hits, truly an
} enviable record.
AS catcher for the Bamberg team
the writer would prefer ''Bub' Coon
er over all the balance of them be-
cause he would mean more to his
home team than either one of the
others who might be signed. But in
choosing a catcher for the all-stars
other considerations must be met and
; so stBub' will have to be passed up.
The only other two men worthy of
consideration are Hale, Of Barnwell,
and Stewart, of Denmark. Between
the two there is very little balance in
either's favor. Both are experienced,
have excellent arms and are good bat
ters. Stewart is probably little bet
ter base runner and has one big ad-
vantage in that he hits consistently
from either side of the plate. His one
fault is that he is slightly inclined
to beef at his players, but with the
material he has this is excusable, and
he also has a bad habit of returning
j the ball to his pitcher with more
speed than it was delivered, which is
altogether unnecessary and at times
even silly. However, for the reasons
above given Stewart is awarded the