The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1921-04-21
Team totals 1854 lat 80 .926
ny BRUCR COPELAND.

Islander batting averages for the
training season to date attest to
phenomenal hitting power, especial
" among the outfielders.
The ~ players now on the Is
lander training list, not including
Manager McQuillan, have attained
q batting average Of .27S IN the ~
practice and exhibition games.
II this percentage of base hits is
an indication Of the seasons stick
work, the Islanders can step out
and bat themselves into the league
championship. Bloomington, last
years champions, wound up with a
team batting average OF .267.
Several of the regulars have yet
to hit their natural batting stride,
which should Offset the deprecia-
ton In batting Of those who are
now setting q terrific pace Of 400
and better, as incurred BY the
slumps and other reverses after
the season begins.
II the batting figures for the
training season can be criterion OF
the seasons work. the islanders
should maintain an average of .270.
Cummings Best Hitter.
John MANDY" Brooks leads the
squad in batting, although he has
played In only two games. His
mark for four hits out OF seven
times at bat IL .5S3.
However, the real hitting honors
20 to Jack Cummings, Buckeye
state swatter, who has batted .449
in mine games-13 hits out of 2s
times at bat. Cummings is also
leading the camp in the number Of
base hits. He is also the only play
or to have hit safe in every game
Nick McInerney has hit for .44(
in seven games, Joey Burke has
laruped the horsehide for 1929 II
four contests, while Eddie Francis
has connected for $3.50 in nine
skirmishes. Gus Purpura, the other
outfeld contender, has batted fol
ESQ In five games.
There's your outfleld material
which has been batting at the rate
of .A22. FOthergill and Thompson
Of Bloomington and Lotus OF
Evansville, last years best batting
outfielders, finished the season with
q general average Of 1906.
Wick Tops lntielders.
With the exception Of Hans Wick
who has batted for 1874 in IL
games and is second to Cummings
in the number OF hits with IL Out
Of 81, the infield hitters have been
slow to start
Such dependable batters as Ed,
die Lenahan, Frank Emmer ant
Frank Murphy have yet to recover
their knack Of hitting them where
they ''ain't." Murphy is leading thu
trio with .2lS. Emmer follows will
.213, and Lenahan trails with 1893
There Is nothing to prevent thes'
performers from batting arount
.275 or better Is soon as they re
gain their batting eyes The rea
son for their light hitting so far il
obvious, be II known that Murph.
and Emmer have been Handicapped
BY sore arms, and Lenahan with |
couple Of painful Charlie-horses.
Little Wally Schenck. the Colum
bus recruit. has proved mechanical
" hyperion to Frank Emmer. hi
rival for the third base Job. Wall
has hit for .2e0 in nine games t
Emmer's .213 in 10, and fielded per
fectly to Emmer's $50.
Catcher Who Can Hin
Ray Smith. catcher-in-chief. ha
been busting the apple ut q 50
clip. At this rate he would have n
trouble in leading the league n
I ceivers. ~ Jake DEUEL.. Molin
catcher, Wa the best. grabber las
season with IN average Of .2S5.
sold Reliable" Hubert Dennil
whose grsy matter = always aler
H 10 Aitting for .3S5. This versatil
veteran has hit safely IN I'VE out {
IS ttmes. We're It possible for Da
uisrtn perform egep- daI, - -