The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1921-04-12
GETTING READY
FOR THE GAMES
The Ocala Team VIII Play Chalmers
Military Institute Wednes-
day and Thursday

Yesterday afternoon the ball park
was the scene of another of those
practice games between the high
school and the Ocala team. AS usual,
the high school team was somewhat
out-weighed and lost the game, so far
as the score weat, but both teams
profited much by the practice. Smith,
Thomas and Williams showed the best
form on the high school team. These
three boys are good players and viii
make name for themselves IN the
baseball world.
The Ocala team was not very fully
represented yesterday afternoon. To-
day is the day for regular practice
their war paint, sliding pads and
dirty suits (haven't money enough TO
buy new ones) this afternoon. Be
hind the bat yesterday Hansel was in
excellent form and his peg to second
was like a shot Ty Cobb himself
would have job Switching the second
sack from Hansel when his arm is
like it was yesterday.
Marsh on first showed need of some
practice on stopping grass cutters.
He has the stretch and jump with
him and nothing gets by him but
those grounders have his goat scared
to the tall timber Harley will soon
be able to remedy this fault and viii
make a good first baseman for US.
Joe Brooks played a good game at
second yesterday and will make good
at that position unless shifted else
where to fill some other hole.
Dick Stroud has mastered the elus-
i've bounce of the pill at short and
rarely misses a chance to throw his
man out at first.
Clement played third yesterday to
fill out the infeld as Fred Luffman
was not there. Clement plays pretty
well no matter where you put him.
There seems no doubt in my mind
that Clement will play in practically
every game this season, somewhere
on the team.
Guess what was in left field yester-
day. Sure, you guessed right the first
time. None other than our standby,
Frank Harris Jr. He is the same old
tar bucket and good Judge of a fly
ball, but his feet are slower this year.
Either he is older or fatter, maybe
both. He can work the fat off and
that will make him forget his extra
year and he will play as well as he
did last season. If he does, he is GER
tain to be signed up for he played
good ball last year.
Homer Luffman played center field.
Homer makes a good fielder when he
isn't on the mound. Right field?
Nobody much.
Oh, yes, forget to tell you about
the pitcher. He was a wonder until
the third or fourth inning, when the
high school knocked him out of the
box and Joe Brooks had to take his
place. Who? Jake Goldman, Of
course. 1t was too cool yesterday for
a regular pitcher to risk running his
arm, so Manager Jake hurled them
over for the boys.
At bat Clement made a good show
| ing. That boy has his eye on the
ball. Hansel connects pretty well with
the tendency to hit little under the
bail instead of squarely. Joe Brooks
connects this year. Frank hasn't
found the ball yet but this was his
/ first trial and he will soon have his
/ last years hitting eyes with him.
Homer Luffman always hits. You
remember how he does it. The team
practiced the bunt game yesterday
and it is working fine. With man
on third we will just have to scare,
for they all bunt when they want to.
The runner starts with the ball and
is across the plate before the bunt
gets away fro mthe bat good. 1t looks
good to me.
Chalmers Military Academy from
Jacksonville will be here to play us
tomorrow and Thursday. The boys
from Chalmers have had lots of prac-
tice and ought to put up good game
of ball. OcaIa is ready for them and
hopes to win both games as starter.
We have not yet signed up pitcher
/ for the summer. These games this
week are played for the special pur-
nose of picking a pitcher under fire
in real game. All fans come out and
see the two twirlers work out. Get
a seat where you can see what they
have and then see which is the better
pitcher. Boswell from Inverness viii
pitch one of the games and Dutton
from the New England states VIII
pitch the other. You all know Bos-
well. He has pitched on this diamond