The Washington herald., 1921-09-06
COP nine LOSES
BENEFIT BATTLE
T0HOME DEFENSE
Errors Turn Tide in Duel
Between Kelly and
Hoffman, 3-2.

Big league fielding would have
brought victory to the Metropolitan
Police nine yesterday in It's benefit
game with the Home Defense
League had not the mlnions of the
law chosen to emulate our own
major league Representatives.
E This unfortunate choice resulted
in an epidemic OF infield errors be-
hind the capable pitching of Finney
tkelly. giving the Defense boys just
enough edge to win by a score of
. to ..
Nter repeated assurances that
b the Nationals were out Of the city,
5000 or 1000 fans turned out for
the Labo: Day entertainment at the
American League Park. They were
rewarded by a tight pitchers battle
between .he unfortunate 1r. ke'i.'
and Lanky Bill Hoffman, star Of the
Brentwood nine, who graced the
mound for the victors-
On the face of things. Hoffman
had a slight edge over Kelly allow
ing but six hits as compared to nine
gathered of the copper's delivery.
but perfect fielding behind Kelly
would. in all probability. have re-
warded him with victory. Hoffman
got the benefit of fine support. ths
only bobble being a two-base toss
by Second Sacker Plunkett. which
had no effect on the ultimate score.
Hoffman whitfield eight officers and
hit one of them, which is an un-
usual thing to get away with in
this mans town. Six Defense men
succumbed to Kelly's curves and
fast ball.
Errors Help Defense Score.
Defense did the first scoring with
"a couple of runs in the third. though
Kelly was forced to extend himself
in the second when two errors and
base on balls put him in a dan
gerous hole. He retired the side
BY striking out Hoffman at this
crisis.
In the third two more errors
helped Defense get away to a lead
With one out Leverton singled and
reached second safely on his at
tempted steal when Heiser dropped
the ball after the runner had been
tagged out. Degnan tapped a swing
ing bant toward first and reached
second when Stewart made a wild
heave to Matheny. who covered the
bag. The error allowed I.everton
to cross the pan. Walker singled
Degnan to third. and Lynn's bit TO
Heiser brought him In for the Sec
ond tally.
Not until the fourth did the cop
pers get anything that looked like
a hit Off Hoffman In that frame
only fast fielding prevented Mike
Ready's lads from counting a
needed run. With two out Ma
theny took one in the ribs and
Glasscock doubled over Rhinebold's s
head to the fence. Matheny tried
to make home, but was niI ped by
a fast relay.
Ths first run for the bluecoats
came in the fifth when Givonett1
walked. was sacrificed by Stewart
and counted on Kelly's 5ingle &c
left.
In the eighth Defense hung up the
winning run on Rhinebold's triple
near the right field line and
O'Bryan's dinky single over third
Cops BranzenIy Robbed
4. With O'Donnell on third in thu
eighth as the result of a fielder.
choice. a stolen base and a wilc
pitch, the cops let Center Fielder
Kehl, OF Defense, get away witt
robbery without arresting him
The gardener made a remarkable
one-hand running catch of Heiser':
short fly. retiring the side.
Staging a rally in the ninth the
strong-arm gentlemen fell one rur
short of tieing things up. MathenS
singled and stole and Givonett
bingled him home. Redmond batteC
for Steward and famed. and Kelly
lifted a high one to Plunkett fol
the third out, The score: