The Washington times., 1922-06-04
LAD WITH ONE
LEG is EXPERT
BALL PLAYER
Stanley kutohumba Ratsd As
a Leading Catcher In Upper
Luzerns County League.
VIZ ILKEs-BARRE, Pa, June
" S.--Nsver cry over spilled
w milk is the old Iriah saving

W milk 10 the old Irish saying
and there 10 one young mine work
era victim Of that risky under
ground work In the hard coal fields
who today believes In that adage.
Every dark cloud has q silver
lining" he smilingly tells, and
everybody who has watched one
legged Stanley Kutchumba play
baseball declares Stanley 10 right.
Stan" a. he 10 known 20 his pals
10 n junior at the Plains High
School, and Just now 10 rated as
one Of the best eatehers In the
Upper Luzerne County Baseball
since the fame and glory Of Plains
been spread upon the sport pages
Of metropolitan papers. In fact old
timers who know say Ed Duck)
Walsh, q native, was the first to
spread broadcast the fame Of this
little mining town.
Follows Dads Footsteps.
Like every son of a miner Stanley
followed his dads footsteps into the
darkest chambers Of the under
ground workings For months
this little lad labored-patching be-
hind a pair OF balky mules. One
day a trip Of mine cars rolled down
the branch. Stanley heard the
rumble but couldn't sidestep. He
was caught like q rat In trap
and pinned by the train against
the wall Of the main tunnel. First
aid workers rushed to his side: they
picked him up unconscious and
hurried the little form away to the
hospital. Amputation Of his limb
was the only means Of saving his
life. The member was severed. For
days he hovered between life and
death. but that spark Of life soon
kindled the sunshine Of hope. lie
confinement behind hospital walls
was sent to his little home.
IT am big, ] am strong" he cried
to his mother, for he wanted to
play with the other kids in the
Itch. Soon he took on an srti-
ficial limb. No more mines for
him-he was a cripple, and Grip
pies are of little value about the
mine diggings. Stan" was ambi-
tious. He pleaded to 60 to school,
and a sacrificing mother and IA
ther permitted him to begin his
primary course In the little red
school house. He Jared well, pro-
eressed rapidly, and today he 10 a
Junior.
In those four years Eutchumba
has learned to put his cork limb
TO as many good uses as one would
call upon the fesh and bone OF
their own under pins. He has COM
plete control over its functioning.
When Coach O'Malley issued the
call for players for this season
Stanley responded. Plains needed
q catcher. Stanley volunteered.
Coach O'Malley first only laughed,
but then he bargained.
ANY kid with a handicap as you
and try for place certainly de-
serves one" said the coach.
Kutchumba Is the regular back
stop and Plains is a runner-up for
pennant honors.
How He Playa
The Lad crouches behind the bat.
ter In real Stove c'Neill style. He
balances all his weight on his right
foot. He pegs perfectly about the
i"SVbt anu uato oUty lhFtt bAChH
have been stolen on him In all tha
Eames Plains High has played.
When he hats-and Stanley can sock
'em in Bambino fashion-he is
Granted a runner under q special
rule Of the league. When he pounds
the horsehide II travels.
The other day Plains was playing
plymouth; top position was at stake.
" was the fourth inning. wiz the
score close Dessove was on the
mound for Plains. Kutchumba doing
the hackstopping. Dessoye heaved
n low one-Stanley missed It. The
hall hit the catcher in the leg. He
fell. Spectators cried out: His leg
is broken, call a doctor"
Doctor. nothing" chirped the
high school cripple. as he sminnsly
'ooked up from the ground, where
he lay in a crouched position. Go
get a carpenter"
The cork limb cracked IN half. For
few DAYS STANLEY hopped arouui
IN crutches. hut he Ia again sun.
nl'ed with a new left leg end is hack
hackstonpinq and winning hail
aauass for Plains Hish aohool.