The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1922-03-08
PRACTICE Will
BEGIN March 20
PITCHERS NEEDED
Spring Training Only Is
Days Off; Headquarters
in Scramble Lining up
Men for the Season

only Is days distant, the Ardmore
baseball headquarters is the scene OF
n lively scramble in lining up the
huskies on whim the Ardmore fans
penant hopes rest during the COM
ing TO campaign. Secretary Walter
Thompson and the new Pep chief.
Jim Maloney have spent a hustling
season in signing the men, and a
goodly array of talent is now await
ing the word that will send them
scurrying here and when the spring
= training bugle is sounded on March 20.
Among the catchers who have af-
fixed their signature to an Ardmore
contract and who will be among the
; first arrivals are Ky Lemasters. regu-
lar Of last years catching staff, and
who, since having signed life con.
+ tract with local young lady, has
\ been wintering in the city. Ky is in
the best OF health, and the big catcher
will put up terrific fight for regu.
lar backstppping honors during the
coming campaign. Manager Maloney
Z also looks favorably to the veteran
!, Dick Naylor, whom he says he is
hopeful Of inducing to become a regu
: lar. The acquisition of a catcher
! of experience like Naylor would be a
T real benefit in coaching the young
! pitchers who are TO wear the Pep
uniform. Among the new catching
= arrivals are Il. c. Kitchens, an
Orange, Texas, youngster and
brother Of Frank Kitchens, who last
year was one of the leading Texas
= maskmen. II the younger Kitchens
follows the trend OF his brothers
ability. the club is going TO be really
7 fortified behind the bat Bill vii.
liams. local semi-pro. is also out
j for honors on the squad, and If size
determines 1t, Williams will certainly
= make someone hustle.
Other Pitchers Needed.
Wrecked by sale, the 1922 pitching
I staff must undergo process OF re-
e building 10 place the team in the
I fight. Thompson has signed up or
has rendered contracts to 10 young
twirlers who made admirable records
u in amateur or semi-pro circles last
n year, and it is certain that some will
!. rise equal to class D standard. Among
those who throw from the right side
are A. c. Frisco, who played with
the state champion Ada semi.pros
last season, T. w. Johnson of Dallas
F City League experience, young
prospect named Rawlings from Hutch.
ins. Texas. Harris Bradley Of Milburn,
= William Hampton of Antlers and Bu-
< ford Muncy OF Atoka and Gus Kitch.
h ems OF Crowell, Texas. who were
signed upon the recommendation Of
Ed Kizziar of last seasons club. Frank
Jones. Pep outfielder. has rounded
tt up Jess Gibson. an Oklahoman, Lefty
|, Wilson. the Bloomfield, Mo, giant is
!, the only portsider corralled TO date
OF last years pitching squad. Frank
Ferguson and Tommy Harding have
b been retained but neither have signed.
Ferguson. from his 1T. Worth home.
has sent back his contract unsigned.
stating that he wanted more money.
Manager Maloney, however, states
that because OF the salary limits Fer.
guson's demands cannot be granted.
| From athletic sources II has been
learned that Lefty has agreed 10 man.
age the amateur Weatherford, Texas,
club this season, although March 20,
may see him coming into camp. Bright.
ness looms up In the prospect that
either Lefty Yeager and Nick Carter,
star twirlers who were sold at the
close OF last season TO the Oklahoma
City club may return. both having
been purchased on optional agree
ments and have until May 10 TO make
their decision. The club looks for
Yeager to return, while there is
possibility that Carter and third base.
man Joe Tate. who was purchased
under n similar agreement. win make
the faster company grade
Infield is Stronger.
The infield, which was the clubs
vital weakness during the 1921 pen.
nant fight. stacks up as a far strong.
er prospect than before. To date
Dutch Behren, Bugs Young. e S.
Harris. Lee Ballifant, Claude Nc.
Adams. Jimmy Smith. Emmett Black
burne and Buddy Belshaw. have sign.
ed. The indication is that while first
base and third viii be ably guarded
by Behren and Young, there will be n
lively scramble for the short and key
stone sack position. and in case Tate
returns TO guard third. the scramble
will be made livlier than ever. Buddy
Belshaw. who was a flashy star dur
Ing Coon Barnes management last
season, Is back again and Emmett
Backburne, who is real port side
slugger from all reports, will fight
Tor the shortstop berth. Russell Beard,
second bascman on Ardmores re.
serve list, will either be sold OF re.
leased before the opening Of the sea.
son, according to Maloney Lee Bal.
lifant. who refused one contract. has
experienced u change OF mind and de.
cided TO come into the fold. Lee is
y wonderful fielding shortstop, and
should be a big addition to the team.
H. X. Dodd of Paris has not as yet
been SHARED away from the life OF n
farmer. Jimmie Smith OF Forney.
Texas, who hit "a home runs in East
Texas amateur hall last year and T..
T. Harris and Claude McAdams Of
the Dallas city league are recent d.
ditions. Ed kizziar. lanky guardian
or tho initial sack last year. has pull.
ed holdout act on the club. and
the supposition is that he will play
with Greenville.
Old Outfield Back.
The outfield will be ably guarded
by Frank Jones. Webb and Love-
hce. who galloped over the pasture
hast season. Webb has not yet re-
surned his signed contract. but he Is
expected 70 shortly come to terms
Iovelace. while wonderful fielder
and wild.fire player. is no Babe Ruth
at the plate, and Manager Maloney
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