The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-04-24
PITCHERS GIVEN MISERY INV SLUGFEST AFFAIR,
 WHICH NIEHOFF WINS
Bruins SouthpaW Dunn's Men
 To Defeat In Opening Game Of Series.

It was a game they couldn't Bear. Baron pastimers and fans alike suf- fcred at the expense of the Bruins Monday afternoon, in the first ap- pearance of Bert Niehoff's Dixie champions here this year. The Ba rons were walloped, to {, and the only kick fandom can have to reg ister on the affair is that Mobile held out and didn't score all the runs sho should have had.
 'Riokwood park. tho Jinxland of the pitchers" that's probably what they will begin calling the old lot after another week or so. It seems impossible for hurler to get by at the Wood without 8 besmirched roc ord. smeared with runs and tattered by base hit after base hit that scream their suriy defiance as they tear through and through nice'
 Tout hurlers were used at Rick wood Monday, and all suffered more or IeSe from a base-hit lombard ment that resembled the famous falf1p9 star episode of years ago. If Mendays game is to be compared must bs admitted that Bert Niehoffs men drew down a shower of meteors and dGtnotellations. while Dunn's men did succeed in collecting few ounces of star dust.
 .v..e. ,nn pHis.:S O
 Two southpaw huriers performed on the mound for the Bears, and 1t is oafe to say that they had the BaSune performing most of the time. Bert Niohoff would strike up a mer- ry tuns out on second-something like this Put 1t across that plate, you fork-handed apple tosser. Put if aAross and watch 'em bite"-and immediately tho Barons would start dancins. They didn't bite so much; at least. when they bit they secured a hunk of the horsehide. but swaI- lowing 1t was a different matter: Usually, the drives walloped off Tommy Long and Lefty Sigman. Mo- bile's couple of forkhanders. landed in somebody's glove. and when they did manage to get by the Bears. the Barons usually found way to hit into a double play. get caught off base. or something equally as costly where run scoring Is concerned.
 Tom Daniels started for the Barons. but Tom wouldn't do at all: He Is a generous young thing. and during the two frames he occupied the mound he very nicely allowed the Bears to collect seven wallops and six runs. Red Bates was sent in to help Daniels along a bit--in fact. to take over the entire task of chunkfng, himself but it was a Red-ridden delivery he dealt out. Bates would sail 'em up to plate nicely painted red. and the Bruins would ride 'em right back at him. Nine blows were collected off Bates, bringing Mobiles total to 16 clouts for the afternoon. That in- cluded four walfops for extra bases. Not Long Enough.
 Tommy Long. prodigal son TO- turning to the Southern league fold. was first gently insistent that the z1, ha al ta Af the afternoons spells. when he walked three in one inning. In the next, the third. he became almost vto- lent in his efforts to please, and all lowed three consecutive hits. That spelled Enough" in Bert Niehoffs in to try his luck. As usual. Lefty had on a nice new glove and prayer that would put an old time revival minister to shame. and Dunn men just about called 1t an evening when he ascended the hill. It was those Barons clout those apples into cider. only to have some Bruin fielder -the-spot to catch all the juice in tin pan, or baseball glove. m-where-they-aint.H 2 rather nifty slogan. reads something like this to the Barons: 'Hit-'em- where-they-aint-roo -to-get-b
 Bert . Regular Star.
 Bert Niehoff was undoubtedly the star of the afternoon The husky Bruin pilot not only walloped out two clean blows himself, but fielded like a fiend. From first to second bases. the inevitable Niehoff was al- ways there to catch anything that looked like a baseball. Bert had eight put-outs and seven assists, a total of Is chances. and he failed to commit a pebble. He's a demon pas timer. is Bert Niehoff. and the Bears ought to win championships with Q man of his calibre in the infield.
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 Daniels In Trouble.
 Niehoffs men waited only until the second inning to start on Tom Dan iels. R. Williams walked, Mulvey singled to left, NiehCff flied out to center field. and Heving hit a triple through Trefry's legs in right. Will