Evening star., 1923-04-14

tomorrow may not be possible. Not
Lack of competition, of course, is
unfortunate. for the Nationals need
all they can get right now to round
them into form for the impending
league championship season; but
more unfortunate is the elimination
of the morning drills. There remains
much to be done If team play is to
Tampa camp the regular intield COM
hination was unable to get much
drilling and the outtielders. too. can
stand more in the way of practice
tending to improve its members In
the art of reinforcing plays.
Rice m Improved Player.
There is one outtielder, though, who
has benefited greatly by the school
ing received this spring. He is Sam
Rice, who in past years has not
been of the highest order in the
handling of hopping grounders and
in backing other. tielders making
plays. Sam was given special atten-
tfon by the manager and coaches at
the Tampa camp and proved an apt
student.
The beneficial results of the train
ing were apparent during the road
games played this week. At Savan-
nah and Charleston Rice made sew
eral clever plays on clouts that i'm
properly handled would have gotten
by for extra bases. At Norfolk
thursday he contributed the nelQlng
feature OF the fray, when he sprint
ed well toward the intield and grab
bed Conlon's single on the first
bound. Had Rice not judged the play
SO well the hit probably would have
been good for three bases and, ulti-
lnately, the game, for it occurred at
critical time.
Rice evidently is going to bat at
n better rate this season than he
did last, when his clubbing was alto
hey
first time in four years that he failed
to get into the coveted 300 class.
So far this spring he has been pun
ishing pitchers of all kinds.
In Florida he had one batting
streak that brought an average
pressing 500 and. all told, he slam
med opposing moundsmen for well
above 800. Rice was hitting some
really good pitching. too. He has
not lost any of his speed and is
likely to test the best arms in Ban
Johnsons circuit when sprinting to
1irst.
Club Strong in Catchers.
The squad corralled by Clark Crit
fifth and his associates to represent
this city in the American League may
he lacking in several essentials. but
in one department it is likely to
prove unusually sturdy. That is be-
hind the bat. In Pat Charity, vet
eran of several campaigns; Muddy
Ruel, obtained in II trade from the
Red SoX: Pete Lapan. former Little
Rock receiver who joined the club
toward the close of last season, and
Reds Hargrave in 1922 with the
champion New Haven club OF the
Eastern League, the Nationals have a
catching staff comparing favorably
with most of those To be found in the
major circuits.
OF this quartet, Ruct seems destined
TO become the first-string performer
during the cha mpionship campaign
charity was troubled by u lame arm
that affected both his throwing and
batting last season and at times this
spring the soreness has returned.
Gently, but regardless of whether
Pats wing is Q. X. or otherwise,
Ruel apparently is slated to do the
bulk of the catching.
RueI Classy Receiver.
of catchers who run to length and
hulk. He is not 50 tall and is slen-
derly built, but goes about his task
behind tho bat with all the form
and ability required of a receiver.
He can throw well. is speedy and apt
ut retrieving bunts and is conside red
u most capable handler Of pitchers.
He WAS not such strong batter last
season with the Red Sox but in the
fairly well with the fail and has i'm
proved steadily.
Charity, though. is likely to get
INTO action frequently, and the re-
serve catchers, Lapan and Hargraye,
Will be called upon at times. IIapan,
bv the way, is q formidable batter
and should prove valuable in pinches.