Evening star., 1925-04-04

morning. The young pilot is not Sc
veteran pitchers quick conditioning
paign. He now fears Walter will nc
Is, but in the meanwhile he intend
grueling training routine.
Johnson gave bright performs
III the first five innings of the game
cans, 8 to 0. he allowed but two 81
batterS, but it was quite apparent Il
the utmost every minute he was on
New Orleans does not seem to pos
sess much hitting strength. yet it was
able to make Johnson toll strenuously
to earn the good record he did. An
extra thick layer of fat about the
waist and chest is bothering the
American Leagu pitching king of
1924, and until he gets rid of most
Of it, he will he severely handicapped
in his work.
Harris had Johnson heaving the
ball TO some of the players between
tho pitchers mound sessions yester-
day, and when Walter had completed
his trick of duty on the hill he was
sent jogging around the park couple
OF times. Harris plans to keep the
veteran on his toes in long work
outs here today and tomorrow. too.
Walter Faces Hard Task.
Disposing of his superfuous pound
age is hard task for Johnson.
Where younger athlete would drop
several pounds within a few days,
Walter finds it difficult to get rid of
pound or two a week. He weighs
In at a few pounds less after a work
out than when he took the field. but
reports for drill the next day with
not more than an ounce or two of
weight gone.
However, Johnson does not seem to
have anything to do other than re-
duce his weight to make him the
great pitcher he was last year, but
Nean Gregg, aged southpaw pur-
chased from Seattle of the Pacific
Coast League for a second trial in
the big show after a long absence
from it, must conquer his nerves be-
fore he will be really fit for duty,
Gregg hurled the last four innings
yesterday, and, although he pitched
strongly, his control was faulty and
his delivery too hurried.
Gregg admitted after the contest
that he lacks confidence in his pitch
ing ability at the present time, even
though his arm feels good and he has
the stamina to perform at top speed
for four innings or more. The lanky
portsider was at a loss to account for
his flurried demeanor, but felt certain
that when the big test comes after
the championship season opens, he
will not be found wanting.
Hitting Continues Light.
In disposing of the Pelicans yes
terday the Nationals did no hitting
to boast of. A total of nine bingles
were registered off the collective de-
liver of Shovel Hodge, who once
hurled for the White Sox, and Frank
Broussard, both right handlers. Three
of the wallops were doubles, Walter
johnson, Bucky Harris and Roger
Peckinpaugh contributing them. Gen
orally, though, the World Champions
did not meet the ball solidly. They
still have far to go in hitting way.
A pair of runs were garnered off
Hodge in the inaugural session. Nc
Neely, hit by a pitched ball, scored
when Harris doubled to left. Goslin's
single following Rice's retirement
counted Bucky. Johnson's two-bag-
ger was all the Nationals could get
off Hodge in the next three rounds,
but in the fifth Ruel walked, took
second on a wild pitch, moved to
third when McNeely's grounder was
fumbIed and tailed when Rice SIM
gled after Harris strolled.
Hodge was nicked for two more
markers in the sixth that Judge start
ed by strolling to first base. He
pilfered second and scored when Peck
hit two-bagger to center. RueIs
retirement advanced Peck a notch
and he counted when Adams, batting
for Johnson, poled a one-baser to
left. The last National run was
made off Broussard in the eighth.
Judge singled and Bluege walked.
Ossie tried to take second when Peck
famed, only to be run down in
double play, but Judge got home as
the second out was recorded.
Three Pitchers Work Today.
Jez Zachary, Warren Ogden and
Allen Russell were assigned to the
pitching job for the Nationals today,
when the Gulls were to be encoun-
tered in the first of a series of two
games.
In the second inning yesterday
Johnson made only six pitches to re-
tire Hoffman and Henry, then hurled
two strikes to Carpenter before the
latter grounded to walter on the
ninth ball sent up in the session.
Iapan's hit made off Johnson in
the third inning was a scratchy one
pass Bluege, but Hoffman's in the
fifth was a clean single to center.
Tucked fouIed-tipped the ball after
taking two strikes in the fourth and
Ruel juggled it, but managed to
grasp the sphere firmly just before it
got to the ground.
AItrock went to first base for the
ninth inning, and had he not per-
sisted in sitting down to play the
position, Gregg probably would not
have had a hit recorded against him
in that frame, but when HOFFMAN
tapped the ball down the first base
line with two gone, Nick was un-
able to get to it and it rolled to
single.
Batting for johnson in the sixth
Adams socked the first bal pitched
to him to left for a smart single.
AIOYSIIJS ATHLETES