Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1925-03-14


generally are in good shape, there is
the crop of sore shoulders and stiff
fened legs usual after the first few
engagements on the varied fields to
be found in the bushes.
Ossie Bluege probably is the only
member of the bunch on tour that
now feels no i'll effects from the
strenuous exercise, but Ossie was in
prime form before the games began.
There are none of the others, though,
in a condition that may be termed
serious. Several of the men are com
planning of sore shoulders, but it is
a. soreness that ought TO be eradi
Gated quickly by regular work rath-
err than soreness due 10 wrong use
OF muscles and that requires special
treatment to remedy.
Most of the players are likely to
BE rid of arm and leg troubles with
Pm another week. With five games
on the program next week, about
a every man on the roster will be
called into action and all should get
enough work to make them forget
they ever had an aching wing or
wobbly underpinning.
Splendid Morale n Factor.
One factor that has been helping
the club greatly in its training has
been its splendid morale. The players
all seem anxious to hustle from the
moment they get on the field until or
dered to the showers by Manager Har
ris. Each man on the transforming
trip that ended last night displayed a
fine spirit all the time. There was no
grumbling about the condition of
playing tields-and a couple of them
owere none too good-nor any COM
plants about club dressing quarters
that in several places were not even
fit to accommodate a sandlot nine.
Base ball was the big idea with all
the players on the trip. They dis
cussed various phases of preceding
games and considered how certain
plays could be improved. None was
reluctant to listen to advice, and each
man was eager to help the other. The
games were helpful, especially to the
recruits in the squad.S For several it
was the first opportunity to observe
big league tactics, and they profited
to a great extent.
The splendid spirit of the club has
impressed greatly Clarence Rowland.
American League arbiter, doing his
Spring training as umpire attached to
the Washington clubs exhibition Sc
ries. In discussing the attitude of
the Nationals toward their prepara-
tory grind. the umpire and former
manager of the White Sox said it
was the best he ever had noticed in a
championship club.
Il have been with several world
champions just prior to the season
following their success in the annual
classic" Rowland said, "and generally
they felt their Importance too much to
pay any great attention to the business
of readying for another league cam
paign. But nothing like that is to be
noticed in the Washington club 1t
seems to consider its training this
as
club that had it's way to make. Under
the circumstances, its attitude toward
the preliminary work to me is re-
markable."
Spirit Due to Manager.
Undoubtedly much of this spirit in
the club is due to its manager. Har-
rls, a hard worker himself, and given
to regarding seriously anything that
may possibly benefit his organization,
has done much to make his charges
view everything the way he does. He
proved himself a great base ball
leader last year, when he piloted his
men to an American League pennant
and a world title, and he is demon
strating in this training campaign
that as manager in 1924 he was no
flash in the pan.
Even though playing minor leaguers
yesterday, the Nationals had to bat
tie All the way TO get the occasion.
After stepping on the gas in the first
inning for pair of runs, the world
champions Were held at bay until
after Milwaukee knotted the count,
But the big leaguers We're not to be
denied, and staged a ninth-inning
rally that brought home the bacon.
The two runs in the first frame
We're recorded at the expense of
Pitcher Sanders of the Brewers who
n of no 70
A pass to McNeely was followed by
his theft of second, Harris sacrifice,
Rices single and steal, and Judges
two-bagger. Then the Griffs' bats
lost their punch, particularly after
Sanders was relieved by Bell.
Martfna's Start Auspicious.
Joe Martina, in his first start of the
year on the hill, held the Brewers to
four safeties and no scores in three
innings, then Benson Brillheart al
lowed two bingleS in a trio of score
less innings. But Harry Kelley had
"A run counted against him in the sew
enth, and yielded brace of blows in
the eighth that Melted the Brewers
the tying tally. But McCracken. third
Milwaukee pitcher, was pounded in
the ninth.
Judge grounded to Brief at first, but
as McNalIy singled to the same field.
Mellilo fumbled Tate's grounder, then
Kelley singled McNally home. Nc
Nicely, though, ended the Nationals
last batting turn by popping into
double play.
Reception Attracts Bosses.
President Griffith and Manager Har
ris are to go to st. Petersburg to-
morrow to attend the reception Al
Lang, former Pittsburgh newspaper
man, holds annually for the club
magnates and base ball writers of
league outfits training in Florida.
lance Richbourg and Wild Matthews
were kept busy greeting old pals be-
ford. Many of the men who played
with Matthews at Milwaukee still are
on that club, while Lance worked with
practically all of the present Ma
tionals when he broke in" in the big
show last season.
Harris made a neat play in the first
inning at Sanford, when he went far
to his right to scoop up Richbourg's
grounder and throw out the latter.
In the fourth inning Adams and Nc
Nally engineered a nifty double play.
The second sacker, who had substi-
tuted for Harris, had to go well back
10 his left for Skiff's roller, but after
4 dashy recovery made a fine throw