The Washington times., 1927-12-31

or q prosperous IuCure.
Scholastic sports, strangled by
of q bright era. The chains have
not dispirited as was the case a
the municipal schools are under
education, the coaches have been
Basketball win open the 1928 cal-I
endar, and the championship series
will be started Friday with two
games at the Arcadia. Eastern and
Central, parties to the memorable
battle which caused the 1926 series
to end in dispute, will clash in
the opener. Business and Western
appear in the afterpiece!
A lively series Is the prospect
as every school apparently will
enter the race with q well.
balanced combination. Central,
declared last years champion
after a threatening riot halted
the series, will find the going
rocky I'm it's plan to retain the
title. Western, Tech, Business,
and Eastern win give stout OPP
position.
The prep schools have blossomed
forth with strong quints, especially
st. Johns. The latter institution
has stepped to the front and has
commanded respect. Dewitt Prep
should have a profitable campaign
as it extended Catholic University
Frosh, who easily thumped Central.
Gonzaga lacks polish, and George
town Props remain in shroud.
The diamond titular pursuit will
disclose schoolboys far advanced in
the national pastime. Tech, de-
Tending champion, will be confronted
by strong mines seeking to lift the
mantle from the Manual Trainers.
"A few of the more prominent
baseball ptenoms in the schools are
Charlie May, OF Business; Bob VIII.
son. of western; Larry Schneider,
OF western: Forrest EnsOr. Tech;
.'Bozie" Berger, Tech; Bill Sim
mons, Central; Lefty" Stevens,
Central; Jimmy Munro. Eastern,
and George Garvin. Gonzaga.
GOnxagat will create q loud
noise in baseball ranks this
spring. Woe to those who cross
the path Of the Eye-Streeters.
Ken SimOndinger will be blessed
by glowing band which will
be led by Captain George
Garvin.
Track is also due for boost.
where it can challenge Tech and
Central, who have monopolized the
championship for many years.
Business and Western may brace,
but assistance must first come from
the school authorities. Facilities
are the crying necessity for both
schools.
Dewitt is the foremost prep school
In track athletics. Gonzaga,
Georgetown Props and st. Johns
frown upon the running sport,
but each may enter the second
annual Eastern Catholic field and
track meet which will be sponsored
by Catholic University.
There should also be an improve
ment in school football next fall.
At least, Gonzaga and Eastern bid
fair to have ranking elevens. Con.
zaga loses, but Brew and Garvin
from the 1927 team. Eastern will
have eleven letter-men on hand
when practice is begun.
Tennis, swimming. rifle, and golf
are the minor sports which are
gaining favor in the high schools.
Amateur sports sees soccer,
tennis, football, and swimming
forging ahead, with baseball
and basketball on the down.
grade. SandlOt baseball is not
the attraction that it was years
ago and several reasons can be
advanced for the decline. The
primary cause is lack Of play.
ing fields. Secondly, interest
has dwindled with the advent
OF the radio, automobile and
movie.
There are leagues, it is true. but
these are no barometers. Inde.
pendent baseball is dying slowly as
there are few teams thriving COM
pared to the numbers in bygone
days.
Basketball's appeal has dimrned.
Al dearth Of courts can be blamed.
but fan interest has waned, too. No
team now attracts the popularity
that once attended the Alovsius
and Yankee quints.
Soccer is no longer hanging on
by a thread. The playground de.
partment has nursed the sport unit,
today 1t Is healthy. Thousands in.
dulge in this beneficial game and
leagues are growing yearly. The
Fairgrounds found it necessary to
stage sixth grade championship
this year, an indication that soccer
has taken rapid strides.
Swimming discovers q legion
Of devOtees. both for recreation
and competition. The opening
Of private and commercial pools
allowed the cOnductiOn of meets
which unveiled many tOp.nOtch
natatOrs Of this city.
Tennis. which drains ones energy.
mas an army OF followers. A
younger generation is fast displac.
ing the veterans. from the top posi-.
tons. The city has missed q truly
first-rater since the days of Connie
Doyle. but one may be hidden in the
Juvenile crop.
Sandlot football has tenaciously
ciung to it's place, although it has
wobbled at times. The progress Of
the Northerns and wintons has
HoeA boon - v ends the dual