Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-09-22

to include all that part Of Maryland
within the metropolitan area Of WASH
ington.
A T the end of the proceedings, which
"A were q part of the third annual
metropolitan championships spon-
sored by The Star and which were wit
messed by a gallery that overfiowed the
courts and perched on nearby fence and
the roof of the Baumsn homestead, Mer-
ryman stood forth a refutation of, or at
least an exception to, a durable adage
Of the game. Where horseshoe pitching
has been an established sport for many
years they will tell you at least three
seasons of earnest practice and cham
pionsnip strife is required to produce q
flrst-class performer; they'll talk as
volubly Of form, durability and psy-
chology as viii your authorities on
base ball, golf or tennis; they'll tell
you that a finished horseshoe pitcher
is one of sports pieces of art.
Be that as 1t may, less than year
ago Bladensburgs most popular athlete
Of the moment had never seen regu-
lation pitching iron, had never given
the game a serious thought. But ne
used a large part Of last Spring and
most of his spare time through the
Summer getting we'll acquainted with
the modern equipment, and If he isn't
quite a master of it now it's a cincll
the time is not distant when he will
be. fIerryman has set his heart upon
winning the. metropolitan champion
ship. If not, tbs year. then during the
next.
IF there was any doubt of his superb
i ,ority among the pitchers Of South
ern Maryland 1t was dispell9d last
night when in the final match he van
pushed the defending champion, MIL
lard E. Peake Of Bethesda, and In so
doing administered the most decisive
defeat the old war horse Of the Metro
politan tournament ever received. The
scores were 50 to ~ and IS to IT.
Two years ago the ex-mounted sherin
Ct Montgomery County ruled the Fitch
crs of the entire metropolitan area. He
passed through the successive stages Of
The Star tournament in 1929 without
mesting a reverse. He won the cham
pionships Of Bethesda, Montgomery
County and Metropolitan Washington
in order.
Last year he was dethroned as met
ropolitan champion by Harry Fraser
Saunders, who will defend the grand
title next Saturday In the metropolitan
finals on the New York avenue play
ground courts. Three days ago the
Bethesday was shorn Of the Montgomery
County title by an up and coming
youngster named George Schnable of
Silver Spring. After last nights loss,
all that remains to the once wholesale
gatherer Of metropolitan laurels Is the
comparatively insignificant title Of his
own town.
A TTENTION Is directed to this state
"A OF affairs by way Ct pointing out
the long strides made by the game
generally. For Peake has lost little OF
his skill Of 1929, though 1t must be said
In fairness that he was far from his
best form last night Oth.r pitchers,
ever so many Of them, have caught up
with and passed him.
Most Of these he will encounter in the
grand finale which will bring together
the semi-fnslists CT Maryland, Wash
ington and Virginia, plus Champion
Saunders.
The four to represent Maryland were
determined last night. Merryman and
Peake Will be accompanied into the big
battle by Frank Bauman, whom Peake
barely defeated in the senai-finals, so
to 81 and SO to Al, and Schnable, who
gained the semi-final with q victory
over William M. Sullivan, Charles
County titleholder, and then fell prey
to Merryman, So to IT and So to 40.
Bauman, champion of Mount Rainier
and Prince Georges County runner-up,
in the first round vanquished d. b.
Shoemaker, Charles County runner-up,
SO to and so to 8. Pitching by
electric light was new experiences to
Shoemaker and his game suffered.
THE outstanding surprise Of the
l. night was the showing made by
Sullivan. The Charles County
champion, SO years old, was reckonsd
A set-up for young Schnabie In the