Evening star., 1933-08-25
NEVER WON TWICE
BY SAME PITCHER
Four Who Have Held Title
Will Seek Unique Honor
in Coming Tourney.

ORSESHOE flippers would
have you believe the most
elusive sports title in this
part of the land is the
ringer-throwing championship OF
washington.
IT'S a fact that no pitcher, in
the four years history of The
stars metropolitan champion
ships, has been able to win this
title more than once.
The championships of Virginia and
Maryland and the Greater Washington
titles have been held by the same in
dividuals for two seasons. Joe Merry
man for two years has ruled IN Mary
land and Clayton Henson has worn the
Virginia crown twice. Harry Saunders
for two years running was the metro
politan champ.
"A THOUGH two Of the outstanding
~ twirlers in the metropolitan area
are entered in the District sec
ton of The Stars big tournament this
year-Hubbard Quantrille, defending
champ. and the illustrious Saunders
it is far from a safe wager that either
will win and break the old order
Saunders was the Washington title
winner two seasons back.
Two others will strive for the
unique distinction Of twice wear
ing the District crown. Charles
A. Fort, first to win the official
horseshoe championship Of the
CAPITAL CITY in The Stars tour
nament of 1929, is back for an
other crack at it. along with the
youngster who was displaced
from the throne last year by
Quantrille-smiling Johnny Gour-
venec.
But word has reached tournament
headquarters of several pitchers, yet to
appear in official competition, with
ringer percentages high enough to an
nov Fort. Saunders. Gourvenec, GUAM
trille and all the other stars Of pre-
vious years.
TUsT how capable are the newcomers
may be learned when the boys
- shoot a qualifying round OF 100
shoes, starting September l. Only 10
will be permitted to carry on into the
championship eliminations and the
battle for places promises to be tight
enough to put pressure on even the
experts mentioned.
The pitchers OF Virginia and
Maryland are ready no10 for their
qualifying test. Merit Monday
night the VirginiGns UiH toss on
the courts OF George c. Thomp-
SON at Falls Church and the Old
Liners ,cill fire auay on the topn
courts OF Brentwood, under the
supervision OF Councilman w. H.
Mahafey.
A careful check will be kept on even
the "dubbiest" of fingers in the qualify
ing tests. 1t is expected that not q
few of these will enter simply to learn
how their games stack up against ex-
perts. They are more than welcome.
TN Virginia the title will be toss-up
among several fingers of Arlington
- and Fairfax Counties unless new
talent is brought into play by other
counties The present Old Dominion
champion, Clayton Henson, who also
holds the Metropolitan title, competed
for only by the leading performers OF
Maryland Virginia and Washington, WILL
defend only the big crown
Thus, the Virginia scrap will be
chiefly among Charles Chic Darr
of Ballston, who won the title in
1881, and Ed Henry and George
Thompson of Falls Church, who
have been strong contenders for
four years. Thompson will be
under . severe handicap due 70
having changed his style Of
pitching in recent months.
Long Joe Merryman, the MARYLAND
champ. for the first time since Mlllard
Peake gave up serious competition three
years ago has a really formidable rival
He will do well to hold off Levy Flesh
man of Decatur Heights, who won the
annual Mclean, Va, invitation tourna-
ment recently Fleshman. by changing
his delivery, worked miracle with his
ringer percentage He Is throwing al
most twice as many as year ago when
he finished second to Merryman IN the
Maryland tournament.
At Mclean, F1eshman proved not
only q flipper of mechanical skill but
one who could "do his stuff" under nre.