The Washington times., 1933-09-04
HECHT DRILLS
FOR PLAY-OFF
SERIES

Hecht nine, second series win.
ners in the Department Store
League, are engaging in brisk
workouts in preparation for the
play-off series with Landburghs,
first-half victors, beginning Sun
day. September 10. Three games
will be staged on successive Sun
days, and the first team to garner
two victories will be crowned
league champion. Place and time
of the contests will be announced
later in the week.
The Hechtmen, after finishing
second in the first-half race, came
back strongly to sweep aside all
opposition in the record series,
winning eight Of nine games.
Their spirited teamwork and abil.
ity developed a powerful club,
which should reach it's peak in
the coming series.
In the outfield of the F. Street
aggregation will be found Frank
Sheaffer, Ben Cohen and Fred
Berry. Sheaffer, who patrols the
left garden, is one of the best fly
chasers in the league. Cohen oc-
cupies the lead-off position in the
batting order and plays center.
He is a marvel at getting on the
bags, and, once there, his fleet
ness of foot makes him dangerous
on the paths. Berry, who two
years ago was a sensation in the
box, has been placed in right
field, due to his hitting ability.
Fred's arm has troubled him all
season and he has been of little
help in a hurting way. Morris
Moss and Jack Toomey are reserve
outfielders, both capable.
InfieId Sparkles
The infield is probably the best
in the league, with Joe Lipkin at
third, Roy Kidwell at short, Paul
Brand guarding the keystone sack
and Mike" Glass covering first.
Lipkin, a former Rialto Club star,
is a nifty fielder and has a great
arm. Kidwell is the spark plug
of the inner works and the teams
best hitter. Brand is steady and
reliable. He was member of the
Princeton nine last season, and
his experience has proven of great
benefit. Mike" Gass, first sacker,
is one of the big reasons for the
Hecht success. Gass played short
last year, but Manager Messink
was dissatisfied with his throw
ing and this season moved him to
the initial bag as an experiment.
The result has been remarkable.
Gass has batted over 400 all year
and gained for himself the clean
up notch in the batting order. His
fielding has been all that could
be asked for, while his arm is
strong again, so much so that he
can whip the ball with very little
effort. Bob Wright and Alec
Ershan are utility infielders, the
former good hitter while Ershan
can field with the best of them.
Back of the plate we find Bar
ney" Weeks, possessing rifle like
throwing arm, in addition to being
brainy receiver. His big bat
has also been helpful. Dave Pen
ney and Sam Gordon fill the back
stopping role acceptably when
Weeks does not work.
One-Man Staff
The pitching staff of the team,
counted upon heavy at the be-
ginning of the season, has dwin-
died to one man, Paul Messink,
who also has the duties of man.
ager to cope with. Messing, a
tWirler of the front rank a few
seasons ago. had figured on
Walter Hurley, Berry and Bob
McCracken for his pitching this
year. Hurley was lost, however,
and McCracken became i'll.
Berry's arm went back on him.
and Tom Doerer, jr., couldn't
win, although he seemed to pos
sess much stuff.
Berry and Doerer did most of
the hurting in the first series, but
the best the Hecht boys could do
was attain the runner-up spot,
splitting even in eight games,
and Messink won two of these.
Paul opened the second series and
handed Lansburghs their first de-
feat. Since then he has pitched
every game and his record reads
nine victories and two losses.
His comeback has meant the diff
ference between success and fail
ure for his club.
Not to be caught mapping, how
ever, Messink has groomed Kid
well for pinch;hitting PURPOSES.