The Washington times., 1934-03-26
ROOKIE HOLDS
BILOXI NINE
To 2 HITS
BY GARRETT WATERS
Times Staff Correspondent

Times Staff Correspondent
BILOXI, Miss, March 20.-
Mark Filley is his name-the kid
from Albany, who before that was
the star pitcher for the Williams
College nine, Of Williamstowns
Massachusetts,.
It's true, little has been said
of the youngSter since the GrittS'
commenced training gestures here,
but today bit must be discussed
because the lad uncorked such
an impressive showing in q five
inning pitching test against the
Biloxi State champions yesterday.
The item which drew the most
attention was not the fact that he
held the Biloxi youngsters to two
hits and no runs in five frames.
but ..Ae easy manner in which he
conducted himself on the mound.
such as his speed, his change Of
pace, and most notable Of al-hiS
"action" and the GOODNESS persona
fled he displayed with every
pitch.
Cronin Pleased
Manager Joe Cronin, after the
game, admitted he was greatly
pleased with the kids showing. He
said:
"He showed us plenty that
we haven't noticed before, even
though he pitched against .
team that lacked the caliber
of others we will play before
the training trip is over. His
action was splendid, but we
can't let ourselves 60 too wild
over him because we still must
find out whether he can pitch
as well against foes Of stronger
makeup. Sure, we'll find out
as I'm going to give him other
chances in the several exhibi-
tiOn contests ahead"
Actually Filley pitched "ones
two-three" ball on the whole. He
was not wild: his "fast one" came
in with enough zip to keep the
batters bothered, while he had
enough on his curves on two
particular occasions to get his
man by the strike-out route
which, had it happened any other
way, run or two might have
been scored.
Ball Not Fast Enough
Taking his entire showing into
consideration, Filley has one un"
certainty that President Clark
Griffith, Manager Joe Cronin
and the teams coaching trust
are mindful of at this writing.
It is the fact that they're afraid
the youngsters fast ball isn't
good enough to warrant his big
chance as big Lacquer.
This probably will keep him
from catching on with the Griff.
men this year, although Griff,
Cronin and the rest plan to work
with the lad at every turn to
help him develop q faster bali
before camp is broken for the
trek north.
If it is developed, the lad will
probably be kept as a definite
member of the Griffs' pitching
staff, but if it isn't developed sui"
ficiently, back to Albany he'll go
where he'll spend the 1884 CAM
paign until next spring when most
certainly another spring training
trial will be afforded him.
Not Quite Enough
That game, incidentally, was
far from being the sort which gets
big league ball players the edge
| they're supposed to acquire in the
spring.
It was quite interesting for the
first five innings, however, chiefly
because of Filley's featured work,
and because the score was close.
But after the fifth, the Biloxi
youngsters winners of the State
Championship last year - coll
lapsed completely-So much in
fact, that the contest was turned
into a dull and uninteresting rout.
AL Schacht, comedian-coach,
saved the Afternoon from being a
total loss by clowning on the
mound for the opposition during
the last two innings. Nick Altrock
also helped by playing first base
for the Griffs. The final score
of the game was Washington IT,
Biloxi 0.