Evening star., 1935-03-26
SPEED GIVES ROCK
CALL0VERSCHULTE
Harris Thinks He'll Make
Great Base Runner-Also
Hitting Ball Hard.
BY JOHN b. KELLER,
staf CORRESPONDENT Of The Star.

IN uOXI, Miss, March 26.-Bucky
* Harris says the battle for the
centerfield position with the
Nationals this year is finished
unless Jake Powell. the Washington
sandlot graduate, collapSeS before the
championship campaign gets under
way. The way he has been going in
training and exhibition tussles, Powell
will get the call over the veteran Fred
Schultz.
Powell first gained the notice Of
Harris by vigorous early workouts,
during which he not only hit the
ball well in practice, but demonstrated
q speed of foot that makes Harris be-
lieve that he may develop into a
master base runner. Not long ago
Harris was heard to say that Powell
was the only real base runner on the
ball club.
He has made good on his early
promise, by hitting exceptionally well
dRdlIlSb AlUd1ly, xAoA4ouo SAeJ eAAA~'
Cleveland, and has dazzled the slim
audiences down this way with his
speed. Singles become doubles when
Powell is running them out, and
doubles go into triples.
Slide Makes Big Hit.
DOwELL'S daring hook sliding has
made a tremendous hit with
Harris. He goes into the bag
fearlessly and eXpertly. He has be-
come apt at the art of kicking the
ball out of the hand of the opposing
fielder, an old trick made famous by
Ty Cobb and modernized by 10 Jo
White, also Of the Tigers. Powell also
Is not averse to head-flrst sliding
but this aptitude is being frowned or
by Clark Griffith.
Griffith shares Harris confidence II
Powell. 1t was Griffith, you remem'
Der, who plucked Powell off a DUSTY
Takoma Park, Md, ball field one Sun
day in 1929 and it has been Griffith
who has guided PowelTs footstep:
around q succession of minor leagues
getting him prined for the big show
whenever Griffith speaks of the 1885
pennant campaign he instinctlvelJ
comments on the power Washington
will have in center field this season
Powell will lead off for the 1873;
Senators, provided he continues II
hold of the veteran Fred Schultz. Hi:
speed and Buddy Myers tendency te
hit into right field may make a SEN
sational hit-and-run team out Of tht
pair. b..
Schultz Making Fight.
CcHuLTE is not standing by and
-, allowing Powell to take over tht
center field berth. The big Dutch
man from Belvidere, Ill, reported tt
camp in the best condition he has
shown since joining the Senators. He
has not been Fastening his training
During the past three days the bis
middle gardener has taken things
easy, thanks to an angry blister or
his throwing hand, induced by game
of golf. Schultz is six years older thar
Powell, being 81 to Powell's 25. Fred
walloped the ball for a .298 average
last year. Powell hit 1856 for Albany
CCSO1IO W AhC oOOAA Al WIG
leagues batting standards.
Harris is as interested in Powells
youth as he is in his nerve and dar-
ing. The Nat pilot apparently feels
that if he is going to finish below the
top this season, with veterans, he
might Just as well do the same thing
with youths-and be preparing them
for the future at the same time.
In comparing Schultz and Powell
Harris diplomatically states: IF Powell
beats out Schultz I'll be very pleased
for it will mean that he is better thar
Fred-which would be more thar
enough to suit me. And that work,
both ways, Of course. I'd just as soor
see Schultz beat out Powell. 1t woule
mean that Schultz is really stepping.