Evening star., 1935-08-02
Harris Planning to Use Him
as No. | Relief HurIer in
Next Campaign.
BY FRANCIS E. STAN.

old speedball hurler to come through.
But if he is to do this, Coppola must
furnish definite evidence of his ability
In the next few days.
Otherwise, when the Griffs wind up
their current home stay against the
Yanks and Athletics and depart for
another Western swing, Coppola will
be left behind.
Once Sent Slab Hopes Soaring.
THE cause for rejoicing in the Wash
ington ball clubs fold today was
twofold. First, there Is Earl White
hills comeback" after a string Of
failures. Secondly, there is the pres
ence in town of the Yanks. Lest we
forget, the Rupert Rifles are the
gents who treated the Griffs so nicely
in Gotham last week by losing three
of four games.
To combat the Yanks, incidentally,
Harris has available the three hurlers
who beat 'em last time out, namely.
Bump Hadley, Whitley Hayes and Buck
NewSom.
But not even this silver lining could
quite offset the cloud which hovered
over the dome of Coppola today. A
victim of a sore arm for nearly two
months, the youngSter definitely is
feared washed up" for 1885.
Nearly two months ago, it may be
recalled, Harris unveiled the kid, who
at once sent hopes for the Nationals
pitching soaring. The squatty Italian
debutted as a starting hurler on June
- Dad C0xy ,xysSI, Gyn |
scattered hits.
To Bucky, especially, it was encour-
aging for it vindicated the Washing
ton pilot, who tabled Coppola as a
conner last March in Biloxi.
Hurls Is Innings Since June 6.
RUT Bucky'S hopes, such as they were
at the time, were short lived. The
young italian promptly pulled up with
a sore arm that has refused to i'm
prove in spite of a tonsilectomy and
an extensive baking cure.
At first the ailment was regarded
as the probable affects of a cold, but
this soon was dispelled. Signs of a
strain then were looked for, but there
were no such indications. Then it
was discovered that Coppola's tonsils
were bad. They promptly were
yanked, but no improvement was
shown. Now it is feared that poison
in his system is keeping the kids arm
sore and that only long rest will
provide the cure.
Thus will close another chapter in
the story of Bucky Harris disappoint-
ments of 1885 if Coppola Is not able
to cut loose by early next week, when
the Griffs leave.
There can be no reason to carry
him further" reasons Harris, be
cause since he first pulled up with
this trouble Coppola has been of lit
tie use. He's worked only IS innings
since June 6 and has yet to show
that fast ball that stamped him as
such a good prospect"
Figures in 1886 Plans.
RUT If Harris appears pessimistic re-
garding Coppola's future for 1885,
there is no such sign as he contem-
plates next season, which apparently
Is uppermost in the minds of the
Washington bosses these days.
IF everything goes well," asserts
. Bucky, that kid will WOW EN- next
year. I haven't given up on him.
AS a matter of fact, I'm already
counting on Coppola to be our No.
relief pitcher next year. If his arm
Is okay-and there's no reason why
1t shouldn't be-Henry should make
bne of the best rescue pitchers in base
ball. He simply is too fast to be hit"
In the meantime the Nationals
must worry along with next years
No. / relief pitcher" and this prom
ises to present its problems inasmuch
as Jack Russell and Leon Petit, the
current f1re-hat hurlers, have been
nothing but reliefs to the oppositions.
I One shudders to think, upon recalling
this pairs recent efforts, what might
have happened yesterday if the Red
Sox had gotten one more single.
Whitehill Rally Beats B0sox.
THAT was how close the Bostons
- came to getting Earl Whitehill
out of the box in the fourth inning of
the finale, which eventually was won
by the Nationals, 9 to S. After turn
Ing back the Sox in order for two
uAAAA4ASo, GdII gave up
the third frame and two more in the
next inning, when four of his five
batSmen hit safely.
One more hit and Whitehill was due
TO get the thumb, but Earl rallied, and
from then on he was little short of in
vincible. The Red Sox got only two
hits in the last six innings and of
] their total of nine safeties, seven were
made in the third and fourth innings.
And while Whitehin was winding up
In such sensational manner the Griffs
were busy promoting 17-hit attack
that tied the score at SIS in the fifth
round and then clinched the victory in
the seventh with four-run uprising
featuring the Cinderella man, Red
Kress.
It was single by the man-who-
carne-back that sent Heinie ManuSh
across with the run that sent the
y Griffs ahead. Cliff Bolton and White
hill chased across three other runs
that ultimately proved unnecessary.
|
TAK0MA TIGERS BUSY.
Takoma Tigers will play the Eighth
Street A. G. tomorrow at Third and
Sheridan streets at 8 o'clock. Sunday
the Tigers will oppose the White
Haven outfit in a Maryland County
League game at Wheaton at 3 o'clock.