Evening star., 1939-05-25
BY BURTON HAWKINS.

Virtually ignored in preseason
chatter concerning the Nationals.
streamhned Johnny Welaj today
inherited a regular left field 1oo
with the Washington ball club.
Manager Bucky Harris is sending
the Polish youngster to the sun
field with the fond hope Welaj full
fills his promise of developing into
crack outfielder.
A slim f1yhawk whose speed on
the basepaths matches that of
George Case, now leading the
league with IA stolen bases, Welaj
has seen only sporadic service, but
has left an indelible imprint on
several catchers.
Johnny is second only to Case in
the leagues stolen base depart
ment despite having played only in
five full games. He's stolen six
and according to Coach Clyde Milan,
one of the peskiest baserunners
ever to tear turf, with regular en-
ployment he'll give Case a neat
chase for thieving honors.
Harris only doubt concerning
Welaj is his hitting, but Johnny
thus far has proved fairly consistent
IN that respect. Steady enough, at
any rate, to warrant the thorough
trial which Harris is presenting
him.
Rises When Esty, West Fail.
Washington's third ranking left
fielder as the Mats moved north
ward from training camp, WelaI
is receiving his opportunity chiefly
due to the collapse of Bobby Esta-
leila and the gradual deterioration
OF Sammy West, a polished player in
his day who realizes the calendar
is taking it's toll.
1T must be great to have that
youth" unused Sammy as he saw
Buddy Lewis perform playfully in
the Mats dugout yesterday. "SE:
years IN st. Louis. though, can SAP
that spark out of your system"
West, whose fleet feet churned
many a labeled hit into a putout
while he was handling center field
for the Mats and Browns, is inclined
to feel Case Is ticketed to be one of
the leagues outstanding fielders
providing he can curb his tendency
to juggle ground balls and learn to
break back for a fly ball as rapidly
as he streaks in toward the infield
or to either side.
Welaj. however, looms as the
Mats most lustrous piece of fielding
machinery, providing he can remain
in the lineup long enough to prove
it. And If he patterns his future
failing after his solid smacking of
yesterday he's due to view extended
duty.
Collects Three Hits Against Browns,
1t was Welaj who put the Mats
back into the ball game after St
Louis had grasped a 5-to-0 lead of
youthful Walter Masterson. He
crashed a double off the left field
barrier In the third inning to score
Taft Wright, Buddy Myer and Cecil
Travis and that launched the Mats
on hitting spree which won q
weird game over the Browns, l6 to 6.
Johnny pounded another double
down the left-field line in the fourth
and glanced single off Shortstop
Sig Gryska's glove in the sixth to
bat in his fourth run and that was
enough to promote him several
notches in the esteem of Harris.
Ken Chase relieved the nervous,
somewhat bewildered Masterson.
starting the fourth, and proceeded
to unveil some clever curving, yield
ing only five singles and tanning
five In his six-inning stretch.
Meanwhile the Mats were teeing
off on Jack Kramer and Howard
Mills. batting around in the fourth.
fifth and sixth innings, with Catcher
Jake Early ending each of those in
nings by tanning.
Travis Hits Second Homer.
The Mats unleashed half dozen
extra-base blows, with four doubles,