The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1941-04-07
Ray Dennis to
Pitch, Veterans
Compose Team
Six Compiled Batting
Averages Over 800 in
Contests Last Year

The unfortunate young men who
must face Michigan Normals base
ball lineup from the slightly altl
tudinous precincts Of the pitching
mound this season will probably
feel like helpless targets before a
heavy firing squad.
The Huron team, composed en-
tirely OF veterans, is packed with
power all the way along the line.
That means that opposing hurlers
will be unable to relax against the
hitters at the bottom OF the batting
order in order to bear down on
those on top.
By combining this tremendous
batting power with the deceiving
slants OF Senior Ray Dennis, Coach
Ray Sites should have one of the
strongest baseball teams IN Mich
igan Normal athletic history. The
Hurons should easily better last
years record OF nine games won
and four lost.
Six members Of the lineup which
will probably open the season com
pile batting averages above the 800
level in 1910. And-strange as II
appears-the other three FASTENERS
experienced extended batting
slumps through most OF the cam
paign.
The biggest gun OF the lot q
year ago was Joe Grady. who
chalked up a robust average OF
400 in the 10 games. Dennis, Bill
Lamiman. Joe Borovich, walt Sierra
and Chuck Oxley also landed above
the charmed 300 mark.
There is no doubt that Andy
Newlands. Mike Drusbaeky and
Johnny Shada would have joined
their teammates in the higher
batting brackets in a normal sea
son. Newslnds and Drusbacky were
among the Huron leaders two years
ago and Shada hit very well in
Glass B of the Detroit Amateur
Baseball Federation during the
summer Of 1889.
With a short centerfield fence
Just a little more than 800 feet
from home plate-Huron home run
blows should be a plentiful com.
modify Sierra and Oxley, especially,
should find the distance to their
liking.
A shortage OF capable starting
pitchers is Sites biggest worry.
The Huron coach will probably
have TO use Dennis. former ace OF
the City League, IN nearly all OF
the Huron contests.
This is likely TO be Dennis great
est year. The Corunna husky, who
racked up six victories against one
defeat to pace Michigan Normal
last year, is in the best shape OF
his career.
Sig Gretzner and Cas- Wojcicki
round out the mound staff. Despite
high school experience, both Gretz.
ner and Wojcicki have spent most
of their time at other positions dur.
ing the last three years. Their
Service on the pitching rubber.
therefore, will probably be limited
to relief work
Sites has indicated that later
in the season GretZneT and Wojcic-
XII may work ut'at their respective
outfield and infield posts. The bat
ting punch which they can furnish
will come in handy next spring
when Sites Is forced TO rebuild
his team.
This IA the way the Hurons will
line up. Bill Lamiman and Walt
Sierra will share the backstop du-
ties, Sierra switching to right field
when Lamiman starts. Big Pat Het-
ferMan will be Sieras alternate In
the outfield.
The infield is composed OF Capt.
Joe Borovich, first base; Mike
Drusbacky. second base; Johnny
Shada. shortstop, and Joe Grady.
third base. This quartet can match
It's fielding ability with its bit.
ting. Drusbacky, Of course. is the
most outstanding player on the
squad.
Chuck Oxley and Andy Newlsnds
will team up with Sierra or Heffer.
nan in the territory beyond the
bases.
Should injuries force some Of the
regulars out OF action, Sites has
strong band OF requirements.
They include Larry Miller. catcher;
Dana Hamar and Chuck Nemeth,
first base; Roy Renton and Carl