Evening star., 1942-04-06
Half Dozen Leftermen
Also on Gridiron,
Basket Squads
Eastern, Arch Enemy,
Intrigued by Report
Of Mystery Hurler
By GEORGE HUBER.

Anacostia High has the busiest
coach and the busiest group of
athletes in the city. Coach ROLAND
Lund is the only man in the physical
education department and handles
all sports. Because OF Anacostia's
small enrolment compared with
other District schools he finds al
most the same crowd of athletically
minded boys turning out each season
for his teams.
Six lettermen are returning for
what should be a better than aver
age baseball team, and it is no COIN
cidence that the same six lads
played regularly on his football and
basket ball teams. AnacoStia has
no track team because there is no
one to coach 1t.
The six Indian baseball lettermen
are Johnny Penn. Elmer Leukhardt,
Jim Flaherty. Jim Henry, Paul
Blaine and Bob Nolte. They are re-
membered from the football and
basket ball seasons. With the In
dian diamonders, Penn is the out
standing pitcher, Leukhardt plays
the outfield, shortstop, first base and
even may be called on for mite of
hurling; Flaherty is the regular first
sacker, Henry plays in the outfield,
Blaine is on third and Nolte oc-
cupies second.
Kuhl Best of Newcomers.
Fitting in with the experienced
players are several other capables.
Best Of the newcomers appears to
be Charles Kuhl, transfer from
Roosevelt who plays the outfield. A
good hitter. he Is leadoff man and
Is a fast, smart base runner. Jack
Wahler at present Is slated for
shortstop. although Lund may move
Leukhardt in from the outfield,
while Bob Nelson does the catching.
This is the lineup Lund used
against Episcopal last Saturday in
the opener, but some changes may
be made before the championship
series. George Hardy, out for the
catching post, seems to have good
throwing arm. Laverne Sullivan is
trying to break into the outfield,
and among other promising candi-
dates are Harry Collins, shortstop;
Billy Pilkerton, third; Jim Hage-
dorm, second, and Elliott Day, first.
The team numbers several good
hitters, with Nolte, although not
looking the part. being about the
best, His swing has been compared
to the proverbial rusty gate, but it
gets results. He averages about two
hits a game and socks for many
extra bases. Leukhardt also is an
exceptional hitter, and Henry is an
other who rates. Good hitters come
In handy at Anacostia, where the
Indians have the best playing field,
and also the biggest, among the
public schools. There are no short
fences. The right field foul line is
312 feet distant and the left field,
$50. Only one ball has been hit
over the fence. that last season by
wilson's Don Hillock, whose homer
smack sailed about 800 feet In the
right field.
Swlsher on the Spot.
For pitching chores behind Penn,
there are Harry Swisher and Paul
Tollifson. Swisher. because of his
name, is due for lot of ribbing from
opposing rooters, but If can remain
unperturbed he will be lot of help
to the Indians. Last Saturday he
tossed few innings against the
Maroons, and all his deliveries were
greeted vocally by Episcopal rooters
with big "Ssswish!" 1t could be
very disconcerting.
Lund uncharacteristically is max
ing no predictions of big success for
Anacostia this time. He also was
quiet before football last fall, and
the Indians turned out to be good
enough to capture the East Division
championship. His baseball team
appears stout too, which bodies no
good particularly for Eastern. A
pretty hot feud is growing up be-
tween the two schools. half in fun
and half in earnest, and it all makes
for plenty of interest and a good at
tendance when they meet.
Mystery Pitcher Intrigues Foe.
Helping the buildup for the East
ern- -Anacostia game, Lund hints he
is saving a surprise player for that
contest. Eastern is intrigued, and
spies coming back from the Flats
say this PLAYER is a big, hefty pitcher
who, according to the version reach
ing Eastern, "is not so hot" Lund
will not reveal the identity of his
surprise player, but the best guess
is that it is Tollifson. This rookie
hurler is big, handsome chap, but
in his debut last Saturday he tossed
one inning and was in trouble most
of it. Maybe this was screen.
Another Eastern -Anacostia affair
that should produce some fun is a
baseball game-not softball-be-
tween the faculties on May 81.