Evening star., 1944-04-12
Infie|d Experiments
Will Be Continued,
B|uege Declares
Ry John b. KELLER.

/ With only six days to 60 before
the Mats get down TO the serious
business of championship baseball
Manager Os Bluege is satisfied they
are ready for the fight. This de-
spite that third base still is an
unsettled position.
I'VE have the pitching, the hitting
now is coming up to what we have
expected all along and We'll have
the fielding no matter who takes
over the job at third base" Bluege
said as he sent his men into train
ing at College Park after today's
scheduled game with Philadelphia S
Phillies at Fort Meade was called
off because of a muddy field
Il am we'll satisfied with the
club" the skipper admitted. "At
the outset of training both the in
field and outfield we're uncertain
and l wasn't so sure about the
catching department. But l really
have no worries now.
mo matter who gets that third
base job-Hillis Layne. Luis Suarez
or Gil Torres-the place will be well
cared for defensively. And I be-
lieve both Layne and Torres will
give us good break at bat. Suarez,
of course, hasn't been so good at
the plate, but maybe he'll pick up
after getting a few batting pointers
from the old hands.
No Third base Worries.
"The club is good enough in other
spots to be able to go into the flag
race without an established third
baseman. We can afford to ex-
pertinent for some time before
settling upon a regular" Bluege be-
lieved. With the attack provided
by the others we can look to the
third baseman mainly for defense.
That's what I plan to do until the
three now trying for the job are
thoroughly tested"
Another of the Mats pitchers in
dicated he is ready to go in the
league campaigning as the Coast
Guard of Curtis Bay was played yes
terday at College Park. Johnny
Niggeling, veteran knuckle- -baller,
went through seven innings of the
game the Mats won, to 2, and gave
an excellent exhibition.
Niggeling walked four-two at the
outset Of the second inning and the
others at the beginning of the fourth
but he gave up just three hits.
These, two singles and a double,
came in the sixth as the Cutters did
their scoring to tie the game. Only
one Of the runs was earned, however,
the Mats being guilty of two errors
Milo Candini hurled the last two
rounds to give nothing more than
base on balls.
Kuhel Heads Nat Attack.
Joe Kuhel, who played six innings
at first base, led the Washington
attack with two of the eight hits his
club collected. He backed George
Cases single and George Myatt's
walk off Alex Ronay with single
to send over two runs in the first
inning and with another single
drove in a run in the sixth when
the Mats got three safeties and two
walks off Pete Peterson to cross the
plate four times.
Bob Ortiz crashed a two-bagger
to right in the sixth to send the
Mats ahead to stay. The clout
scored Myatt and Stan Spence.
Kuhel, with his brace. at bat in
the last two exhibition games, heads
the Nat hitters. In seven engage
ments this spring he has hit for All.
Torres took over the second
basing job yesterday after Myatt
went through seven rounds. Gil,
who is pretty good anywhere in the
infield as we'll as on the pitching
mound, made a couple Of fancy
plays.
A group of Latin American Mats
was to pay its respects to Vice
President Henry Wallace at the
Capitol today. Mike Guerra, pep
perry little catcher, was to be in
charge of the baseball party.
More youngsters are to be cut
from the Nat squad next week,
probably before Tuesday. Two or
three may be shipped to the
Chattanooga farm.