Evening star., 1944-03-22
Most Of Island Talent
Saved by His Scout,
Griffith Learns
BY JOHN b. KELLER.

| A braZen raid on the Mats Cuban
ballplayers believed to have been
attempted by the newly-organized
Mexican League probably has been
blasted by the Washington clubs
Latin American scout, Joe Cambria.
There was suspicion around the
Mats camp at College Park that
some of the Cubans still mysteri-
ously missing up to today-just 10
days before the Washington club is
to enter its first spring exhibition
|game--had been flirting with the
Mexican managers. 1t was feared
the boys had delayed reporting here
until clubs in our neiehboring re-
public made final salary offers.
Latest reports from Cambria, how
ever, indicate the trouble is over
and the Mats will get almost their
full quota of talent from the island.
Epitacio Torres, hitting
Mexican Indian outfielder, may stick
to the ball club In his native Mon
terrey and Alberto Leal, pitcher, is
said to have entered the Mexican
Army. Mario Diaz, Cuban catcher
signed some weeks ago, is believed
to have jumped to Mexico.
Cambria Sent to Corral Men,
There may be little to much of
this, but the rumors at least were
strong enough to make President
CLARK Griffith of the Washington
outfit send his Latin American
scout on the double-quick to the
island early this month to round up
the Cuban flock.
The ball club Office has been in
formed by Cambria that the boys
are in line and most of them on the
way up. But nothing definite has
been heard from them. Maybe Mex
ican baseball officials still are up
ping their offers.
Still due today were Outfielder
Bob Ortiz and Third Baseman Luis
Suarez, slated for regular jobs, as
we'll as Pitchers Olivrio Ortiz and
Gilberto Torres, Catchers Fermin
Guerra and Armando Fuertes and
Outfielder Jose Sanchez.
Manager Os Bluege also was look :
ing for Second Baseman George
Myatt to check in at any time. He
was scheduled to report last Mon
day, but nothing has been heard
from him. Shortstop Johnny Sulli-
van, held up by illness in his fam
lily, Is to come in tomorrow. Stan
Spence, outflelder, may not arrive
at camp until next week. He has
written Griffith, saying he is prac-
ticing at his Kinston IN. c. home.
"Pep" Rally Series Begun.
Bluege assembled his squad at
the RoSsborough Inn on the Univer-
sity of Maryland campus last night
for a pep" rally. He wants his
charges to become accustomed to
talking baseball as we'll as playing
1t. Several more similar meetings
will be called before camp ends.
Bill Ebranyi, first baseman. and
Johnny Bucek, outflelder, got into
their first workouts with the SQUAD
yesterday. They are husky young
sters, but have little baseball expert
ence back of them. Both worked in
Ford plants around Detroit during
the winter.
Hills Layne, infielder, also had
his first workout. During the rather
mild drill, his leg showed no trace
OF the ailment that put him out of
both baseball and the Army. Bluege
Is hoping the youngster will prove
ready to take over a job at second
base or third.
Trainer Mike Martin has the
pitchers working daily with the
medicine ball to grind off surplus
weight around the middle as well as
improve their wind. The hurlers
make game of tossing the heavy
sphere and enjoy 1t.
Pals Urge Gift to Report.
Pitcher Johnny Niggeling and
Catcher Rick Ferrell have written
Harlond Cliff, third baseman re-
fusing to report because his draft
call Is near, urging him to join the
squad and play until his number is
up. They were teammates of Cliffs
on the st. Louis Browns.
For the third straight day, snow
covered and muddy ground kept
most Of the training program in
doors. Outflelders and infielders
had a long session in Ritchie
Coliseum before getting out for a
jog on the cinderpath. The pitch
ers found one fairly dry patch out
side TO use for their workout.
Bluege was hoping to get his
charges on the infleld today. 1t was
covered during the rain and snow
storm, but yesterday the canvas had
50 much water over it that the
manager feared to order its removal.
Red Cross Meet Cancelled
BROOKLYN. Mar. % (P).-A Red
Cross benefit track meet Saturday
night In which Ensign Cornelius
Warmerdam was to have made an
a ~ ou,rf fn rrork thu unrIH pole