Evening star., 1944-04-05
Long Drives by Cuban
Impressive; Powell
Picks Up at Bat
BY JOHN B. KELLER.


That punch the Washington ball
club is looking for may not be so far
away. Bob Ortiz, the big Cuban
has limited he is about ready to pro-
vide a good part of the power, and
now Mike Guerra, speedy little
catcher from Cuba, promises
make life tough for opposing
pitchers.
The exhibition game season hasn't
gone far, of course, but in his six
trips to the plate in the contests
Mike has gotten on base four times
once by walking and on the other
occasions by socking the ball solidly
He has clouted a single, a double and
q triple, with the double made
yesterday in rain-curtailed tussle
with the Coast Guard at Curtis
Bay the best hit.
1t was soaring drive over the
left-fielder's head that showed across
two Nat runs to send his club into a
40 lead just before play was called
at the end of the first half of the
third inning.
Likely to Bat Sixth.
In addition to his power and
speed, Guerra has demonstrated
that he can handle the Mats
knucke-ba pitchers perhaps as
well as the veteran Rick Ferrell
does. This indicates he will be seen
in action often with the club in the
championship season, and his hit
ting is likely to get him the sixth
instead of the eighth spot in the
batting order when he's in the game.
Swinging behind the hitting
Ortiz and either Joe Kuhel or Eddie
Butka-they're apt to alternate in
the flrst-base job according to the
style of pitching the opposition en-
ploys-Guerra could be relied upon
to bat in a lot of runs, Manager Os
Bluege believes.
Jake Powell is another of the Mats
developing a good punch. He has
been meeting the ball soundly and
yesterday came through with a brace
of fine blows, a tWP-bagger in the
first round and a hard-hit single in
the third. There could be spot for
him in left field should Stan Spence,
somewhat sluggish at bat, not pick
up.
Mats Slam Seven Safeties.
The Mats helped themselves to
seven safeties in all off Chuck Bohn-
ing, a former Three-Eye League
Highlander now the property of the
Cleveland Indians, at Curtis Bay.
Besides Powell, Ortiz, Butka and
Guerra, hits were made by Johnny
Sullivan "a double - and Hills
Layne.
Sullivan's hit was wasted, but
Layne's was one of the five that ac-
counted for the four runs crossing
after two were out In the third ses-
sion.
Most upset by the game being
called off was Milo Candini. The
pitcher hadn't had a good workout
for some time and went through his
two innings in easy manner. Milo
probably will be sent to the hill
again before the week ends.
Tomorrow the Mats are to go to
Fort Meade for clash with the Bal
timore Cub of the International
League. Bluege will continue ex-
periments with his lineup. Early
Wynn and Roger Wolff, who were
rained out of tests yesterday, prob
ably viii be among the pitchers fac
ing the Orioles.
Case Returns to Practice.
George Case was back with the
club yesterday, his ailing throat
eased. He participated only brief
ly in the practice with the squad
left at College Park. It was too cold
for man who had been i'll two
days.
Ferren will have to go to the ra-
ton board for some extra shoe cou-
pons. Thieves broke into his parked
car and stole baggage containing
several pairs of his wife's shoes
among other attire. They also took
the District automobile tags that
Rick had just purchased.
Most of the training was done in
doors today. Bluege didn't want to
risk his pitchers arms with much
outside work.