Evening star., 1945-03-25
Leonard, Wolff, f,
Will
Share Hurting
Evans Hits Whoppine
Homer, Two Singles
Against Guoydsmen
BY JOHN B. KELLER,
Star Staff CORRESPONDENT,

CURTIS BAY. Md, Mar. "a
Over their first exhibition hurdle
with a rather easy 5-to-2 beating
given the Coast Guard Cutters here
today, the Mats tomorrow will get
down to more serious business in a
clash with major leaguers-strictly
wartime variety. They're taking on
Boston's Braves of the National
League on the University of Mary
land field at the College Park train
ing camp in a game starting at
2:30 pm.
Sundays tussle will be for the
benefit of the Prince Georges Coun-
ty CMd.) Chapter of the Ameri-
can Red Cross, and the admission
fee will be a contribution to the
organization that has done such
noble war work. Mrs. Bill Werber,
Red Cross aide and wife of the for
mer big league star, will direct those
accepting contributions at the en-
frances to the College Park stand.
Manager Os Bluege will trot out
his. pitching veterans, primed by
more than two weeks of training.
Dutch Leonard, Johnny Niggeling
and Roger Wolff wilB get three
inning turns, but the order in which
they will work has not been deter
mined. Bob Coleman, pilot of the
Braves, will call on Johnny Hutch
ings, Jimmy Wallace and Chuck
Cozart, the last two named south
paws.
The four players yet to report
to the squad - Outfielder Stan
Spence, near service draft, and
Catcher Rick Ferrell, holdout, are
not expected-probably won't have
to do much preliminary training be-
fore jumping into the exhibitions.
Al Carrasquel did a deal of pitch
ing during the winter, while Catcher
Mike Guerra and Inflelder Gil Tor
res played lot of baseball in
Cuba. Harlond Cliff, who may be-
come the Mats regular third sacker,
reported he was well advanced in
training before he left his home in
the State OF Washington last week.
Keeps Ten Fingers.
Bluege will retain 10 pitchers
Five of course will be Leonard, Mig
ceiling, Wolff. Mickey Haefner and
Carrasquel of last years staff. Next
in Importance seems to be Marino
Pieretti. chunky draftee from Port
land, of the Coast League. The
right-hander hasn't been long in
the organized game but has come
along fast and that 26-13 record of
his with the Beavers last year can't
be laughed off. Others likely to be
retained are Santiago Ullrich and
Luis Aloma, Cubans who gave
plenty of promise at Chattanooga
last year; AL Rossi, brought on from
Trenton, and Larry Burger a big
left-hander drawn from. New York
Semipro baseball.
There1l have to be some pairing
of the infield squad which, when
Cliff and Torres report. will include
10. Not more than six are apt to
be carried by the club Joe Kuhel
at first, George Myatt and Fred
Vaughn, second basemen, although
either might be moved to shortstop:
Chuck Beihl, rookie shortstop who
starred as West Virginia semi
pro; Torres, regular third baseman
last year, and Cliff now appear the
most likely choices for retention.
However, Eddie Butka, Jim Lang
ley, Hills Layne and Pedro Gomez
can't be lightly dismissed. Butka
and Langley are first basemen and
Kuhel, with his ageing legs, will need
an understudy this year. Langley
looks good as an outfielder as well
as a first sacker and poles a long
ball. He's apt to make determined
fight for job. Both Layne and
Gomez were handy men to have
around last year and this spring
both are much improved ball
players.
Numerically, the outfield squad is
(See GRIFFS, Page AID