Evening star., 1961-03-06
Impressive Batting Boosts
Ii pfePs First-Base Hopes
Vernon Praises
Rockies Stroke
In Squad Game
BY BILL FUCHS
Star Staff Writer

Star Staff Writer
POMPANO BEACH, Fla,
Mar. 6.-Bud zipfel, with a
sore arm and practically no
batting practice. is swinging a
mean bat in the Senators
spring training camp.
The 22-year-old upStart from
the Eastern League is giving
fair warning to Dale Long, the
veteran big league swatter, and
R. c. Stevens, home run leader
of the Pacific Coast League last
season, that he is in the war
for the regular first base job.
Manager Mickey Vernon, who
so far has not been free and
easy in praising his athletes
on an individual basis, bordered
on the eulogiStic (for Vermont
about Zipfel's play in yeSter-
days first squad game.
Vernon Likes StrOke
II like that young first base
man." Vernon volunteered. II
like the way he swings a bat
up there. Saturday was the
first time he had any batting
practice. He has good stroke"
That was high praise, indeed,
from the lean ex-first baseman
who was credited by Ted Will
liams and others as owning the
sweetest stroke in baseball.
Zipfel was an added starter
in yesterdays six-inning battle
that attracted an overflow
crowd of 1000 spectators. He
replaced Long, ailing with a
stiff neck, on Coach Rollie
Hemsley's team, a 80 winner
behind the superb pitching Of
Dick Donovan and Tom Stur-
divant. Johnny Klippstein and
Rudy Hernandez shared the
pitching for Coach George
Cases team.
II liked all the pitchers"
Vernon said. "Klippstein was
a little wild in that first inning.
but he was really throwing that
ball in there. Yes, I am real
happy about things at this
point"
Has Jammed Finger
However, Zipfel is not too
happy because, sweet swing
and all, his finger bothers him.
It jammed it playing basket
ball." he says, land wouldn't
you know it would be at the
end of the season? played in
an industrial league back home
in Belleville, III.
"Dr. Resta (Dr. George
Resta, team physician) says it
looks like a chip and that it
will take a while to get better.
But it hurts a little and I've
got no snap"
zipfel had enough snap yes
terday to rap out a single to
centerfield, one of six hits
Hemsley's heroes totaled. 9th
ers went to Catcher Dutch
Dotterer who got two, roller
to short and a shot to center:
Willie Tasby, who doubled to
center; Gene Woodling, and
Coot Veal.
Play Again Today
Cases charges got five hits,
double by Joe Hicks and sin
giles by Marty Keough, Stevens,
Bright and Jim Mahoney.
Klippstein threw nine balls
in his first 10 pitches. Two
walks, Weddings single and
a sacrifice fly by Jim King
produced two runs in the first
inning. A walk to Woodling
and hits by Zipfel and Dotterer
brought in the other run in
the third.
Vernon planned another
squad game today, using vir-
tually the same lineups but
with new pitchers. Bennie Dan
iels, Joe McClain, Dave Sisler
and Hal 'Woodeshick were to
pitch.
NOTES: Karen Nelson, Z
year-old daughter of a Pom
pano Beach attorney, fell about
rs feet through an opening be-
tween the rows in the stands
behind home plate. She was
taken to the hospital and sent
home in good condition. i
Donovan and Sturdivant didn't
walk a batter. Hernandez
says the first time out even
for a squad game is "a tough
hurdle to cross. It's a lot diff
ferent than pitching batting
practice" Bucky Harris
was a camp visitor.
Woodling says he knows he's
getting old and that his re-
flexes could go. I'm in good
shape" he says, "but so is
George Susce. But George is
81 years old and he couldn't
play. You can't do anything
about your reflexes. I'll know
later about mines and if they're
gone, I'll become farmer in
a hurry" Gene. 38, raises Ap-
paloosa horses on his 76-acre
farm in Ohio.
Rain halted play for 10 min
utes in the third inning yester-
day, the first rain to inter-
fere with the teams activities
since the pitchers opened camp
February %.
FIRST Effort