St Johns College - Yearbook (Annapolis, MD)

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' . k.,.fA 723 G X ff A '. . , ' 'l iillbkxl A. iff- '--mga' ' or r' M A is c y Wi- ll,Q y, ' B, , X ' T O I i 1 I l iz 'E -- -1 .- 1 Ji if y e f A . N . if Baseball i In the spring of 1903, a new spirit in baseball was aroused at St. John's. For the past ten years, although enthusiasm in football had been up to the highest pitch, but little interest had been manifested in baseball, and as a result, partly through this indifference- and partly through the lack of good material, St. John's had been poorly represented in this branch of sport. Last year, however, with the electionof Captain Mudd, interest in baseball began to reviveQ The players realized that they had a competent leader, and inspired by this confidence they went to work with a will. Earlyin March, when it was still too cold to go out on the field, they practiced in the armory and in the gymnasium, pitching and catching and getting their muscles in condition for playing when the weather grew warmer. When at last they were able to get out on the diamond, it needed no expert to see that St. John's was to have a betterteam .than she had known for a long time. Then, too, the students began to be seen on the side lines every afternoon, cheering the players on and giving them the encouragement which every team must have to be success- ful. These circumstances combined had good effect, for when the season was over, although she had lost many games, St. John's had also won several well-earned victories. This year bids fair to be' more successful. The men are working hard, and though handicapped by the illness of our veteran pitcher, Stick, will doubtless give a good account of themselves when the time comes, - . 139

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Season of 1905 V After the usual preliminary practice which always marks the beginning of a baseball season, we met the strong Gettysburg team on our home grounds for the first game. A heavy rain had fallen the night before, and the condition of the field was such that good playing was impossible. Our men went into the game with excellent spirit, but we lost on account of the costly errors made by the infielders. The final score was 13-7 in favor of Gettysburg. I Although defeated in our first game, we were not discouraged. We still believed that St. John's had a winning team, and everyone waited eagerly for the coming Saturday, when we were to cross bats with Maryland Agricultural College. This game, like the one with Gettysburg, was played on a wet field. Our men showed great improvement, especially in batting. In the third inning, Tarbert and Halbert each knocked a home run, and Wilmer got a three-bagger. Score, St. John's, -9, M.'A. C., 8. I Instead of disbanding and going home for the Easter holidays, our team took a trip in the South for a week. They left Annapolis, Monday, April 6, spent the night in Roanoke, and took the early train Tuesday morning for Radford. A' gamelwith St. Albans was played that afternoon, in a drizzling rain. The grounds were muddy and slippery, and the playing was very loose on the part of both teams. Errors were the chief features of the game. Score, 12-8, favor of St. Albans. . Immediately after the game with St. Albans, our team took the train for Christians- burg, where they passed the night. The journey of ten miles from Christiansburg to Blacksburg next day was of a very exciting character. Since there was no railroad between 'these places, the trip over the mountains had to be made in tallyhosL It was raining hard, and the roads were in such a condition that several times the boys were compelled to lift thewagons out of deep mud-holes, or they would probably have been sticking there yet. A game with Virginia Polytechnic Institute was played in the afternoon, and, as usual, on a very muddy field. Unfortunately Captain Mudd got hurt early in the game and was forced to retire. This, together with a long string of errors, enabled V. P. I. to win by a score of 13-6. About dusk we left Blacksburg, travelled over the same muddy road Cwalking most of the wayb, and arrived at Christiansburg in time to catch the midnight train. Arrived ,at Salem about 1.30, a. m., and spent the remainder of the night there. In the morning we had a short practice, and in the afternoon played a game with Roanoke College. Here again we lost on account of errors, the score being 12-7 in favor of Roanoke. Our team left Salem the same evening and arrived at Buena Vista about midnight. Took the train for Lexington, next morning, where we played Washington 'and Lee University. The field was in good condition and everything seemed favorable for a good game. This was the first game of the series, in which our boys did themselves justice. .Everyone played well. Stick was at his best, and not until the :last inning did our op- ponents score. The final score was5-3, favor of St. John's. During our stay at Lexing- ton we were entertained by Virginia Military Institute, and were most hospitably treated. On Saturday afternoon we played a very interesting game with them. Stick was unable to pitch, but Wrightson filled the position well. Our boys played a good game, but could do nothing with the fine curves of Carneal, the V. M. I. pitcher, and we lost by a score 5-0. This ended the series of southern games, and, although we lost most of them, our team was greatly benefitted and played very creditable ball during the remainder of the season. 141 I