BASEBALL

This Issue goes to press during the barren season between the winter and spring sports. With the exception of the perennially exciting hockey (see below) and the inconclusive spring training ventures, there are no actual sporting results to report. Hence our remarks will be confined to a survey of the personnel and possibilities of the various seasonal activities.

Coach Jeremiah did not even have time to hang up his skates before becoming feverishly involved with the baseball team. The hockey team returned from the NCAA Championships just five days before the baseball team was scheduled to leave for its southern trip. Fortunately, some rather extensive baseball maneuvers had been held last fall, so the material was pretty well known before the boys left on their southern junket. The trip resulted in one win, one defeat, one tie, and one cancellation, which is not bad, considering that the team had not been out of the cage before going south.

The infield currently shapes up with Hank Durham at first. His heavy work with the willow on the trip indicates that he has regained the skill that gave him the League batting championship in 1946. At second is sophomore Bud Bray, who was moved into this spot when Captain Ed McNeill went to shortstop to replace the injured Johnny Stockwell. Captain McNeill is expected to carry on efficiently wherever he is placed, and Bray has the makings of an excellent infielder. Third base is also tenanted by a sophomore, Bill Ferguson by name, who was one of the stars of a strong freshman aggregation last year. Another sophomore, Roger Frechette, will do most of the catching.

The outfield is still subject to final confirmation before the League opener with Pennsylvania, but it is safe to say that the veteran Dave Barr will fill one position, along with several others including Hank Mueller, Paul Quinlan, and Joe Dey. This group did some heavy hitting on the spring trip, with scores of 10-10 (against Maryland) and 13-8 (defeat by Georgetown) giving a promising prognostication of the hitting, if not the pitching.

The pitching staff is again the question mark, with Coach Jeremiah holding his breath in the hope that one fireballer will emerge from the group. At present, the candidate most likely to fill this role is big Emil Hudak, of basketball fame, who pitched well in the recent 5-4 win over Temple. He has the size, the power, and the speed. Bob Amirault is a veteran twirler, but was injured at the end of the hockey season and hence has not had a great deal of practice. Other hopefuls include Al Quirk, Charlie Ingram, and Bill West, the latter up from the freshmen. If one outstanding hurler can be produced from this aggregation, the battle is half won. If not, we shall have to win the hard way.