THE BATTALION A^qqie) SporK/ 3 yVs’S'l:. EcL J. fi'Sx.kop. EclitorJ < D.W. C^tpI-t gA^j^po. Ed. J.P or\j? A 991. Ed. T). . BRIGHT HOPES FOR WINNING BASEBALL TEAM Baseballers Showing up in Best Form. Many Trying Out for Coveted Places on Aggie Squad. Baseball prospects are improving rapidly with the showing that is be ing made by the men who are des tined to take the places in the affec tions of the Aggie fans left vacant last year by graduation of the -Old Guard.” Billy Disch, the famous old Texas coach, says that upon the pitch ing staff of a college team rests the success or failure for the year. If this be true, Texas and Baylor will not have to fight out the championship of the Southwestern Conference be tween themselves, as newspaper re ports from these places seem to indi cate, but will have to consider Coach House’s proteges. The pitchers at this stage of the game are further developed than they have ever been in any previous sea son. This early season form is un doubtedly due to the pre-season train ing they underwent at the hands of Coach House and Trainer Sprague. Their arms are strong enough at this early date that they might safely flash their stuff for a few innings, but the coach is holding them in order that the catastrophy that befell Pat Olesen last year, will not be repeated. This stamina will be invaluable later on in case extra-inning games have to be played. The right-handers will probably bear the burden of the conference schedule and consequently are re ceiving a world of attention. Gill, the sensation of last year’s team, is lim bering up after basketball practice every day, and will soon be in shape for diamond duty. Olsen, who pitched great ball last year against the Hous ton and Omaha professional clubs, is showing even more stuff that he had last year and by the time first games are played, he will be the same old Pat that threatened to bum up the conference. Giffin is one of the most effective pitchers that has flashed his wares this year. Chandler, Grove and Byrd are all good men that will make someone work for his place when they hit their stride. At the present writing it appears that for once the Aggies will be repre sented by a crew of left-handers that will give the southpaw batters on the other teams something to worry about. This style of pitching is a valuable asset to a college team, for most col lege teams do not develop a good fork-hander every year and conse quently labor under a terrific handi cap when oposed by one “Lefty” Rogers, “Bloody” Mike McCreary and “Boomerang” Prewitt are all port- The Athletic Department wishes to announce to every one that when they so desire to watch the ball players and track men work-out, they are requested to stay in the grandstand and off the field. ■*$* siders, and have been mowing ’em down in practice this week. The job of catching will likely fall upon the shoulders of Jack Fargason, the squat little San Antonio boy. Jack is a natural catcher. Even in his football days the short, quick steps of the catcher were part of his make up. He handles the ball quickly and cleanly, and his hitting and throwing are features of his game. Dodge, al though handicapped by lack of weight, is a good receiver and is fighting it out with Wilson and Bradford who are working for a general utility man and may land a regular berth. At the hot corner we have an array of material and all of it is of first class calibre. But none as yet have begun to show the fielding ability of the fighting Irishman “Pat” Dwyer. There has got to be some hard work done in finding a man to fill this mighty hole. The men striving to fill the gap are Steineker, Weaver and Johnson. For second base there may be a radical shake-up and as to who will finally fill the position will not be known till the first game. Those mak ing a creditable showing for the posi tion are “Petie” Wilson of last year’s squad and his present showing is in deed gratifying to all of us; Amberg also of last year’s squad is whipping into form and his prospects are prom ising. At short Captain “Bugs” Morris will very likely fill but no one knows that he wouldn’t make a good outfielder as “Buck” Clayton is showing some rare form at short and is hitting the ball nicely. At third a battle royal is in full session. For here is one position that has three men of about the same cal ibre and all are fighting hard. To at tempt to pick the best man of Craig, Chapman and Puckett, would be fu tile, for they all have the “stuff.” Some of these good men may be shifted for a try-out at other posi tions. The out fielders are having a “tight-fight” and those making the best showing are: Simpson, Womask, Jim Forgason, a coming “Babe Ruth.” Gang, it has been a long, long time since we have produced a complete winning combination. This year our chances are very bright. We have a coach that is as good as any in the South. IT SHALL BE DONE. It is certainly gratifying to know that our basketball team has won the championship ahead of the Texas se ries. Heretofore it has always taken the final two games to decide the title holders. LONGHORNS WIN EASY MATCH WITH AGGIES Wrestling Team Easily Defeated by Varsity Graplers. Aggies in Poor Condition. Before a crowd of six hundred Ag gies the Longhorns from Texas Uni versity won an easy match from A. and M. Texas won six out of the sev en matches wrestled. The Aggies were and have been seriously handicapped in developing a winning wrestling team due to the fact they have no coach and have prac tically no equipment to work with. Captain O. B. Haney has been put ting all of his time in an effort to AGGIES FOURTH TIME BASKET BALL CHAMPIONS Work of Captain “Tiny” Keen and Gill Sensational. Final Score 34 to 30. With Captain L. S. “Tiny” Keen playing the most brilliant game of his entire career in an Aggie uniform and King Gill covering vital objectives at critical moments made the first game of the Baylor series the deciding one of the Southwestern Conference as to the 1923 champions. The entire crowd marveled at the wonderful playing of Keen, the massive giant from Kerens. We are frank to say he has never played anywhere near this form be- develop a wrestling team and he has) fore; if he had, there would be little succeeded wonderfully considering the difficulties he has been working under. Haney could not enter this meet due to an injury to his knee. In the 115-pound class, Frazier of Texas threw Welch of A. and M. in 3 minutes and 44 seconds with a half nelson and body hold. Turner of Texas defeated Clark of A. and M. on a point decision in the 125-pound class. Ford of Texas won from Stevens of A. and M. on decis ion after a twelve minute period in the 135-pound class. The Aggies won an easy victory with Sanderlin over Lloyd of Texas in the 145-pound class. Lloyd was the more aggressive until Sanderlin downed him on a scissor and half-nel son. Time was four minutes and 47 seconds. Campbell found it easy going in his match with Rubb, who gave up. They were 158 pounders. Gorman of Texas threw Short of A. and M. in the 175-pound match in 4 minutes and 47 seconds. A nice match. The final event was a hard scrap between Craddock of Texas, who won, and Howdershell of A. and M. in 4 minutes and 31 seconds with a body hold and head lock. The referee was J. Rudnick of Hous ton Y. M. C. A. It was “Hooty” Williams that is res ponsible for a great share in the won derful season the Aggie five have had. Before the football season was over he took the basket squad in hand and they had all the fundamentals and con dition when Coach Bible took them If Captain Keen had played the type of ball in the other games of the sea son as he did in the Baylor series he would easily be a Southwestern pick— but this was not the case. * ❖ * The Aggie ball playei’s are whippnig into form and will soon be in fine con dition when the supply of “water- wings” and “row-boats” arrive so they can get on the field again. doubt that he would have placed on the conference five. Keen scored 16 out of the 34 points made by the Ag gies in the first game and 10 of the 34 points made in the second game. High point man in both games. At the end of the first half the score was 14 to 13 in favor of the Ag gies. It had been a fast game from the very beginning and our forwards could not get the chances to shoot at will due to the wonderful guarding of Williamson. Lyons for Baylor, did some nice shooting during the first half but Gill put a stop to this in the second half. At the beginning of the second half Woodson made a pretty crip shot from mid-floor, but Captain Keen volleyed through with an easy tip-off shot. The second half was characterized by the shooting of Woodson of Baylor and Keen of the Aggies. Woodson mak ing four baskets in the second half with Keen making six. At the close of the game the battle became fur ious and both teams were forcing for the meager few points which spelled victory for either team. It was the astounding shooting of Keen that kept the Aggies in the lead. Keen’s final two points were made amid the con glomeration of flying hands, feet and other human paraphrenalia from a a difficult position. Fullingim was high point man for Baylor. Darby got right in the second half and was greatly assisted by Washburn. The score: A. and M. Points Darby, forward 5 Megarity, forward 6 Brient (for Darby) Forward. ... 0 Keen (Capt), center 16 Gill, guard 2 W'ashburn, guard 5 Baylor: Points Lyons (Capt.), forward 8 Woodson, forward 8 Fullingim, center 10 Bell, guard 4 Williamson, guard 0 Referee: Sweeney (Betheny); Timekeeper, Weir; scorer, Williams.