THE CHINA MAIL, APRII
SOFTBALL NOTES
BIGGEST INTERNATIONAL UPSET THIS SEASON Johnny Alvares Loses Fine Record "BONEHEAD"
SPLENDID DISPLAY BY INDIA TEAM
(By "GRANDSTAND”).
JOHNNY ALVARES, who pitched Recreio Aces to an- other Men's Championship this season with a clean slate, suffered his first defeat, by a local team, when India sur- prisingly nosed out Portugal, 5-4, in the semi-final of the International series on Sunday.
This is the third, and the biggest steins of amber from Willie, but mostly for the glory of Old India. When A. M. upset in the series thus far this season. The bookies favoured Portugal 10 to quictened a bit we ventured to ask him how the Indian boys got so tough to beat the to down the Indians but even with much-boosted Portugal nine, and quick as a these odds no business was done, ex-flash he retorted: "Following the example of Tuttle's Sundown League we have been cept by optimistic A.M. "Sunburn
flying anvils instead of kites these last two Omar, who guzzled ten beers off my weeks to toughen our muscles!" good friend Willie!
When the Indians faced the Portu- guese they were meeting a bunch of softball bruisers, who had played to- gether all season,
and who would ..check their forward surge. That was the confident expression of opinion among the Portuguese supporters, but it was not destined to be thus and the sons of Portugal succumbed to the persuasive power of their opponent, helped by some "anting-anting" the Indians were carrying in their pockets. No doubt India were somewhat lucky to nose out the Portuguese, as the score-book shows Portugal made one more hit than the Indians' four and India miscued five times to Portu-
four.
made gal's
India, however, all their four hits count for runs ex- .cept one in the fourth inning, and they fortunate in taking ad-
were more
vantage of the enemy's bobbles.
INDIA'S EARLY LEAD Portugal were blanked in the first counted for one stanza, while India
when marker in the same session
Sherry Bux dented the pan on two bobbles by Nick Beltrao at first. In the second frame Portugal replied with scoring on a one tally, Tony Alves muff by centre-flelder Hassan and a wild throw by Kitchell.
In the second inning two more In-
dian runs crossed the plate, both of them earned. With two outs Tarzan Ismall worked Johnny Alvares for a free ticket to first and Sherry Bux did likewise. "Cyclone" Bakar slapped a Ismail sharp three-bagger to score Bux. Nazarin grounded to third base to, retire the canto.
India
added
in the third,
more
runs Kitchell home on throw by
two
when and Hassan romped
wild two hits and a shortstop Tony Alves.
The third and fourth frames were barren for Portugal.
to
In the fourth Portugal came to life to rally with no fewer than three counts. With two away George Souza was safe at first on a bobble by third-sacker O. Arcúlli and was advanced by Nick Beltrao on a hit, Lino
safety Gosano followed with another
Belirao and Lino counted score Souza. when Bakar muffed a fly off Eddle Gosano's bat. Tony Alves grounded to the pitcher to end the inning and Portugal's scoring for
the day.
With the score 64 in the last frame Portugal came to bat with all the deter- mination of at least ticing the count but to they could not get the old engine spark up again, try as hard as they Wouldi
With the crowd getting the jitters Johnny Alvares was given life with an Annie Oakley and stole second on the next pitch. George Souza's Japanese liner was spectacularly caught by second basemen A. K. Omar for the first erasure, Nick Beltrao sacrificed a
man!
SCORES AT
A GLANCE
INTERNATIONAL Men
India
Portugal
Groat, Britain
14 Philippines
Girls
6
7 V.R.C.
China
Recreio
Great Britain MEN'S LEAGUE
4
3
3
Denham Crary, who was down with a touch of flu the day before, pitched a grand game miting the Filipinos to two measly hits, one each by Loyola and Fidel Dollano.
The Southern boys opened the fracas with three tallies on two walks, two errors and a passed ball, and it looked as if they were on the road for another upset; their hopes
were short-lived.
PLAYS COST G. B. GAME
(BY “GRANDSTAND")
Full marks must be given to the British girls for their good showing ugainst the Chinese cuties. Although losing 6-3 the British femmes put up a good fight and, if not for their very, result very poor base-running, the might well have been different.
On several occasions they robbed themselves of runs due to bonehead base-running. For example can any one tell me why Mary Lachlan tried to steal home in the second frame when bases were loaded? I don't think Mary herself can explain such a bonehead! In the third inning Maudie Read, for
Britain smashing through with one run inno good reason at all, tried to pilfer second and was tagged midway. Betty What the second, three more in the third and a
seven rally in the fourth, iced the game for Longbottom left first base before the
Great Britain the Lions without wings. tightened their defence after the first frame ball left the pitcher's hand for an- and blanked the Filipinos in the remaining other bonehead out. six innings.
Johnny Alvares was not so deadly with his deliveries on Sunday, striking only one Kassa Nazarin struck and walking four. out one and passed one.. "Cyclone Bakar's triple was the only long hit of the fray.
R. H. E. India
1 2 2 000 x-5 4 5 Portugal
0 1 0 0 3 0.0—4 5 4 A FARCE
POOR JUDGMENT
These three boneheads alone were enough George to cost the British girls the game. Poor judgment of the Filipino outfielders Gurevitch, who was coaching third for the Enoc Britishers, through excitement or despair was reasonable for the high score. Loyola misjudged two at centre-field, Fidel unconsciously violated Rule 29-Section 19 Dollano let one go over his head at right-when he physically assisted Betty Longbot- In the nightcap a handful of spectatorsfield, and Frankie Gonzales miserably mis-tom to run home.
The rule says: "If in the judgment of the saw a most disappointing farce when Great judged a long one, which went for a homer, Britain walloped the Philippine squad in a for his uncle Dave Leonard. Stan Leonard umpire, the coacher at third base by touch- also homered for Great Britain. Other longing or holding the runner, physically assists lop-sided score of 14-3.
distance hits of the game were a triple by him in returning to or leaving third base,
each one double
by the runner is out." Plug Gillespie and
That makes George the goat of the game!
MAUD PITCHES WELL Willie Sprinkle and Plug.
R. H. E.
Maudie Read did very well indeed on the Great Britain.. 0 13 721 x-14 12 3 0-3 2 7
firing line for Britain, Ianning three and 300 000 Philippines ....
She was issuing no free. passes to first. nicked for nine hits including a Ruthian clout by May "Half-pint" Chung. Mary Loule on the rubber for China pitched heady ball; she struck out five and walked three.
The Filipinos did not look like anywheres near the team that so decidedly upset China the week before. Dave Amper, who was complaining of a score arm, yielded 11 runs and nine hits before he was yanked in the sixth in favour of Enoc Loyola.
TENNIS
T.
A.
PEARCE AND
FAY SHOW PROMISE
By "ADREM”
One double-play was pulled by the Chinese girls. Shortstop May Chung to Lily Mar, at the initial sack, then to Mabel Louie, at the hot corner, to nail both Vera Burson and Betty Longbottom.
Mary Lachlan took batting honours for the losers with two hits in three times up, while Mary Loule topped the batting list for the victors with the same percentage.
China was chalked up with five errors and
committed three bobbles at right field to
top her side in the miscue list.
PLAYING A REFRESHINGLY aggressive brand of ten-Great Britain six. Unfortunate Paddy Seats nis throughout, T. A. Pearce and B. C. Fay yesterday beat the experienced combination of F. H. Kwok and S. W. Liang 3-6, 6-1 and 6-2 in the Colony doubles tennis cham- pionship.
and The winners were rather prone to tempting to take the initiative
op- errors in the first set, when the stand-| being quite content to wait for
When these were ard reached was never very high. position errors.
sufficient re- Fay was largely responsible for the not forthcoming with Chinese win as he could not get his gularity, they faded out of the pic-
Liang's best stroke was groundstrokes into working order and ture. was very bad when receiving service. backhand drive but latterly he
Pearce on the other hand was steady control of this, his and made very few mistakes in any shot. department.
FAY SETTLES DOWN
Fay's play Vast improvement in made all the difference in the second set and the Cricket Club pair went out in quick time for the loss of only marked the This set one game. complete collapse of the losers' ser- That they had won all their vices. service games in the first set can be When he attributed to Fay's errors. eliminated these, there was never any doubt as to the ultimate outcome.
and And so it transpired. Fay Pearce swept all before them in the final set to go out at 6-2.
In
The winners took the net at every opportunity and generally were most reliable on the volley, although the early stages these were apt to be lacking in length and speed.
When they got on top. they drove deep and proved more than equal to the occasion at the net, coming down
-bunt to advance Johnny. With the tieing -run on third, Lino Gosano popped to Sherry. Bux at second for the third out and to end the most explosive encounter ever registered on any loose lobs with great sever- in a local International - series.
"WE CAN TAKE IT!"
course,
ity.
one
lost attacking
showed
China
1 3 1 0 0 1
Great Britain
0 12 000
BADMINTON
R. H. E. 06 9 5 0-3 7 6
GOOD MATCH TO-NIGHT
the one
badminton
outstanding
Pearce and Fay
great An extremely close promise and if they are not yet inmaich should be seen at Taikoo this the class of the Rumjahns or the
evening when Tsuis, practice together should bring semi-final match in the Colony tourna them to the front rank in the not ment will be played.
provided they too distant future pursue their present aggressive me. thods.
Y. P. TSUI ADVANCES On the Stand Court, Tsui Yan-pui had little difficulty in beating R. G. Beisel, Jr. 6-2, 6-0;
TO-DAY'S TENNIS
tennis pro-
Following is to-day's gramme at Hong Kong Cricket Club:
OPEN SINGLES' Leung Ping-chiu v⋅ Taui Wal-pul (Stand Court).
CLUB CHAMPIONSHIP
J. J. Ferguson or R. C., Beavan v D. M. MacDougall" (6),
LITEMS HANDICAP SINGLES
Fay served consistently well through, Tho Portuguesò lads were, of
spectacular, while Pearce, if not as down-hearted after the tilt and mum was
Mendonca was almost as effective, his silced the word except Mike "Fats"." who remarked, "It was a bitter pill to swal-service getting up sharply and being or E. Zulauf (~~16) (7).|||| low, but we can take it!!
difficult to return with any accuracy. D. G. D. Allen and Miss J. Purvia (scr.) A. M. "Sunburn" Omar was the happlest The Chinese pair played the usual or G. B. and Mrs. Nicholson (--3.6) v 4. 5.
and the noisiest individual at the ball park, „elated mayhap by the thought of those 10 brand of League tennis, rarely
M. Pagh (-30.3) v G. C., Burnett (15)
MIXED DOUBLES HANDICAP
at- 1 Theobald, and Mrs. Churchill (—15.2) (4).
M. A. Oliveira and Miss Mylthie on numerous oc- Silva, runners-up casions, will be opposed to K. . Yong and Miss Ullan Khoo. Miss Kl. Jo, with P. K. Hul, won the title last year, and is strongly favoured by many to win against this year.
The Recreio pair, however, are very experienced and if their opponents are not at their best form, may win.
YACHTING RESULTS
Following are the results of a ·Indies" sweepstake race held by the Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club yesterday over 5.25 miles:
Finished Pos. 5.01.47 1
Guri
(Misa L. A. Heiberg), True Blue
(Miss H. Crawhall Wilson)..
5.07.44
Jose
5,09.05
(Miss M. A. Nove); Artemis
6.11.52
(Mrs. V. Gowlland);
La Liida:
N.F.