1939-05-23 — Page 23

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THE CHINA MAIL, MAY 23, 1939.

BASEBALL NOTES

Hong Kong Baseball League Looks Very Open

Clubs Loaded Down With Unknown Quantities

THREE TEAMS SHOULD

BE IN AT DEATH

(By “GRAND STAND”)

The Hong Kong Baseball League champion- ship race started three weeks ago and that's the only sure thing about it. Anybody who tries to pre- dict the finish is strictly on the dipsy-doodle side for there is no team that really looks good enough to be roosting above the rest.

While "Colonel" Dave Walker, veteran catcher of the Hong Kong Baseballers, is waiting for the ball, pitcher Wally Ching, of the Chinese B.C., slides across the plate for one of the eight runs scored by the Chinese.

SOUTH CHINA A.A. CELEBRATION

Some two hundred football play- ers, representatives of the different football clubs, and representatives of the Chinese and English Press, gathered last night at the Kam Ling Restaurant, West Point, where a dinner, celebrating their soccer successes, was given by the South China Athletic Association.

load. If "Larry" stumbles, the Mol-Man-chi, President of the S.C.A.A., the

Every outfit this year, including the champ "Larry" Lawrence carrying the The gathering included Mr. Chau Chinese Baseball Club, is loaded down with ques- tion-mark diamond artists who must come through to make a showing.

New faces and old arms will tell the difference between last year's flopping floogies and a hustling, well tuned shield contender.

•

The Union Brewery aggrega- gation-composed mostly of the defunct Volunteer and Indian teams Chinese Baseball and U.S.S. Mindanao probably fight it out in a tri-club foto finish.

Club

will

With their two straight wins, Chester Bennett's brewers have a good chance to cop the champion- ship, but they have not really proved their mettle to such an en- tent as to be considered sure win- ners of the covetted Bagram Shield.

U.B. has a dependable battery in Madeen Arculli and Harold Winglee with "Lefty" Joe Bowen to relieve on the mound if necessary. They have a well knit infield and a bunch of heavy sluggers, notably M. Arculli and Dave Leonard.

Dropped From Favour

Chinese Baseball Club, the "peepul's choice" as well as the experts', because of a dismal showing in their first two

Flashy shortstop Dave Bautista, of Hong Kong Baseball Club, steal- ing home with spikes flying in their game with the Chinese Base- ballers. Nip- Lum is just too late in tagging Bautista.

games, have dropped considerably from favour. The team, without the guld- ance of their old mentor, Abe Liú, lack the spark of winners and have been unable to remedy their weakness the outfield.

in

Earl Wong, considered the best hur- ler on these shores, with Nip Lum at the receiving end, should furnish the best battery in the circuit, while Wally Ching can always be depended upon to take over the assignment on the mound if Earl Wong is off form.

After giving Chinese. Baseball Club a hiding and then losing to the Union Brewery clan, It's hard telling how and where U.S.S. Mindanao will finish in the League standing this seRSON.

Their fielding and hitting look good but their weakness is where it hurts most in the pitching! S

Their success will depend on

"Ruele pitching-arm

1

Mentor Doc Molthen, of the

in Hong Kong Baseballers, dramatic appeal to Umpire Dave Leonard on Earl Wong's baulk in the second inning of their 'game with the Chinese Baseball Club. Doc won the appeal.

sufficiently recover to hold up over a full season.

One good pitcher can help a lot but it is doubtful if Ruel can help enough!

Not Discouraged

Gosano lads have

The Rambling Recs hit a slump early in the season but are not discouraged. They will be there fighting and making a good name for themselves.

Despite the absence of the brothers, the Portuguese plenty of good material available and should develop a creditable team, by mid-season. The mound staff is also and unless a problem to the Recs Johnny Alvares improves, "Spotty" Pereira will have to shoulder their re- maining eight fixtures.

Hopes of Hong Kong Baseball Club fans have soared high after their good showing against Chinese Baseball Club ten days ago.

Infield trouble, which has become a permanent boarder at the Hong Kong Baseball Club table, is the biggest hurdle that Mentor Doc Molthen has to over-come. With the excention of Ernie Hear- ther. at the initial sack, the Hongkong- ites have a new outfit in the Infield and individually they figure to have the stuff. Sammy Izatt at third and Dave Bautista at Shortstop look impressive

With the transfer of Honorato Pau- lino from U.B.. the Hong Kong Base. hall Club infield will be strengthened..| The garden crew and a weak batting side are other problems for Doc Mol- then,

As it looks now H.K.B.C.-must de- pend on superlative pitching, with

ball players in their 20 registered play-

thenmen are sunk. Hong Kong Base- Mr. T. F. Lo, Chairman of ball Club have the makings of good S.C.A.A., Mr. W. Pryde, Chairman ers, but Prexy Duclos' job and the of the Hong Kong Football Asso- Club's hopes hang on whether or not ciation, Mr. J. Ralston, Vice-Presi- he can inject them with enough spirit dent of the Hong Kong F.A., Major and fight to win the close ones.

The boys are out in force practising four times a week and they may he in

the race yet.

Unknown Quantity

C. M. Manners and Mr. Mok Hing, S.C.A.A. Football Manager.

Following the toasts to the King and the Republic of China, Mr. Chau Man- chi spoke briefly on the football suc- cesses of the Association and said that the thanks of the Association were not The South China Athletic Associa-only due to the players but to the pu- tion team is an unknown quantity, but, blic for the enthusiastic support. judging from their debut against Re-' creio, they have the makings of a real

ball team.

C. C. Lee, on the mound, and coach, is the spark plug of the clan. The fans speculating how this new team will weather the campaign!

are.

Major. C. M. Manners said that all were hoping that the Association would continue to have the same success as previously and paid tribute to the en- ormous assistance that footballers in Hong Kong have given.

China's

the Mr. Mok Hing congratulated footballers in Hong Kong for the gen- (Continued from next Column) erous sums they had assisted in rais- Hon. Mr. M. K. Lo and Cdr. C. P. Mc-ing for charity. Team work, he said,

key to South Carthy, R.N., and added their regrets had been the for being unable to attend the dinner, success...

Proposing a toast to the guests, Mr. of Mr. Ralston said that the feat South China

T. F. Lo said that South' China A.A. A.A. in sweeping the board clean of all trophies was unique were happy to have present so many in the annals of the Colony's football people to share in the triumphs of the history. He concluded with congratu- Association. lations to the management and

the

out

Mr. Wong Ka-tsun then read players of South China who had been messages of congratulation from the Continued at foot of preceding Col. responsible for the triumphs.

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