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timing JMa? ^pris Washington, D. C., Friday, March 17, 1944—A—8 ** Win, Lose or Draw By DENMAN THOMPSON, Star 8ports Editor. If Title Hinged on Coaching, the Nats Would Be In With the playing personnel of all big league teams, including Washington's, likely to remain problematical throughout the season, due to you know what, there is a fair degree of certainty about only one department of the local club. That would be the coaching staff. A great majority of the fans are likely to take this adjunct pretty much for granted. Many, in fact, except for seeing figures in the boxes alorgside first and third bases, realize only dimly it even exists. For the average spectator a coach is some has-been who merits attention only when a player has been nipped off a sack or doubled up at the plate. The customers then become momentarily conscious of the shadowy sideliner to the extent of denouncing him as a culpable character when the chances are 10 to 1 he was in no way responsible. This because, with very few exceptions, a baserunner always Is in a position to see what's going on as clearly as any one and uses his own Judgment after sizing up situations for himself.. For all the public's lack of apprecia tion, however, coaches do more than merely whoop things up to start rallies and suffer unjustified blame when they stall. Or innoculously wield fungo sticks for fielding drills and play toss in warming-up activities. Bluege Really Doubling as Pilot and Mentor A team's coaches can make or break it. according to their Inherent talents and the way they employ them, for they not only must know their stuff, but be able to inculcate it. Proceeding from this premise, the Nationals of 1944 appear to be as well, or better, fixed as any of their rivals, even with due allowance made for the difficulties presented by the Spanish-speaking handicap of more than a third of the squad. Although manager now, Oss Bluege will continue to devote a fair share of his time to teaching neophytes the fine points of infielding at whatever spot it is essayed. Considering his versatility in being rated one of the game’s all-time greats defensively at short, as well as at second and third, he qualifies as tops in tutoring. And with Nick Altrock available to work with southpaw slingers, George Uhle with the right-handers and Clyde Milan to teach the art of snagging flies, a coaching corps second to none is functioning right now at College Park, where the Nationals are rounding out the first of their five weeks of preliminary training. This Milan man, incidentally, is quite a character. Sporting Zeb for a nickname when it might more appropriately be Baron, consider ing his flair for tall tales, he not only could go and get ’em with the best of the outfielders in his heyday, but is distinguished for having offered the immortal Ty Cobb his only real rivalry on the runways. A Texan by choice, although bom at Linden, Tenn., 57 years ago come Saturday after next, he displayed rare speed of foot from the moment he broke in with the Senators under Joe Cantillon in ’07, the same year as Walter Johnson, whose buddy and roommate he promptly became. Zeb's Tutoring Talents Well Matched by Uhle's After conquering a tendency to overslide bases. Milan went to town on the paths to wrest the thieving title from Cobb with 88 In ’12 and repeated as league champ the following year with 74, mean while compiling several seasons of better than .300 hitting during an active career with Washington that ? covered 16 seasons climaxed by manager ship in 22. Field leadership at New Haven, Memphis, Birmingham and Chat tanooga, interspersed with scouting and coaching for the Nationals followed until he returned for u’hat now is his seventh consecutive season as coach. It would appear Zeb is admirably equipped to teach all branches of base running and outftelding with the possible exception of fielding ground balls. His methods in that respect never passed muster as quite orthodox. As for Uhle he comes here with ex perience gained with the Indians and Cubs following a career on the mound at Cleveland and Detroit that spanned more than a dozen years. Few there are who hop directly from the sandlots to major league ball, but that was the feat achieved by Uhle in his native Cleveland just a quarter of a century ago, when as a lad of 20 he turned in 10 wins his very first season. Later he attained top drawer ranking with campaigns that netted him 22, 26 and 27 victories. Now a genial giant with some 200 pounds well distributed on his 6-foot frame, he currently is showing the ropes to a 17-year-old son wrho gives promise of becoming as good a pitcher as his dad. Which Will be good enough. Yeh, we’d say the coaching situation is anything but snafu. Tigers' Wood Gets Sore Arm; Each of 4 Bosox Has Coach By the Associated Press. NEW YORK. Mar. 17.—Like every baseball player, Fireman Joe Beggs, Cincinnati Red hurler, likes his base hits. Last year Joe's output was five singles in 35 trips, for a not too robust .143. Maybe that’s why, out at the Reds' Bloomington, Ind., training camp yesterday, the fire man moaned because it rained. “This is the one week all year that the pitchers get a chance to hit,” Joe complained as he ducked indoors, “and it's got to rain.” Pitchers always look good with a bat—during spring training. At Evansville, Ind., the Detroit Tigers came up with their first training casualty as Infielder Joe <J. P.i Wood complained of a sore arm. Joe, who hit a rousing .323 last year, said his arm “hasn't been right since I fell asleep with my arm hanging out the window of a train” in 1942 while in the Texas League. Outfielder Charlie Metro was the 20th Tiger to sign. Red Sox Well Coached. If man-to-man teaching can do the trick, Boston's Red Sox may escape from seventh place this sea son, for they’ll be the best-coached squad in the land the first week of the training season. Only four Sox are scheduled to report at Medford, Mass., today, and four of Skipper Joe Cronin's aides will be there to handle ’em The playing quartet is made up of Infielders Jim Tabor and Tonv Lu pien and Pitchers Joe Wood, jr., and Pinky Woods. Handing out advice will be Tom Daly, Frank S'nellenback, Larry Woodall and Bill Burwell. Elsewhere on the baseball battle lines, the news was: Chicago Cubs: Lon Warneke, veteran pitcher, advised Vice Presi dent Jim Gallagher from his Hot Springs (Ark.) home that he had been ordered to report for induc tion March 23. Boston Braves: Manager Bob Coleman has 22 reporting at Wal lingford, Conn., today, but. half of ’em aren’t on the official roster and are having their first big league fling. Philadelphia Jays: Forty-three year-old Merv Shea cheeked in with plenty of praise for Ford Mullen Charley Schanz and Ken Raffens berger. the first an infielder and the latter two hurlers, coming up from the coast loop. Shea. Portlanc (Oreg i skipper last year, expects tc aee plenty of service behind the plate. White Sox Sign Bifna. Chicago White Sox: Managei Jimmy Dykes and 14 players rompec ®ver French Lick (Ind.) countryside awaiting practice opening Monday. The Sox signed Clarence Difna, 22-year-old semipro shortstop from Festus, Mo. New York Giants: Gus Mancuso and Rookie Catcher Joe Stephenson signed contracts, then went through four-hour batting, fielding and “pepper” session with rest of squad. Included in the squad is Catcher Steve Filipowicz, former Fordham ace, honorably discharged from the marines. Pittsburgh Pirates: Catching shortage alleviated as Hank Camelli arrived. Pitcher Bob Klinger, soon to report for induction, signed con tract and hopes to pitch a few games before donning khaki. Infielder Pete Cascarat has decided to remain on defense job. Cleveland Indians: Only 16 in camp, and Skipper Lou Boudreau plainly disappointed. Only six of 29 on roster unsigned as A1 Smith puts O. K. on coniract. Dave Paynter, Wilkes-Barre hurling recruit, reports to Navy. Boston Red Sox: First American League club to sign all its players as Outfielder Bob Johnson, last year with Nats, comes to terms. Pitcher Yank Terry (won 7, lost 9 last year) rejected by Army. Pur chased Right-hander Lee Bowman and Lefty Dick Johnson from the Louisville. Giuliani to Quit Baseball ST. PAUL. Mar 17 (/Pi.—Angelo Giuliani, catcher for the St. Louis Browns, said here that he would retire from baseball this year. He recently was traded to the Browns by Washington for Rick Ferrell. Nat Infield Outlook Drab, Bluege Trains to Play Again —. ■ —.. —- ■■ ... ■ —--—..—--- ■■ ■ -■ ..1 ■ — .. - i... ■ -■ ■ ..in —1«m — - - .- - - -.- .- * . Jacobs Beach Backs Jack Despite Hot Record of Davis By the Associated Press. NEW YORK. Mar. 17.—Reflecting the peculiar form of logic found onlv in spots like Jacobs Beach, the betting boys today installed Beau Jack the bounding bootblack, as a 5-to-13 favorite over A1 Davis, left hooker de luxe from Brooklyn, in their 10-round fray tonight in Mad ison Square Garden. Just a month ago Davis knocked out Bob Montgomery in 63 seconds. Just two weeks ago Montgomery outpointed Beau Jack, taking his New York version of the lightweight championship of the world. To most folks, that would set Davis up as a cinch over the Beau, but the Beach boys don't see it that way. They seem to figure the Beau, who is in there swinging every sec ond. can't be hit by Davis. How ever. the southpaw slugger, in his last two outings, each scheduled for 10 heats, has been in the ring a total of 2 minutes and 41 seconds. A month before he blasted Mont gomery, Davis kayoed Buster Beau pre in 98 seconds. 45 Teams From 17 Stales In AAU Court Tourney DENVER, Mar. 17.—Forty-five teams from 17 States have declared their bids for the National AAU basket ball title to be decided in the week-long tourney starting in Den ver Sunday. Dow Chemical of Midland. Mich., and Phillips “66” of Bartlesville, Okla., are regarded as potentials to annex the cage title of titles. Phillips “66” is defending champ. GOOD CATCH—Rogelio Valdes came up from Cuba as an out fielder on the Nats' roster, but turned out to be a better-than average backstop when he began drilling at College Park. He could be a big help to a club short of receivers—Star Staff Photo. Tall Cagers' Value Is Uncertain After De Paul, St. John's Win By the Associated Press. NEW YORK, Mar. 17.—Value of a skyscraping center was still a moot basket ball question today. At least, the 18.197 fans who crowded Madison Square Garden last night for the opening round of the national invitation tourney had fuel for each side of the argument. De Paul's highly rated quintet, with 6-foot 9-inch George Mikan going on a 27-point spree, elim inated the marine-manned Muhlen burg team, 68 to 45. Mikan was the “difference.” In the other contest St. John’s, defending champions, ousted Bowl ing Green, 44 to 40, with 6-foot 11 inch Don Otten of the losers getting only 4 points. Otten, however, due to his height, was responsible for four enemy field goals, one of which he tipped in and three which were allowed when he touched the rim or reached above the basket to deflect the ball. Otten, however, was a bulwark on defense, and without him the high flying Falcons probably would have fared worse. Remaining first-round games are slated Monday, when Kentucky tan gles with Utah and Canisius meets the Oklahoma Aggies. In the March 22 semifinals St. John’s meets the Kentucky-Utah winner and De Paul runs into the Canisius-Aggtes victor. Police Boys' Tossers Offer All-Star Card Three games are scheduled to morrow night at George Washington University gymnasium among cham pionship teams in the Metropolitan Police Boys’ Club Basket Ball League and all-star quints selected from other clubs in the loop. First game begins at 7:30. Winning teams, all with records of nine victories in 10 games, were No. 11 in the midget division, No. 10 among the juniors and No. 12 among the seniors. Leading scorers in each division for the season were Hartman of No. 10, 88 points among the midgets; Ryan of No. 10 with 94 among the juniors, and Gilchrist of Mount Rainier with 116 among the seniors. Ex-Champions Facing In Senior Golf Play By the Associated Press. SEBRING. Fla., Mar. 17.—Two former champions were pitted today in the semifinals of the 10th annual midwinter tournament for amateur senior golfers at* the Kenilworth Lodge course. Charles H. Jennings of Roaring Gap, N. C., who has worn the crown four times, faced Raleigh W, Lee of Columbus, Ohio, three times title holder. In the lower bracket Medalist Peter Herkner of Cleveland, Ohio, met Fred A. Jensen of Chicago. Yesterday Jennings defeated Fred L. Riggin of Port Huron, Mich., 1 up; Lee eliminated H. N. Balch of Ma plewood, N. J., 4 and 2; Herkner beat Defending Champion J. W. Dodge of Syossett, N. Y„ 1 up, and Jensen defeated Frank W. Sampson of Atlanta. 5 and 4. Sports Honors Follow Graham to Colgate By the Associated Press. • CHICAGO, Mar. 17—Otto Gra ham, who in three years at North western won many awards for his athletic achievements and who now is a transfer student at Colgate, once again has been honored. The former versatile Wildcat ath lete yesterday w-as named winner of the Don McCames Memorial Medal for service to the 1943-44 basket ball team of which he was captain He is the third player to win the award, which commemorates Don McCames, former Wildcat cage star and the first Northwestern athlete to die in the war. Trosky Rejected by Draft CEDAR RAPIDS. Iowa. Mar. 17 iPi.—Hal Trosky, former first base man for Cleveland and now of the White Sox, has been rejected for military service and will report next week at training camp. Sports Mirror By the Associated Press. Today a year ago—Ted Wil liams, Boston Red Sox home-run hitter, operated up>on for hernia. Three years ago—Hank Green berg, Detroit first baseman, placed in 1-A by draft board but his case to be referred to medical board for possible deferment be cause of flat feet. Five years ago—-John Henry Lewis’ fight with Dave Clark at Detroit called off after examina tion reveals Lewis nearly blind in left eye. Chicago Heavy Champ Out Of Intercity Ring Series By the Associated Presa. CHICAGO, Mar. 17.—Orlan Ott, winner of the Chicago Golden Gloves heavyweight title, will be unable to compete in the annual intercity matches March 27 against New York. Ott, a naval aviation cadet at Corpus Christi, Tex., was among those missing when the champions opened drill. He fought as a repre sentative of the Fort Worth (Tex.) team, but will be unable to leave his station. Coaches said that Ragon Kinney, Los Angeles (Calif.) champion, who lost to Ott in the final, probably will be moved to the No. 1 position. Teachers Run Basket Wins to Nine in Row D. C. Teachers continued their perfect record in the Recreation Department Colored Basket Ball League by defeating City Post Office, 34-30. This gave the Teachers a record of nine straight wins. Jockey's Injuries Severe MIAMI, Fla., Mar. 17 (^(.—Ex amination of Jockey Carl Horvath, injured Tuesday during running of the first race at Tropical Park, showed he was suffering with a broken pelvis and two broken bones in his knee. Fort Belvoir Reaches Basket Semifinals Port Belvoir, favored to win the D. C. basket ball tournament, won a place in the semifinals to be played Sunday at Heurich gymnasium by defeating a strong Bolling Field team, 40-37, last night. Although Fort Belvoir does not play tonight, four other teams go on the floor, two of which will participate in the semifinals. FBI No. 2 meets Engi neer and Research at 8 o’clock and United Typewriter faces Greenbelt at 9. Two girl games will open and close this evening’s meet. WAVES go against Marinettes at 7 and Sholl’s Cafe takes on GAO at 10. In other games last night, Green belt defeated Camp Springs, 48-41: Engineer and Research trimmed Marine Paymasters, 51-44. and in the Heurich League playoffs United Typewriters whipped Jacobsen Flor ist, 77-61. This last tile ended Jacobsen's chances for the league title. United Typewriter will battle Perruso's Cafe on Sunday for the championship. Coach, Tired of Victory, Quits School Quint By the Associated Press. CHICAGO, Mar. 17.—Here’s a basket ball coach who is quitting his duties because, he says, he needs a rest after five years of piloting winning teams. Lou Weintraub coached junior basket ball teams at Marshall High School, which scored 98 consecutive victories before a recent defeat. Weintraub said he wanted to step aside to let somebody else take charge. He will retain his duties as gymnasium instructor. Army Gets Giant Hurler MEDFORD. Oreg., Mar. 17 OP).— Paul Gehrman, 20-game winner for Los Angeles last year and bought by the New York Giants, has turned up at Camp White as an Army private. Army Makes Better Boxers of Woods, Davis By HUGH FULLERTON, Jr., Associated Press Sports Writer NEW YORK, Mar. 17.—'The Army sometimes does things to a guy—things that are good for a fellow in a peculiar business like boxing. Take Sergt. Lou Woods, for example, or A1 Davis. Woods, just matched for a Chi cago fight with Jake Lamotta, leading civilian middleweight, used to be one of those carefree kids who found fighting enjoy able as well as profitable and who didn’t have to work hard at his trade. Then the Army took him and Irish Eleven Begins to Shapen As 14 Schoolboy Stars Show By the Associated Press. SOUTH BEND, Ind.. Mar. 17. Notre Dame’s 1944 football team began taking shape as 14 outstand ing high school players—six from New York City, seven from Chicagc and one from Gary, Ind.—com pleted freshman registration. Assistant Coach Ed McKeever | who will be in charge of drills while Head Coach Frank Leahy goes on a | three-month USO overseas tour 'said he had asked permission ol Notre Dame's Navy commandant tc open practices next week Newr Yorkers will provide somt much-needed line talent. From Al Hallows High School came thret 190-pound tackles—Joe Fitzsim mons, Ed Musco and Joe Gerrtty and from Mount St. Michaels cam' two ends—Bill O'Connor and Dor iGegley. Another product of St. I Michaels, winner of the New York Catholic championship last season, jis Halfback Prank Burke. Three Chicagoans, Backs Neil Dauphine and Don Murphy and End Bob Walsh, were members of Leo High School's citv champions in 1941-42—teammates of Rob Kelly, an outstanding freshman back for I Notre Dame last fall and one of the .veterans returning for spring prac tices. Oilier Chicago br, s are Don Leshtr, all-city and all-state full back; Tom Neswold, a star quarter back, and two more backs. Burt | Schmidt and Don Doody. Lesher and Neswold, as well as Rudy Krall, a fullback from Gan', were enrolled at the University of Illinois before being shifted to Notre Dame in the liNavy V-5 program. eventually made him boxing in structor at Camp Grant, 111. The responsibility sobered Lou, and he decided to learn more about boxing, with the result, accord ing to reports from the Midwest, that he’s a lot better ringman now. Davis was a kid with a terrific left hook and a reputa tion for being a rowdy fighter that was a source of pride to him. “Bummy" once was banned from New York rings for roughness but was allowed to return after the Army gave him a medical discharge. ’’He's a lot more serious now and determined to shed that bad boy reputation. He still has a lethal left, as he proved by stif fening Buster Beaupre and Bob Montgomery in less than three minutes of his last two fights. And those who have been watch ing him say the Davis who will fight Beau Jack tonight prob ably is a better boxing business man than the old Davis, who had the advantages of speed and youthful enthusiasm. This isn't a prediction that Woods or Davis will be a world lAUTOGLASSlj Any Size—Any Shape Seat Cushions—Covers MADE TO ORDER Taranto fir Wasman | 1321 L St. N.W, NA. 2966 beater when boxing makes its comeback after the war, but the chances are that men who now are serving Uncle Sam will be somewhere near the top of the heap. Remember a chap named Gene Tunney who came out of the last war determined to be come heavyweight champion? His greatest assets were determina tion and serious attention to his trade, and he got there. Mrs. Ward Cuff, wife of the grid Giants' veteran back, is planning to open a day nursery for preschool children in Milwau kee while Ward is away at war. Her two small daughters, of course, will get in on the cuff. Back in 1890 the Buffalo Play ers' League club, of which Connie Mack was manager and stock holder, scored 75 runs in 73 hits in its first four game, „ut finished the season in last place. How times don’t change. When a story about a golf tour nament at Casablanca hit the wires the other day, the Chicago Daily News headlined it, “African Golf Meet Carded, But Not for Crapshooters.” Charlotte Golf Crown Is Eyed by Hamilton, North-South Victor Bt the Associated Press. CHARLOTTE, N. C., Mar. 17.— Bob Hamilton, young unknown from Evansville, Ind., set out after golf’s newest prize, the $10,000 Charlotte Inaugural, today after pocketing first money in the oldest open tour nament now in operation, the North and South at Pinehurst. The 28-year-old Hoosier. who never had won an event outside his home State, put a seven-stroke beating on a limited field by firing two subpar rounds of 70 and 71 yesterday for a 72-hole total of 286 in the 43d renewal of the Pinehurst event. Today he goes up against much sterner competition, including the cream of the GA’s touring caravan, Jug McSpaden, leading money win ner this winter: Byron Nelson, Sam Byrd and Johnny Revolta, the other winter tour winners—all of whom passed up the North-South. Revolta teamed with Lt. Lynn, Creason of Oregon, a paratrooper on his way home from the Army, to tie for the first honors in the Charlotte pro-amateur yesterday with a 67. Craig Wood, the duration United States Open champion, and John Bayne, Charlotte amateur, also had a 67. Wee Bobby Cruickshank of Rich mond, Va„ defending the cham pionship he won in 1943, finished second at Pinehurst with 293, one shot ahead of big Clayton Heafner, Army sergeant from Camp Croft, S. C., leader at the halfway mark. Leonard Dodson of Kansas City was fourth with 295, Horton Smith fifth with 298 and the veteran Gene Sarazen and Joe Zarhardt of Nor ristown, Pa., were tied for sixth at 299. farm Toil May Deprive Brooklyn of Vaughan By the Associated Press. BEAR MOUNTAIN. N. Y„ Mar. 17.—Inflelder Arky Vaughan re mains on the Brooklyn doubtful list due to complications of farm help and health, and Mickey Owen will split his time between farming and catching. Owen has been given permission to take frequent leaves to supervise his Brookline (Mo.) farm. Shortstop Pat Ankenman was the 18th Dodger to sign. Son of A. L. Prexy Just Medium Fan By the Associated Press. ABILENE, Tex., Mar. 17.—Be ing the son of the President of the American League hasn't made a baseball zealot of Capt. William H. Harridge, jr„ sta tioned at Camp Barkeley In the 12th Armored Division. Capt. Harridge, who commands Company D of the 714th Tank Battalion, said: “I think base ball is a great game but I always have been more interested in other sports. It has discomfitted my father no little.” Vaulfer Warmerdam, Speeding Dodds Top Chicago Meet List By thf Associated Press. CHICAGO. Mar. 17.—The Na tion's top track and field talent. In cluding eight American champions and more than 170 other outstand ing athletes, will compete at Chicago Stadium Saturday in the eighth annual Chicago relays. Twin attractions will be the first competitive appearance this season of Ensign Cornelius Warmerdam, world pole vault champion, and the 17th running of the Bankers’ mile, in which Gil Dodds, Boston Theo logical student, will attempt to crack his own world indoor record ol 4:07.3.’ Warmerdam, who set his world mark of 15 feet ,834 inches in the relays last year, is a preflight in structor at Monmouth (111.) Col lege. Dash events are crowded with na tionally known speedsters. In the 60-yard chase there are three who have equaled the world record ol 6.1 seconds—American Co-titlist Herbert Thompson of the United States Coast Guard, Ed Conwell ol New York U. and Claude "Buddy’ Young, Illinois freshman. There are two other dashes, three hurdle races, 600-yard, 1,000-yard and 2-mile runs and the high Jump Expected to offer stiffest competi tion to Dodds are Bill Hulse of the New York Athletic Club, American outdoor mile king; Rudy Simms ol New York U. and Ross Hume ol Michigan, co-Big Ten champion. District Bowlers to Take Part In Rhode Island Bond Event With Washington bowlers taking part in a War Bond tournament modeled after The Evening Star’*, Rhode Island duckpinners, led by WEAN. A host of the Capital stars, launch a State-wide drive for $2,000,000. The WICC Station women’s team of Bridgeport, Conn., winner of the women’s national team champion ship in 1938 and 1940, will be fea tured on the opening night's pro gram in a match at the Rhode Island Recreation in Providence that will be broadcast over Station champion heavyweight boxer and men and women, will see action in special matches during the drive. Elbersole on the Job. Arville Ebersole, mainspring of the National Duckpin Bowling Congress and chairman of the National Bowl ing Council, will direct the entire evept. Many articles will be auc tioned to accelerate the bond sales at special matches and among them will be duckpins autographed by Comdr. Gene Tunney, former world champion heavyweight boxer, and now head of the Navy’s physical fitness program. Joe Cronin, man ager of the Boston Red Sox, has autographed baseballs which will go to the highest bidders. In the meantime, week-end bowl ing in the Capital will get an early start tomorrow morning at the Lucky Strike, when Uncle BUI Wood throws his annual pin party for more than 200 playground girls. Sunday the Lucky Strike general manager will be host to a flock of bowlers with averages of under 110 in the 16th annual Bill Wood dub tournament. Top prize is $100. The event will be rolled in two five game blocks at 3 and 7:30. Woman roUers with averages of 103 and under will have their in ning Sunday at the Lafayette in the Lucile Young Near-Star event. Baltimore Draws D. C. Stars. A galaxy of Washington stars wiU compete in Baltimore over the week end. Tomorrow the Oriole Mixed Doubles wiU be renewed at the Baltimore Lucky Strike. Paul James and Ruby Parry, Bob Miciotto and Lorraine Gulli, Tony Santini and Helen Roberts, A1 Wright and Frankie Wilson, Eddie Keith and Alma Mehler, Charlie Mehler and Jessie Keith will be among the Dis trict twosomes. Ethel Brewer and Johnny MiUer won the last tourna ment, held in 1941. Sunday the annual Johnny Vaeth and Johnny Ruppel Memorial event will lure for District's leading male rollers, with more than 20 expected to shoot. Pilot, 43, Finds Grind Punishing; Spence Accepts Terms By JOHlf B. KELLER. Infleld worries not only are getting Os Bluege gray, but they’re also get ting him a set of sore muscles. Ever since he failed to land an extra in flelder at the major leagues’ winter meetings the Nat manager has been fretting and now that he realizes Harlond Clift wont be around to take care otf third base. Ossie has been toiling overtime to get himself in trim for part-time duty at that sack. As his Nats hustled through their training yesterday at College Park, Bluege did a full share of everything needed to get his charges in shape then took a few extra turns at vari ous chores to get the kinks out of his 43-year-old muscles. He got rid of a lot of them, but took on a deal of pain. “I wouldn't admit this before,'* Bluege said, “but the situation is such that I must get myself ready to step into the Infleld anywhere from second base to third perhaps for two or three days a week in the early part of the season.’’ Tough Grind for Bluege. To fit himself for the ordeal— and ordeal It will be for a man whose good playing days are years behind him—Bluege is pitching to batters in practice, taking intensive infield workouts and even doing fly shagging in the outfield. That’s a strenuous program for him, one that has him near exhaustion at the finish of the daily session. But Ossie is determined to be ready to make his contribution to the Nats on the field, once the bell rings for the start of the campaign. He still has some speed in his legs, that rubber arm is as sound as ever and he can pick up the hot ones with the finest of the inflelders. But he can't beat time. The best he can hope to do is play briefly on occasions. He’ll probably be needed plenty. Both George Myatt, regular second sacker since the loss of Gerald Priddy, and Johnny Sullivan, short stop, are close to draft calls and the only infielders coming up are the little-experienced Cubans, Luis Suarez and Gomez, and Hillis Layne, who holds a medical dis charge from the Army. Spence Gets in Line. Layne might fill in at times at some spot, but he has an ailing leg that is apt to go back on him at any time. So Bluege is working harder than any other Nat at training camp. He means to be ready for any in field emergency. Stan Spence finally is in line, which ends President Clark Grif fith's holdout troubles. The out fielder has written that terms are satisfactory and he will sign his contract on arrival here Monday. Roberto Ortiz, husky slugger bought from Montreal last season, has notified Griffith he hopes to leave Havana Sunday with the re mainder of the Nats’ Latin group and check in by plane here early Monday. He is expected to convoy 10 players. Bucky Harris, former Nat man ager, was a camp visitor yesterday. He’s hopeful of picking up some of the material the club may drop after the training campaign. Bucky’s Buffalo club starts training Monday at Hershey, Pa. Carrasquel in Socking Mood. Everybody took a turn in batting practice with Pitcher Early Wynn and Outfielder Jake Powell socking impressively. But the most tickled in the drill was A1 Carrasquel, who pounded three torrid liners to left field. Bluege was a pinch hitter for Griffith last night at a Frederick <Md.) banquet honoring Connie Mack of the A’s, who are training in that town. Junior Boxing Event Provides Lone K. 0. One knockout was registered last night as the junior Golden Gloves boxing tournament opened at Mer rick Boys’ Club. Second round bouts are scheduled next Monday night at Georgetown Branch Boys’ Club. The kayo was scored by John Sturgess of Mount Rainier over Ralph Carnes of Central Branch in the third round of one of the 130 pound bouts. Summaries: SO pounds—Danny Rapinne (Merrick) won on forfeit over Walter Spires (East ern i; Earl Draper (Alexandria) decisioned Mike Sullivan (Merrick); Fred Aubrey (Merrick) decisioned John Hebron (Alex andria). . Ho pounds—Forrest Fuller (Merrick) de cisioned Junior Randall (Georgetown)' Dick Hughes (Mount Rainier) decisioned Albert Herndon (Eastern). . 75 pounds—James Knight (Eastern) de cisioned James Tolson (Georgetown). ho Dounds—Tommy Abell (Eastern) de cisioned Larry Piller (Central); Joe Ken nerhan (Georgetown) decisioned Lonnie Breedon (Alexandria); Eddie King (George town) decisioned Dick Rowlett (Alexan dria!. KK) pounds—Jack Lynch (Merrick) de cisioned Donald Simpson (Alexandria); Jim Moran (Eastern) decisioned Elmer Kidd (Alexandria). 110 pounds—Vernon Groves (Alexan dria) decisioned Jim Tydings (Merrick); A1 Colaya (Central) decisioned Bunny Wal lace (Georgetown); Ronald Mathews (Mer ricki decisioned Francis Regan (Eastern); Eddie Crane (Alexandria) decisioned Mil ford Cleveland (Eastern). i~H pounds—Pat Landolt (Mount Rain ieri decisioned R"d Withers (Georgetown); Joe Dunn (Merrick) won over Joe Sevmour (Georgetown), on forfeit. lull pounds—John Sturgess (Mount Rainier) knocked out Ralph Carnes (Cen tral). ihird round: AI Stinger 'Merrick) decisioned Marvin France (Alexandria). ’. - n^1-1 Armstrong Confident, but Toils Hard for Contest With Wills Henry Armstrong, boxing’s former three-way champion, has hard work outs scheduled today and tomorrow at the Liberty A. C. gym, 419 Ninth street, to round out preparations for his 10-round fight on Monday night at Uline Arena against Wash ington's Frankie Wills. Armstrong arrived in Washington yesterday a day ahead of schedule and fresh from a triumph in Miami, where he scored a five-round knock out over Broadway Johnny Jones. The Hammer, as usual, was full of quiet confidence. He admitted that Wills is the biggest and probably the most dan gerous of the boys he has met so far on this comeback tour. “I’ll fight him exactly as I’ve fought the rest. I couldn’t change my style if I wanted to, and I gen erally do alright against these big boys. I still have some speed and punch, and if I can set Wills up for a knockout I'll do it,” said Hennery. Armstrong has chilled six straight opponents, including Washington's Lew Hanbury, who was a third round victim here last month. He's been to Washington four times, winning every fight by a knockout. FOR FACTORY APPROVED CHEVROLET SERVICE ON CARS OR TRUCKS SEE CHEVY CHASE MOTOR CO. 7725 Wis. Ave. Wis. 1635 Opinions still come from Wills’ training headquarters in Baltimore that Frankie is in position to score an upset on Monday night. Trainer Heinie Blaustein has Wills ready, he claims. “He’s a greatly improved fighter,” say Blaustein, “and is ready for the toughest fight of his career.'* A big stock of the finest, tough est synthetic tires mode todoy— according to the B. F. Goodrich 80-million mile test.