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About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (May 28, 1927)
Webfoot Tennis Squad Fare Well During Season Neer and Okerberg Gain Distinguished Record In Singles Matches -- O Team Will Have Strength Again Next Spring By Joe Pigney When “Red” Grange decided to drop college football and go into the game on a monetary basis, he ere atod a great deal o t consternation among the lovers •of amateur sports. Wise gray heads nodded gravely, and made start ling predictions of the complete ab sorption of college football by pro fessional circles. The sages cre ated a picture of the new era of Abercrombie athletics in the universities; a pic ture that was the cause of much mirth among the followers of the fall classics. The sketch drawn of the future of college sport was one of a tennis meet between rival schools. Banked on all sides of the court were countless rows of seats filled with enthusiastic rooters and co-eds urging the heroic racket wielders to do their darnedest. Tennis Gains Favor The scene resembled that of a football contest. The significant difference, however, was that the warriors of the gridiron had been supplanted by net-men. The spirit of football was still there; the yell leaders, the girls, the color, the old grads—all were there to encourage the white-clad team to uphold the honor of the school. The picture is impossible, and there is no particular danger of tennis superseding football. Tho court game, nevertheless, is coming to be recognized as a major sport in college activities. Tho recent Pacific coast tournament held on the University of Oregon courts, May 21-22, gave evidenco of tho in creasing interest. Tho temporary stands were filled to capacity during the feature matches, and, despite the unfavorably weather, both players and spectators experienced a success ful conflict. The work of the Webfoot tennis men in the last few seasons has added to the general tendency to favor it as a major sport. Edward Abercrombie, coach, has produced some really great players. Last year, Koy Okerborg and Harry Coffin were the men unbeaten in coast tourna ments. These two men gave good accounts of themselves on their trip to the national meets last summer. This year, Okerborg and Henry Neer, a sophomore, have duplicated the success of last year, and the tentative trip east bids high to be another triumph for Oregon. Neer and Okey Star As a team, this year's squad may have been a trifle top-heavy. The work of Neer and Okerborg at Nos. 1 and 2 left quite a gap between the less brilliant performances of the other positions. The Webfoots, however, were not stinted in vic tories. On the pre-season trip to Portland they defeated the Multno mah club and Reed college with out much difficulty. The Aggies were overwhelmed twice. Stan ford and Washington were the only teams that put the crimp in the Webfoot record. Tennis is a game that depends on the individual. Although team work is a necessary factor in the doubles ■combinations, the real strength is determined by the work of the indi viduals. Two strong players paired together have a great advantage j>ver two fairly good players who nave better teamwork. Neer played his first*year on the varsjty this spring, and if his play ing continues to improve as rapidly in the future as in the past, he will be the shining light of the confer ence. Neer did not lose a singles match the whole season; his only de feat came in the doubles with Oker berg, at the hands of McElvenuy and Herrington, the doubles cham pions from Stanford. Hard Tilts Won Neer proved his ability us a tennis jilayer when he downed McElvenuy In the singles of the coast tourney. McElvennv took the lirst set hand ily, not losing a game. In the second set Neer fathomed the mystery and came out on top, 6-1. The third and deciding set was a seesaw affair that had both the players and the gallery groggy before it ended. Each player was winning his own serve consistently, until finally Neer broke through amt took the set after 20 torrid games had been played, li t), Last year Okerborg was the ranking player on the squad, but this year he was crowded into sec end position by the aggressive Neer Okey’s game was by no means in t'erior to that of last year; on the contrary, it was decidedly improved His speed and network made hiu one of the most popular players ii the Northwest from the standpoint of the spectator. Okey’s reach ane his ability to cover the court wen great assets that he cajiitalized to full extent. A short lob was a fatal stroke if Okey got hold of it. Okerberg lost his only match to Ogden, the Stanford ace. Okey has been a varsity letterman for three years, and the hole he leaves through graduation will be a hard one to fill. Team Play Uneven Clare Hartman playe$ his first year with varsity competition and won his letter. Hartman was de feated in his matches with Plum mer of Washington and Herrington of Stanford by close margins and after heated battles. He beat his Aggie opponent in both meets. Dick Edge at No. 4 also lost in the play with the Huskies and Cardinals, but his work against the Aggies and in pre-season games warrant him as a player with great possibilities. Mel Cohn and Tom Cross alter nated at the fifth position. Cross lost the only Webfoot match to the Aggies in Corvallis, but avenged himself at the expense of McGrew in straight sets when the Orange men invaded Eugene. Cohn had an “off and on” year, and, although he earned his letter, the unreliability that he developed kept him on the sidelines during some of the play. On the trip to Portland, he was de feated by O’Hara of the Multnomah club. The next week at Corvallis, however, he overcame his Irish complex and defeated McGrew, a Scotchman. Oregon’s outlook for next year is fairly bright. Only one man, Oker berg, will be lost by graduation. The strength of this year’s frosh team will not be a great asset unless there is considerable improvement, but the varsity men who will be back next spring will have added a whole year to their experience. Basketball (Continued from vage one) final play of “Swede” Westergren, Roy Okerberg and Jerry Gunther, star Oregon hoopers. Westergren won all-coast guard distinction, while Okerberg was without a rival at center. Gunther played well all season. Coach Billy Reinhart had an op portunity to break in several new men who have the responsibility as veterans next winter. Scott Milli gan, guard; Gordon Hidings, for ward; Dave Epps, Joe Bally, Don McCormick and Keith Emmons, all had experience this year. The return of Clair Scallon to school next fall is expected, and he will be one of the mainstays of the 1928 team. Scallon won all-Ameri can honors while a high school player, and was a member of last year’s freshman squad. IIo was not in school during the pa?t hoop sea son. Ronald Coleman, guard, and Ken Robie, forward, are the most likely looking material coming from the freshman squad. Out of these men, Reinhart must build a quintet to carry on Oregon’s hoop prestige. Frosh Ball Team Win Nine Games During Spring Yearlings Lose to Salem; Four Victories Gained j Over Rooks o _ By Bill Haggerty With a record of having lost j only one game out of nine played,! the frosh baseball team recently! ended a success ful season. Salem high school was the only team during the season that was able to chalk up a defeat against the frosh, accomplished by a 7 to 5 score. The victories in cluded four straight wins over the O. A. C. rooks, one from Albany Leslie college, one from Washington nigh school of Portland, and two from the Monmouth normal school. The scores of the games with the rooks were 11 to 7, 7 to 3, 9 to 4, and 7 to 5. Albany college was taken into camp 20 to 1; Washington high school, 11 to 9; and Monmouth nor mal school, 25 to 1 and 4 to 3. Averages show that the yearlings batted at a .419 clip in the nine games played. McDonald led the list of regulars with 16 hits out of 23 times to bat for an average of .695. Nine of the first eleven play ers on the squad had a percentage of better than .350. Fuller and McDonald, the two pitching aces, were another big factor in the strong showing of the frosli. In the first game of the season against Albany college not a hit was registered against these two hurlers. Fuller held the Books to one lone hit in the last game, although five runs were scored through errors. The batting aver ages of the first eleven men on the squad were: Player At B; McDonald . 23 Walton . 18 Nelson . 38 Mason . 37 Giles . 30 Fuller . 14 Laughlin . 22 Wirth . 36 Williams . 28 Eobie . 37 Coleman . 22 Hits Ave. 16 .695 9 .500 18 .473 17 .459 13 .433 6 .429 9 .409 14 .383 10 .357 12 .297 4 .181 A Happy Memory For Later Years! It will be too late in years to come to have your Graduation Photo taken In after years, you’ll want to look back on the happy occasion of your graduation. You will want to see yourself as others saw you on that all-important day. Have a Graduation Photograph taken - - an artistic masterpiece that you may treasure through life. Romane Studio 938 Willamette Street (Over J. C. Penney’s) Ira Woodie, a quarterback with a cool head and a rifle-true passing arm, will have first call. Mason and Frank Mimnaugh, ex-frosh, with Dudley Clark and Merrill Hagan, varsity subs last year, will be Woodie's understudies. Dudley Clark, all-star Portland quarter a few years ago, was handicapped last fall by illness, but is an effec tive signal caller with a level head. He has speed both as an interfer ence runner and a ball carrier. Hagan won his spurs in the W. S. C. game, and is dependable. Both freshmen ran their team in good fashion, and are able to forward pass. Plenty of Half-Backs There will be such an array of halfbacks that it will be difficult for Vidal to choose the best. Bur nell and Ord, of last season’s var sity, supplemented by Bobby Rob inson, Ron Coleman, and Cecil Gabriel from the green-cap squad will put up a battle for the two i halfback positions. Ord gained the ! cognomen of “Whippet” by his Red. Grange exhibitions against Wiliam- j ette and California last year. He is a shifty open field runner and a good pass receiver, but his 135 pounds are too light to be effective as a defensive back. Burnell also has speed and is valuable on the receiving end of a forward toss. Robinson and Coleman are men of triple-threat ability, being especially good on end runs or off-tackle bucks. Both are accurate passers and can punt well over 40 yards. Wetzel, who will be playing his final year, will be at fullback this year. He was tried in this position in the California and W. S. C. games last year, and proved satisfactory. Wetzel, who weighs 185, is a peer less defensive player, a punter and passer. Cotter Gould, sub fullback last fall, will be in reserve. Chuck Williams and Hatton, ex-frosh full backs, will also be on call for the line-plunging berth. Both Williams and Hatton are versatile, being able to kick and pass as well as buck the line. Williams, though short, is heavy and is a savage defensive player. With the array of material Capt. McEwan and Gene Vidal will build Oregon’s grid hopes next fall when the call to report goes to all aspir ants on September 15. I Headquarters for Many Suitable Gifts for the Graduates Hearty Thank You We wish to convey to the faculty and student body our appreciation for the liberal patronage we have enjoyed. This being our last opportunity to reach you through the “Oregon Emerald” we extend to all, our sincere wishes for a happy, successful summer vacation. Then, too, may we h*ave the pleasure of seeing you return to “Old Oregon” this fall. “Each performance brings with it its attendant ner vousness and I relish the opportunity for a soothing smokewhileplaying.Dur ing the course of ‘The Play’s the Thing’ I am called on to smoke at fre quent intervals. It is al ways a Lucky Strike. I know from many years* use of this cigarette that my throat is constantly protected and that it will give me the greatest en joyment.” The Noted Actor, Holbrook Blinn says—“it is always a Lucky Strike” Lucky Strikes are mild and mellow—the finest cigarettes you ever smoked* They are made of the finest Turkish and domestic tobac cos, properly aged and blended with great skill, and there is an extra process in treating the tobacco. “It’s toasted”—no harshness, not a bit of bite* “It’s toasted” Your Throat Protection When in New York you arecordi» ally invited to see how Lucky Strikes are made at our exhibit, comer Broadway and 45th Street. Football (Continued from page one) and the Navy. To be effective, both as to power, deception, and as a threat, the key-man of the forma tion must bo a triple-threater, and will handle the ball via a direct pass from center on every play. Mimnaugh, Jones, and Vitus are the only men lost by graduation. Seven lettermeu will form the nuc leus for next fall. They will be supplemented by seven ex-freslimen.