If it isn t one thing- ... it s two! Hobbv Hobson’s devas
tating Duck stickmen, who have been clanging- the title g-ong
arouncl these northwest woods at such a steady tattoo the last
feu \eais that other clubs have scarcely a look-in, seem now
to be 1 mining- into their share of bad luck—long- over-due.
hirst oil Big1 Johnny Day, an extremely huge individual for
just a freshman and extremely talented with his left flipper, was
given fond glances by Uncle Sam’s army representatives. As
j*j;esult John, his arm loaded with hurling- dynamite,
Wffdges off with the URC to do "squads right,” leaving Coach
Hobby a sadder man. Mr. Day was just the prescription the
doc ordered to cure the AN ebfoots’ pitching ills. The most ef
fective portsider to wend his way into the Duck camp since
the altitudinous Bob Hardy hit town from SOCK in 1936.
You Ain't Heard Nothin' Yet!
But that was just a starter. Next disaster to strike deep
into the Duck bailiwick came when Bill McKevitt, two-year
carry-over cacher, stopped a foul tip with his left wrist. Two
days later McKevitt sought medical consultation for his
"bruise and found he was packing around a fracture. A month
at least on the shelf for the badly needed McKevitt.
And Saturday the queerest and most ironical of the disas
ters struck home. Young Bob Caviness, youthful but brilliant
lefthander from McMinnville, was working on the hillock in
an intrasquad practice. An opposing batsman got hold of one
on the edge of his stick. The ball spiralled high along the
third base line, between home and third. Now Caviness as all
pitchers, -had been receiving intensive training on covering
£ hits in the infield along the baselines, and moved in fast
to nail it in flight. Young Catcher Haynes, with the same idea
in mind, sped out from behind the bat, neglecting to remove
his mask.
"Boob" Tried to Warn
Captain Johnny Bubalo, covering first at the time, fore
saw the impending collision, and opened his mouth to voice a
warning. But not a sound came forth and the charging Cavi
uess and the running Haynes collided with a thud.
The youthful twirler spat out three front teeth, bled
from from the chin and inside the mouth. Haynes had a
gash opened on his face from the Caviness ivories.
Two days later both were-getting around almost as stead
ily as normal, though Caviness still had his mouth puffed up
to outlandish proportions. Caviness will be out for the Lin
field opener today, and it might be some time before lie'll feel
ui) to snuff again.
Opener Today?
According to schedule, baseball a la 1943 is all set for an
oarious opening today, with Linfield's unknown Wildcats
the “cannon-fodder." It’s all set, the Ducks primed, though
not at full strength. All that's uncertain is the way the weather
man will react. If he withholds his (censored), things will go
gayly on their way, baseball’s birth for this year will be real
ized. Otherwise, no contest.
Dapper Hobby Hobson, the Duck’s itinerant, travel-con
scious leader, will only have five days to size up his squad be
fore plunging into the scorching northern division confer
ence race. Attending a crucial conference of the National Bas
ketball Coaches association in New York City, March 29 and
30. the Oregon basketball-baseball prompter will not return to
Kugcne till April 4. When Hobby does arrive, acting-coach
Dick Whitman will have to sum up his observations quick-like
as he (Whitman) is all set to assume a soldier boy’s role.
As Good as 1935 Infield?
For Duck partisans this will be the last year to watch the
smooth-functioning Oregon infield work as a complete unit.
'Skis season's inner four should be quite able to match any
"w cbfoot combine, perhaps even including the gold-plated quar
tet of 1935—Harry McCall, Ray Koch, Joe Gordon, Johnny
Lewis—though old-timers might contest such a statement.
For sake of argument, we'll compare these two infields. The
1934-35 bunch won two straight pennants, the 1943 bunch
grabbed buntings in 1941-42, though shortstop Bob Farrow
didn’t figure in the first conquest.
At first Bubalo of the present Ducks rates over McCall
of the ’35ers with a fat .339 hitting average, compared to
.286 for the latter. McCall might have had an edge on
“The Boob” in fielding. Second Baser Koch was a real
house-afire, clubbing .339, compared to Donnie Kirsch’s
.233 of last year, but we'll lay our shekels on Kirsch.
Present Shortpatch Farrow, despite a .316 hitting mark
could hardly expect to hold a candle to the “Flash,” who car
t. . jd the horsehide for .393. Superior hitting goes to present
third sacker Bill Hamel with .407. Johnny Lewis could mus
ter but .286.
So, as we see it. the present Oregon infield rated over that
of the great 1935 champs.
IIIMII!!UII|l!l!llilll||||!l!!l||||||!]|(l!UlllUiUIlUllliiiUUm
Pi Kaps, Theta Ghis,
Delis Post Swim Wins
IflUilCl iJiil ifllilil
er Trial Runs
By GEORGE SKORNEY
It was a blue Monday for Colonel Bill Hayward and his :aus yes
terday what with weather conditions as they are now.
The time trials, scheduled for Saturday afternoon, went off like
clock work, lasting only an hour. No times were taken. Coach Hay
ward was rather reluctant with questions concerning the performances
and brushed off any queries with the statement that it was too early
in the season to give any definite information.
Ralph Kramer, veteran hold
over, nosed out Skiles Hoffman by
a mere 18 inches in the 75-yard
dash, modified version of the
hundred. Spindle-legged Brown
ing Allen took a slight lead in the
150-yard event and held it to the
tape.
In the 300-yard run, Bechnor
won from barrel-chested Stan Ray
by half a step. The first three
spikesters — Bechnor, Ray, and
Kennedy — finished in a knot,
after sprinting the entire route.
Black-haired Don Wilson sped
through the half-mile in amazing
fashion, a hundred yards ahead
of Tom Boylen.
Kramer Wins Dash
Summary of events: 75-yard
dash — first, Kramer; second,
Hoffman; third, Browning; and
fourth, Bechnor; 150-yard dash—
first, Browning; second, Kramer;
third, Hoffman; and fourth, Simp
son. 300-yard — first, Bechnor;
second, Ray; third, Kennedy; and
DODGER MAINSTAY . . .
. . . Arky Vaughn, veteran Brook
lyn infielder, may assume new
duties in the Bums’ inner defense.
He may get a taste of third base,
forsaking his old shortstop post.
fourth, Burns. 660-yard — first,
Wilson; second, Boylen. % mile —
first, Martin; and second, Nieha
chos. All distances were three
quarters their usual route.
Another Duckling was added to
the flock during the past week.
Ray Dickson, as his name goes,
has served a season under the old
master and is a one-year letter
man. His return after a year in
the air corps will add much need
ed strength to the already hand
ful of harriers. Dickson lists the
high and low hurdles and the
broad jump as his specialties.
Colonel Bill has a high jump
find in Morris Drenkle, a fresh
man. Hayward could certainly
use another high jumper as he
only has one so far—Boh New
land, one-year letterman whose
best last season hovered on the
6 foot 3 inch mark.
mat same Saturday afternoon
Hayward had a surprise when Les
Steers, world’s champion high
jumper—6 foot 11 inches came
down to look the boys over. Steers,
who quit school two years ago,
with a year of eligibility left, is
now married and works in the
shipyards. Les could be termed
a “jack of all trades” when a
VVebfoot. He brought in a score
of points through his efforts in
the javelin, discus, shot put, hur
dles, and high jump. The huge
Steers whose jumping weight was
190 pounds has put on a roly-poly
appearance, weighing now ap
proximately 210.
The University of Buffalo has
established a course in military
German.
Students of the College of New
Rochelle (N.Y.) have enrolled in
a class in postwar rehabilitation
and reconstruction.
niiii' 111in ii’i'iiiiidi.n iu ii iTinii urn
Clubs Advance
To IM 'Semis'
By BILL DYER
• Blasting- their way to the semi
finals, the Pi Kappa Alpha, Theta
Chi, and Delta Tau Delta swim
ing- stars poured on the power to
rack up decisive wins in yester
day's “tub” tilts.
Each club turned in largo
scores, the closest meet being the
Chi Psi, Delt contest with the
Delts coming out on top, 28 to
19. Pi Kappa Alpha flashed un
expected power in downing Kirk
wood co-op, 40 to 7, and Theta
Chi nearly equalled that score by
piling up a 35 to 12 victory over
Delta Upsilon.
Even without the services of
their ace paddler, Putnam, the
Theta Chi mermen had an easy
time with the DU squad. Ler
wick of Delta Upsilon garnered
his team’s only first place by
taking the 40-yard back stroke.
He and Hoffman, who copped
two second spots, counted 11 on
their team's 12-point total.
Anderson of Theta Chi was
clocked at :21.07 in the 40-yard
free style for the day’s fastest
time. Childs, and Cramer both
racked up first places, along
with the winning relay teams, to
lead the Theta Chis to victory.
,Wirt, Potts, Arnes, and Kaegi
also swam hard for the winners.
Pi Kaps Strong;
Pi Kappa Alpha established
themselves as power to be reck
oned with following; their over
whelming win over Kirkwood.
Led by a brother duo, Bob and
Jack Gurley, the Pi Kaps swept
every event. The Gurley boys
took three first places and swam
on the winning relay squads to
score nearly half of their team’s
total.
Giffin won the 60 yard individ
ual relay, Withers and Jackson
took second spots to help pile up
the score. For Kirkwood. S. Dur
land Peterson, and Kisaberth
tried hard but futilely to stem
the tide.
Still following their winning
ways, the Delta Tau Delta mer
men scored a well earned victory
over a hard fighting but out
classed Chi Psi group. By virtue
of their triumph today, the Delts
go on to the semi-finals tomor
row facing the Pi Kappa Alpha
squad in the deciding contest.
Today’s match was close and
interesting with tffb Delts always
holding a slight edge. Pete Hill
was the big gun for the winners,
with firsts in the backstroke and
the individual medley while Don
ahue also tried hard. Tryon
placed first in the 40-yard breast
stroke while Maize Stewert and
Welbourne piled up much needed
points in second and third places.
University of Texas is studying
storage of high-octane gasoline
L) IU1111 iiTWirnTiTlVI till II i Hi u n lift II (it n
THREE BLIND MEN
(BUND TO AMERICA'S WILL TO WIN)
Open their eyes by investing
YOUR CHANGE IN WAR STAMPS
1