Evening Republican, Volume 20, Number 156, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 30 June 1916 — GET AFTER POP FLIES [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

GET AFTER POP FLIES

Manager Jones Wants His Men to Catch Texas Leaguers. Bhows Outfielder Marsana How Trick Can Be Done and Cuban Star Grow* Wise —Fly Chasers Must Be Ready to Rush In. There will be no loafing on the part of Brownie outfielders on pop files or Texas leaguers in back of the Infield, as long as Fielder Jones Is directing the plays of the Sportsman’s park team. The fly chasers should and must be ready at all times to rush In to get short pops that frequently elude a pursuing inflelder who is running with his back to the diamond in an effort to make the catch. Jones has instructed his men to this effect. During practice session the other day a pop fly was hit Into the air by one of the rookies, which dropped just behind the infield. Lavan tried desperately to make the catch, but could not Judge the ball, and missed it by a few inches. Marsans, who was playing center, started in at the crack of the bat, but suddenly stopped when he discovered Lavan dashing wildly out into the field to make the catch. When the side had been retired and Marsans was heading toward the

oench, Jones motioned Armando to his side and queried why he had stopped on the pop fly. “Why, I thought Lavan would make the catch,” answered Marsans. “You outfielders will have to take more chances on short flies than you do,” returned Jones. “You would have made an easy catch Of that ball if you continued to come in,” said the Browns’ manager. “Fewer Texas leaguers will drop behind the infield if you fellows take more chances and attempt to make a catch," continued Fielder. “Well, if I continued running I might have collided wi.th Lavan and either or both of us might have been Injured,” answered Marsans. “Nothing of the sort," said Jones. “We have a field captain who is appointed for no other purpose than calling to the men on such plays. “It is much easier for an outfielder to come in at breakneck speed on a

pop fly than for an infielder to be dashing wildly with his back to the diamond trying to make a catch,” continued Jones. About this time Marsans had been convinced that he had used poor Judgment, and continued on to the bench. In the next inning or two that followed a similar fly was sent up Into the air. Lavan again started backward and Marsans was dashing in to make the catch, and Lavan stopped. Marsans made the, catch easily. This proved that Jones’ baseball knowledge was correct,

Armando Marsans.

Shortstop Lavan.