Base-Ball at Amherst.

The base-ball season at Amherst opened this year with a very encouraging outlook. Disappointed with the work of the nine in 1885, the students have gone into base-ball with increased energy and a determined purpose to put into the field this spring a team that would do credit to Amherst. Immediately after the Christmas holidays, the nine went into training under the direction of their captain, Mr. Stuart. Over twenty men took part in the regular exercises of the team, and all entered into the severe winter training with great enthusiasm and interest. Welch of the New Yorks, who is considered one of the finest trainers in the country, was engaged to coach the nine. Special attention has been paid to batting this year, in which the nine last year was weak, and men who could not bat, have been refused positions on the team. The battery that was lost last year by the graduation of Harris and Hunt, has been more than replaced by the development of new talent. There have been four batteries in regular training this winter, consisting of Stuart and Poole, Judson and Stearns, Keating and Alvord, and Tenney and Allen. Under the guidance of Welch, a strong corps of pitchers has been developed, great hopes being entertained of Judson especially, who made a remarkable record against the powerful New York team. The spring vacation trip was opened by a game with the New Yorks, on Monday, April 5th, at the polo grounds. The games that had been arranged with the Newarks and Brooklyns were prevented by rain, and the club was forced to play the first game of the season with the formidable New Yorks. The game resulted in a victory for New York by a score of 8 to 0. The next game with the New Yorks on the following day did not result so favorably for Amherst, as the New Yorks defeated them quite easily and batted Tenney hard. The rest of the games during the vacation were rather unsatisfactory, as the players were somewhat discouraged by the absence of Judson from the pitcher's box. He unfortunately strained his arm in the first game with the New Yorks and therefore was unable to pitch in any of the other games. His arm is still rather lame, but he will probably be able to pitch in a few weeks. The other positions on the team are filled by the following men: Davidson at 1st base, Stearns at second, Marble at 3rd and Coates, short stop, Stuart, centre-field, Storrs, left-field, and Dickerman right-field. These are all tried men and will give Amherst a strong fielding nine.

C. B. W.