'VARSITY BASEBALL NEWS.

The candidates for the 'Varsity nine have been working steadily in the cage at the Carey Building since last Tuesday and now begin to show some improvement. The men trying for battery positions practice under the direction of Mr. Keefe earlier in the afternoon than the rest of the squad and are showing up well. Some of the squad practice batting every morning, and, as a net has been hung down the length of the cage, two men are enabled to bat at the same time. The candidates are trying to learn to bunt and are paying more attention to style than to hard hitting.

The work in the cage is very much the same as on the first day of practice. Each man is given six grounders to field and throw to first; this is followed by practice in quick starting and sliding. Then the squad is taken at a sharp run round to the Gymnasium by way of North Avenue, where they are put through dumb bell exercises. As a whole the squad, which now numbers about 35, has showed marked improvement; the men are not so awkward in sliding as at first, although they are still very slow at starting. The fielding is rather cleaner and the men seem to be learning how to handle the ball. On the other hand, the throwing, especially after fumbles is apt to be very wild. S. W. Lewis 1900, H. Foster '98, and A. Davis '98 have been taking turns at playing first base and of these Lewis has so far showed up rather the best, although the others have been doing well.

It is as yet rather too early to tell much as to the battery candidates. Of the comparatively new pitchers, Stearns '99 is doing very well; he is left handed, with good speed and fair curves. Paine '97, last year's pitcher, is first rate as usual, but he does not pitch his straight balls high enough to be effective.

Haughton '99 is good, but his motion is too slow and gives the runner too much chance to steal. Cozzens '98 has the makings of a 'Varsity pitcher; he is very speedy and has effective curves, but he needs better control. Fitz '99, of last year's Freshman team, does fair work, but he has poor control of his drop ball.

Foster 1900, who played on Roxbury Latin last year, is rather small, but has fair speed and control. Of the Freshman pitchers, McCornick is easily the best, and should, with a year's training, develop into a first rate man. The other pitchers are all doing hard and conscientious work.

Of the catchers Davis '99 and Cochrane '99 are putting up a first rate game; this is Cochrane's first attempt at catching, and with practice he promises to do well. Morse 1L. S. S. is rather the best of the Freshmen and makes an effective backstop. Burrage '98, Egbert 1900 and Skillings 1900 are fair catchers and have done good work so far. Altogether the battery candidates seem rather above the average, and there should be enough men to provide not only good 'Varsity batteries, but one for the College nine.