NINE HOLDS FIRST OUTDOOR SESSION

Yesterday for the first time this season, the University baseball squad was able to leave the shelter of the new cage to go through a brief workout on Soldiers Field. Although the outdoor session was brief and consisted solely of batting practice, it is hoped that the condition of the turf will improve rapidly enough during the next few days to let the squad have a full week of outdoor work before the opening game of the season with Boston University on April 7.

No cut in the squad will be made, according to Coach F. G. Mitchell, although a division into first and second squads will be made after players have had at least a week of play outdoors. Except for R. C. Sullivan '28, who is bothered with a bad ankle, the Harvard diamond forces are complete.

The first string infield, as it has lined up in practice, is made up entirely of veterans. John Prior '29 has thus far won the first call to hold down first base, while J. P. Chase '28 is stationed at the second sack. R. C. Sullivan '28 and Captain H. W. Burns '28 have been alternating at shortstop, although the latter will resume his regular post in center field as soon as the squad gets outside the cage, G. E. Donaghy '29, another veteran, has been assigned to third base.

There are three leading candidates for the position behind the home plate. W. W. Lord '28, who played both in the field and on first base last spring, seems to have a very slight edge over his rivals, E. J. Steptoe '29 and D. P. Donaldson '28. Steptoe and Donaldson are both catchers of considerable experience, and although neither of them has been a regular on the University nine, they are perfectly capable of developing into first rate backstops.

Besides Burns and W. B. Jones '28, the two regulars of last year's nine who are counted on to fill two of the outfield posts, there is a wealth of other material fighting for the third job, or to displace one of the veterans. W. S. Hardie '30, who pitched for the Freshmen last year, A. L. Devens '30, a teammate of Hardie's last spring, and G. K. Brown '28, are prominent among the outfielders. Others are R. R. Durkee '29 and K. W. Crotty '30.

Coach Mitchell is fortunate in having a wealth of moundsmen to draw from. Headed by J. N. Barbee '28, one of the leading twirlers in college ranks last season, they include F. B. Cutts '28, Willard Howard '28, R. R. Ketchum '29, and R. M. Whittemore '29, all of them capable men in the box. Cutts' batting eye, which sent him into several games last season as a pinch hitter, makes him also a strong candidate for a post in the outfield when he is called upon to do mound duty.

An idea of the men who may break into the first string inner circuit may be gleaned from the men now being used in the second infield. R. R. Durkee '29 is on the initial sack, with W. L. Elkins '29 and J. J. Carver '30 fighting it out for second base. E. T. Putnam '29 and Kay Miyakawa '29 are the leading contestants for short stop, while A. G. Whitney '29 is at the hot corner.