The Softball league fixtures which were played at the Race Course yesterday afternoon, were again one-sided affairs, the Shanghai Rowing Club beating a depleted Power Company team by 18-3, and the American Club winning from the inexperienced St. Francis: Xavier Athletic Association team by 5-1.
It speaks well for the popularity of the game that in spite of the fact that most of the games played.are very unevenly matched, large crowds attend them, and such enthusiasm is shown by the players. When the rower teams in the league are more experienced, so as to be able to offer keener competition, softball should become one of the leading summer sports.
Power Cut Off In the first game, the Shanghai Rowing Club, who have reached the height* of their form, had no difiieulty in running away from the Power Company. Scoring 12 runs it. the first inning, they slackened off in the next three by not.accounting for any, to come back in the three innings following with two, one, and three runs respectively. Their opponents had difficulty in fielding a full team and had to be content to start off with eight men, Blackwood joining in later on but still making the team two short.
The oarsmen staged a merry-go-round in the first inning, each batter finally coming in for a run. With Peeler on first base, and Shalom on second, Pate hit out a home run to left field to mark up three runs. Decamp crossed home plate for the Power Company's solitary point.
In the fifth inning McHugh sent a long one out to centre field for a homer scoring in Shalom. The Power Company seemed as if they were going to stage a rally in this inning as two men came home. This hope however, was Short-lived as the next three up to bat were put out in rapid succession.
Pate again came in for his share of the limelight by hitting another home run between left and centre fields, this time bringing Shekury home. to mark two of the three runs scored in the last inning.
Score by Innings Rowing Club if OES 18 Power Ca. a oduers 100:0 2-0 0
The Saints staged a comedy of errors in their game against the American Club, who were content to plow, throughout without any desire to pile up a high score. The Saints however, have the right spirit, and if they apply themselves to softball with the same enthusiasm that they show for soccer, there is no reason why they should not he close to the Minghong. top in the next season or two.
The Saints failed to draw any blood muruts in their first attempt at bat. whilie the Club marked up a_ point with
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.