With the first six games of the University baseball season completed, the statistics of the ball tossers provide interesting figures. The team's batting average is represented by 267, and belies the impression that the team is weak with the stick. The respectable size of the team's batting average is due, however, largely to the high average compiled by Burns, Sophomore centerfielder who at present is out of the game with a leg injury. Burns was clouting the ball at a heavy rate in the first two games of the season, but as he has only been at bat on five occasions, his present average, and that of the team, is probably a bit bloated. Burns, with his four hits in two games, leads the Crimson batters with an average of .800.
Sullivan Wields Big Stick
If Burns is left out of the reckoning, Sullivan becomes the big stick of the Harvard diamond men. Besides hitting at a clip of .380, the Crimson short stop is also the leader in other departments of the nine's offense. He has made the most hits eight; he has scored the most runs, nine; he leads the base-stealers with three thefts to his credit: and he is tied with Captain Todd and Zarakov for the most three-base hits and home-runs, respectively.
Last year's Freshman leader, Jones, who is getting his chance through the injury to Burns, is next in order. In four games, he has collected seven hits, all singles, and of the regulars, he stands next to Sullivan with an average of .350. Zarakov, winner last year of the prizes for both fielding and hitting: Chauncey, catching his first year on the University outfit, and Barbee, the latter's battery mate follow in the slugging array in the order named.
Crimson Totals 55 Hits
Though the Crimson stickmen have showed fair ability in hitting safely, the vast majority of the bingles have been merely singles, and opposing pitchers have been able to keep down most of the extra base hitting of the Crimson artillery. Of the 55 hits made by the University nine, only six have been of the extra base variety. These six are evenly divided between doubles, triples, and home runs.
No less than 11 bases have been pilfered by the University base runners to date. For six games, this number is not startling, but it represents the efforts of pretty much the whole team, and not of one or two stars, a fact that makes the Crimson offensive dangerous all the way down the line. Sullivan, with three thefts leads the robbers. Todd and Ellison both have two bases to their credit, and the remainder are scattered down along the batting order.
Two University batsmen have accomplished the unusual in totaling as many runs as they do hits. Zarakov, veteran third-sacker, has hit safely seven times and he has also scored seven runs; Captain Todd, with six hits, also shows the same number of tallies to his credit.
In the fielding department the Crimson ball tossers have accumulated an average of .915 which proves them even weaker on the defense than on the attack. Two of the outer gardeners, Jones and Ellison have handled all their chances without a misplay. Burns did not handle a single ball in the two games which he participated in before his injury and his average. In the left field berth Captain Todd is credited with one eror which came in the first game when the University leader dropped a fly back of third base after a hard run.
Ullman, who was replaced at the keystone sack by Chase, led the University infielders until before the Bowdoin game with an average of .970. The only miscue chalked up to Ullman was on a hard hit ball back of second which nearly went for a safe blow. His successor, Chase played a brilliant defensive game against Bowdoin, handling four chances without a slip, and heads the infielders at present with a clean slate. The fielding of Ullman and Chase gives the second sackers a heavy lead in defensive averages and show the center of the diamond as the strongest point in the Crimson defense.
The two leading hurlers for the University have played errorless ball to date. Barbee, 11 assists and one put out with out a bobble, which is a high record for a moundsman. Booth is close behind with four put outs and a like number of assists for a 1000 average. Chauncey is leading his rival for the back stop, DeRham, by a heavy margin. The big catcher has made only two errors, giving him a .954 standing against De Rham's .833 average. Both receivers have shown a weakness in converting high fouls toward the back stop into put outs.
At the initial corner Lord, who started the season as regular is leading the first sackers with a .882 fielding average. Until his recent injury, the former Freshman star had slipped only twice in 17 attempts. Tobin who is occupying the first base berth at present has compiled an .800 average. The latter has turned in ten assists, however, whereas his predecessor's chances were entirely limited to put outs.
Zarakov, the flashy guardian of the hot corner, has accepted 23 chances with four miscues. His average is .820.
Zarakov has been playing a brilliant game at third, in spite of his four errors. His misplays usually come at times when they can be best afforded and in tight places he has proved invulnerable.
In short field, Sullivan has rolled up an average of .875 accepting 32 chances. Sullivan has shown the most consistent fielding work, although his throwing has been wide at times. His only rival for the short stop berth, McGlone has yet to break into the percentage columns.
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