Until this week the work done by candidates for the baseball nine has been confined entirely to battery practice in the cage, but now the candidates for other positions on the team have commenced active training. For several years past the college has not been so much in need of new material to fill vacancies as at the present time. Only four old players from last year's nine and substitutes are now in college-the other positions must be filled by men whose experience in baseball has been limited to practice with class nines. It is easy to see that the outlook for the championship next spring is by no means rosy-hued, but the conditions under which the candidates will be able to work have never been better. In the first place we have a professional coach, and secondly, the nine will play some games with professional clubs. These advantages will tend to offset the loss of so many members of last year's team, and what with conscientious work on the part of those who are candidates for the nine and an energetic and unselfish devotion on the part of its captain the nine ought this year to be worthy of the confidence placed in it by the college.