The candidates for the 'Varsity nine have been practicing on Soldiers Field for about a week, which is nearly two weeks earlier than they were out last year. If the warm weather continues the squad will go on Holmes Field next week.

The men are showing up fully as well, if not better than they did at this time last year. The practice is improving steadily, the fielding being ceaner and sharper, and the throwing more accurate than it was a short time ago. In batting, the men are paying more attention to meeting the ball squarely and to keeping it on the ground, than to hard hitting.

The men have been divided into two squads, Captain Dean taking one and Rand the other. The squads work independently, practicing fielding and batting, and then playing a short game each day.

Yesterday the number of candidates was reduced to 40 and H. J. Holt '98 was appointed captain of the College nine.

The College nine will be made up of Juniors and Sophomores, though it may be necessary to take a pitcher from the Senior class or Graduate School. D. D. Scannell M. S., who caught on the 'Varsity last year, joined the squad yesterday.

The men who are retained are as follows:

Pitchers-Paine, Haughton, McCornick, Stearns, Fitz, Jenney and Foster 1900.

Catchers-Scannell, Davis '99, Cochrane, Morton, Slade.

First base-Haughton, Stearns, Foster '98, Lewis, Davis '98.

Second base-Dean, Vincent, Thompson.

Third base-Stevenson, Gregory, Litchfield.

Shortstop-Chandler, Hayes, Loughlin, McVey, Galbraith, Manning, Brown.

Outfield-Rand, Lynch, Burgess, McCall, Morse, Beale, Sears, Dayton, Kernan, Holt, Sterling.