An unusually large number of men reported at the Cage yesterday afternoon for the first practice of the battery candidates for the University and Freshman baseball teams. Under the direction of captain Randall and Coach Murphy the pitchers were given light work in throwing and the entire squad practiced stopping easy grounders. Chesbro, of the New York American League team, will coach the men this afternoon, and Keeler, of the same team, will commence coaching Monday, when candidates for field positions on the University team will be called out.

Commencing this afternoon battery candidates will practice in two squads as follows:

First squad, at 2.30--A. D. Clark, P. N. Coburn, F. J. Connor, J. Marsh, F. H. Schoenfuss, R. F. Smith, R. W. Stewart, J. Tuckerman, C. E. Ware, F. E. Cunningham W. R. Fay, E. Field, R. F. Fiske, C. P. Harrington, R. S. Lovering, J. D. Pounds, J. H. Stone, A. L. Thayer.

Second Squad, at 3--S. m. Blatterman, J. S. Brown, T. F. Burns, W. Carlisle, D. W. Comins, A. G. Deane, G. F. Greene, L. Howe, W. E. Kavanagh, C. E. Lincoln, G. A. McKay, H. L. Murphy, Manning, B. K. Stephenson, B. T. Stephenson, H. Tweed, W. Wadsworth, J. W. Wendell, E. H. Wiener.