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Show UTAH>LHome Run LowellBaseball, 1914-15Although baseball is the great game of the nation, its future as a major inter-collegiate sport is certainly in jeopardy in this state. With the advent of double A baseball in Salt Lake, interest in the game has waned at the University of Utah. The professional element has undoubtedly destroyed the spectator's appreciation of amateur effort, and with it the desire to encourage such' effort. This is about the only explanation one can give for the decline of baseball at Utah in the last two years. Some have even advocated the abolition of baseball as a major sport, but this seems to meet with much opposition from the true lovers, of the game, still to be found among the ranks of the Utahns.Viewed from the standpoint of the participant, the game is worthy of being classed as one of the foremost pastimes or the collegians. A more wholesome and stimulating game is not to be found in the list of outdoor activities. Utah should certainly hesitate before abolishing baseball as a major sport.The success of a sport is also measurd by the amount of material available for moulding a team. Last year there were few veterans seen in the lineup, Petty Udy, Romney and Mclntyre being the only ones appearing, who had participated in collegiate baseball before. In spite of this enough green material was on hand to make a mediocre team that finished in the 500 class. Utah was twice humbled by the B. Y. U., but triumphed over the A. C nine. The most striking feature shown by these games was the lack of good pitchers. Utah was more unfortunate in this regard than were the other colleges, Udy having: to bear the brunt of the "work.A number of finds were made among the recruits who should make, star performers with a little seasoning. Warner, Kirk, Spriggs, Adams, and Franke did exceptionally good work, and should form a nucleus for a championship team before their careers at Utah have ended.Although the number of games, played was insufficient to determine positively the relative standing of the teams, the B. Y. U. was recognized as the best.Page one hundred forty-two/ |