UNIVERSITY NINE TACKLES B. U. IN SEASON'S OPENER

The opening of the 1926 baseball season this afternoon at 3 o'clock will find Barbee, last year's Freshman mound ace, toeing the rubber against the Boston University nine on one of the Soldiers Field diamonds. Last night, Coach Mitchell had decided definitely on his starting line-up, and though changes will be frequent throughout the game, the line-up given above will, unless adverse weather conditions ensue, take the field to repulse the B. U. batters today.

De Rham Wins Mask and Pads

De Rham, leading University back-stopper towards the end of last year's schedule and Chauncey, husky 1928 catcher, have been fighting for possession of the Crimson mask all spring. Both men will probably see action today, but Coach Mitchell has decided that it shall be DeRham that will call the first signal of the 1926 diamond campaign.

In the outfield, the University will be represented by Captain Todd, who will also assume the burden of clean-up batter, Ellison, a veteran of two Yale games, and Burns, Sophomore sprint star whose batting prowess and speed on the base-paths have won him the lead-off position on the Harvard batting array.

Infield is Untested Combination

The Crimson infield is pretty much of an unknown quantity. Lord has received the call ahead of Tobin, University first-sacker last spring, but the Freshman star of a year ago will have to continue his heavy hitting if he is permanently to displace the veteran of last year's nine.

Ullman, an in-and-outer last year, will patrol the keystone sector, and should prove dangerous to opposing twirlers. Sullivan, a Sophomore whom probation has prevented from displaying his wares hitherto, will fill the short-stop position today, and if he performs capably, the infield leak caused by Howard's injury last spring, may definitely be plugged. Coach Mitchell is not losing any sleep over the third base problem, and Zarakov, last year's spectacular performer, will again hold down the hot corner.

Four Twirlers in Shape

Besides Barbee, three other pitchers are ready to try their hand at baffling the B. U. attack. These, in the order in which they probably will be called upon, are Puffer, who broke into the Yale series a year ago as a relief twirler, Moseley, a quarterback last fall, and Booth, star flinger of the 1927 nine, ineligible last spring.

This will also be the opening game of the B. U. season, so that it is impossible to predict the exact playing strength of the invading nine. Coach Gaw's outfit however, boasts several veterans of which McDonald the pitcher and Kincaide heavy-hitting outfielder, are especially well known in college diamond competition. Last year the University nine won with case, but B. U. roofer who are journeying to Cambridge an masse are confident that the result will be reversed this year.