Starting Line Up Puzzles McInnis; Infield Two Deep

With his squad cut to less than 30 players and with only seven more practice days left until the season's inaugural as West Point, varsity baseball coach Stuffy McInnis remained non-commital yesterday on the subject of his perplexing infield situation.

The ex-major league star announced that he probably would not decide until next Monday or Tuesday which of his ten leading prospects world win in four starting assignments against the Army.

As a result, the battle continues between Russ Johnson and Al Switser at first; John Canepa, Paul Crowley, and Hank Young at second; Walt Greeley, Ed Krinsky, and Charlie Cobot at shortstop; and Tim Wise, Bill Hickey, and Young at third. Ray Maesake, another third base prospect, has been temporarily sidelined with a sprained ankle.

In an intra-squad game yesterday, McInnis used, on his number one team, an infield of Johnson, Canepa, Greeley, and Wise. Young, whom some observers feel will break into the lineup either at second or third base, was not on hand for the day's practice.

Akillian Hitting

Elsewhere, the team seems to present relatively few problems. One of the brightest recent developments has been the long-range clouting of Ben Akillian, last year's clean-up hitter and left fielder. Captain Charley Wash also has been hitting a long ball and looking "very, very good" as a pitcher, according to McInnis.

The Crimson mentor still intends to stick with a picket line of Akillian, Bob Smith, and Ralph Robinson. The only other outfielders on the squad at this time are Dick Scheer and Dick Clasby, the second string catcher.

McInnis expressed pleasure yesterday at the pitching of sophomores Pat Groper and John Semmelyer. These two men, along with another sophomore. John Arnold, loom as possible starters behind the "big three" of Bob Ward, John Donelan, and Rufe Webb.