The championship season of the Connecticut League will probably open on October 24, although the schedule has not yet been made up. But before that time a number of games will be played by the school teams in the League, and we shall be able to get a line on the style of the several teams.
The Hartford High-School will not have so heavy a football team this year as last. The average weight of the eleven will be about 150 pounds, whereas the 1895 team averaged 156 pounds. Thus far Allen seems to be the strongest candidate for centre; Weeks, Griffin, and Costello are the best men trying for guards. Griffin is new at the game, but he will improve; he weighs 200 pounds, and stands 6 ft. 2 in. Weeks is considerably lighter, but he can play good football; he is a lazy worker, however, and needs hard coaching. Costello ranks third in excellence, but should make the team if Weeks does not go in more seriously.
Strong, who played end last year, has been moved into tackle. On the other side of the line Bush and Marsh have about equal chances for the same position. Three men are trying for the ends--Calder, Breed, and A. E. Smith--the best work being done by the two former. Captain Sturtevant will keep his old place at quarter, where he did such good work last fall. One half-back and full-back were both on last year's team, E. W. Smith having been dropped back from centre, and Twitchell from end. Rowley seems to be the most promising candidate for the third position.
Among the New York schools training is now fairly started. Berkeley seems to be more advanced than any of the other teams, and another good eleven may be looked for this year. Berkeley loses its most powerful player, Irwin-Martin, who goes to college, and also its centre and two guards--Rand, Hayden and Lefferts--also one of the half-backs, Gallaway. But the right and left guards of the second eleven--Poor and Irvine--will more than replace the other two. They played nearly as well last year as the regular men, and they have now increased considerably in weight and strength. Poor is 6 ft. 4 in.; Irvine, 6 ft. 1 in. Poor was the only man last year who could hold Martin when he played up in the line.
It is probable that Wiley, the catcher of last year's nine, will go in and play half-back. He showed up well early in the season last year, but sprained his arm, and was unable to play in any of the important matches. Bien will be brought up from full-back to half, and Pell will go in at full. Centre will be looked after by Gilson, who is considered by his fellows to be far and away the best centre that Berkeley ever had. He weighs 180 pounds, and stands 6 ft. 1 in. There are a number of the second-eleven men and three or four new students who have turned out very promising candidates, and it is probable that before the championship games come on Berkeley will have developed some good team-work.