Blackington had spoken the truth when he stated to Garrett that he intended to put the Jersey City battery, Brodie and Kennedy, against Fairhaven. Kennedy was in the box, with Brodie crouching behind the bat.
Brodie opened with a high inshoot, and a strike was called as Earl missed the ball cleanly.
Back of third base at least half a hundred Rockford youngsters had gathered, and they whooped in shrill derision as Gardner missed.
“He’ll never touch that pitcher!” shrieked one.
“Holes in his bat!” yelled another.
“He’s got a crooked eye!” came from a third.
“Never could hit!” declared a fourth.
Kennedy grinned derisively at Earl.
“Too speedy for yer, kid?” he inquired. “I’ll give yer an easy one.”
But Gardner refused to reach for the wide out which followed, and a ball was called.