“All ready,” called the umpire.
Immediately, the Merries turned and trotted out onto the field once more, while the first batter of the home team picked out his stick and advanced toward the plate.
“Light on him right off the reel,” said Dave Morley, who was sitting on the home bench. “Break his heart in the first inning.”
Frank was in the box, while Bart Hodge adjusted his mitt behind the plate.
The batting-order of the two teams is here given:
| MERRIES. | REDS. |
|---|---|
| Ready, 3b. | Jones, 1b. |
| Carson, ss. | Davis, rf. |
| Browning, 1b. | Croaker, 3b. |
| Gamp, cf. | Favor, c. |
| Hodge, c. | Gresham, cf. |
| Swiftwing, lf. | Arata, lf. |
| Rattleton, 2b. | Sawyer, ss. |
| Carker, rf. | Mahoney, 2b. |
| Merriwell, p. | Park, p. |
“Play ball!” rang out the voice of the umpire.
Merriwell placed his foot upon the pitcher’s plate and prepared to deliver the ball. Every man was ready.
Frank was cautious about using speed at first, and he tried Jones on a slow drop.
Crack! The bat met the ball, and Jones lifted a pretty single just over the infield, prancing down to first like a long-geared race-horse, while the crowd gave a shout of satisfaction.