Sparks, the centre fielder of the Elks, advanced to the plate.
“Give it a ride, Sparkie!” implored Rush. “You can do it! You must do it!”
“Hit it! Beef it out!” roared the crowd.
Sparks was eager to comply, for he felt that the game depended on him. He was a fine hitter, although Merry had struck him out in the eighth.
Frank worked carefully, taking all the time permissible. Hodge talked to him soothingly.
“This chap is shaking, Frank,” said Bart. “He remembered what you did to him before. He knows you can do it again. Watch him shake.”
“Shake your grandmother!” growled Sparks.
“It would be shameful to shake an old lady like that,” said Hodge. “I wouldn’t think of it.”
“Str-r-r-rike—kah two!” called the umpire, as Sparks missed a bender.
“Got him, Merry!” said Hodge confidently. “It’s a ten-inning game.”