“Excuse me,” said the catcher sweetly. “I was a bit too close.”
“Better get back a little.”
Again Wolfers put the ball over the very heart of the pan.
Again Jack’s bat was tapped lightly and deflected.
Ready dropped the end of his bat to the ground and stepped onto the plate to prevent Wolfers from pitching.
“Mr. Umpire,” he called, “I wish you would watch this catcher. He is rather careless with his hands.”
“Oh, come off!” cried Sprowl. “Don’t cry baby if you can’t hit a straight ball. It’s your own fault. Give him another, Bob. He never made a hit in his life.”
Hodge had seen Wolfers deflect Ready’s bat.
“Play ball!” commanded the umpire.
“Get off that plate, or I’ll put the ball through you!” snarled Wolfers.