“I told you he could not pitch!” he cried. “Oh, Virginia will pound him all over the lot!”
“And I’ll pound you a few after the game!” muttered Hodge, with deep fury in his heart.
The next batter advanced to the plate. The ball had been returned to Starbright, but the big fellow seemed dismayed. He stood there, looking around.
“Pitch the ball!” cried somebody in the crowd.
Starbright did not stir.
“Pitch the ball!” again was the cry.
The batsman was waiting.
“One ball!” declared the umpire, when more than twenty seconds had elapsed without Dick making an offer to deliver.
Then the giant freshman shook himself together, hearing, however, the guying of the crowd and feeling it keenly.
He began to pitch, and the batter soon got a clean hit off him, making first.