The first ball pitched to Potter was very wild, but Dick took pains with the next one, and sent a drop over. Potter fouled it, and his friends told him he would meet the next one. He did not, however, and Dick got two strikes on him very quickly.
Then, as Hodge called for the jump ball, the boy changed about and threw with his right hand.
The ball looked like one straight over, and Potter went after it. It rose clear of his bat and landed safely in Bart’s mitt.
“Striker out!” cried the umpire.
“Ah!” shouted the witnesses, amazed because the slender lad had fanned two of the home team.
But now up came Bryant, regarded as the best single hitter on the Minneapolis team. Dick seemed to try to “pull” him, but the batter was a great waiter, and three balls without a strike were called on the youthful pitcher.
“Nobody walks!” exclaimed Ready.
“Put it straight over,” advised Carson.
“Let him hit it,” from Rattleton.
“We’ll get him,” rumbled Browning.