Gene Skelding, once the uncompromising enemy of Frank Merriwell, was the first man to strike in this inning. Skelding had changed and reformed, having quit his former vicious associates, and he was proving to be quite a decent fellow.
Skelding, however, was not a heavy hitter, and Hodge knew it. Bart called for the jump ball at the start, which Dick sent whistling over.
Skelding went after it.
“Strike!” said the umpire.
An out drop followed, and Gene fouled it.
“Two strikes!”
Then Dick sent in another rise. Gene fouled that, but, as two strikes had been called, it did not count against him.
Then came one over his head, which he let pass.
Bart signed for an out drop. It came up slowly and looked pretty to Gene, but he missed it cleanly, Hodge holding it.
“Batter is out!” announced the umpire.