Morgan smiled as Merry came up.
“Don’t hit it too hard,” he said. “Be satisfied with a two-bagger.”
Merry did not retort, but merely smiled a bit. Dade started with a high one, but Frank did not bite, and a ball was called. Then came an out drop that was wide of the plate. It was another ball.
Dade followed with a straight drop, which Merry let pass, but the umpire called a strike. An in shoot forced Frank back.
“Three balls!” said the umpire.
“Got him in a hole!” cried Ready. “He can’t put it over, Merry.”
Perhaps Dade did not wish to put it over, for the following pitch was a bad one, and Frank was sent to first on four balls.
Rattleton was the batter to follow, a fact known to Morgan. Harry was not a sure hitter, but he was one who hit at the most unexpected times. Morgan knew him pretty well, and he proceeded to work him.
Frank signed that he would go down on the second ball, and Harry slashed at it, though it was a bad one.