Foley had at last realised that, contrary to his early season conviction, he did not hold the position securely; that if he meant to retain it he had to play his hardest and, if possible, improve his batting. It was something of a blow to Foley’s self-conceit, for last year he had faced no real rival and had come to look on the place as his. He was no “quitter,” and he made a hard fight of it. He tried his level best to increase his batting average, but without much success. He had heretofore considered that it was enough to field his position and leave the hitting to others, and now he discovered that batting was not a trick to be learned in a few short weeks.
Amesville played every Saturday save one until the middle of May, reaching that period with a showing of seven wins, three defeats, and one tie. The missed game was with Curtis School, rain prohibiting. Of the regular schedule of seventeen games nine remained, and after the middle of the month Wednesday afternoon contests began. The “Millers” secured their return game, coming to Amesville on less than a day’s notice when Arkwright High School announced its inability to fill her date. The “Millers” were again beaten, 9 to 3, Tom Pollock pitching most of the game for the home team. Joe played five of the nine innings at first, getting six put-outs, an assist, and no errors as his share, thereby bettering Foley’s record for one less inning by two put-outs and an assist. At bat Joe had a gala day, being up three times and securing as many hits. Foley, as usual, failed to come across with anything. It was after that Wednesday contest that Joe’s stock arose appreciably and Jack got Tom Pollock to put that bat-case on the counter for him to examine! Perhaps, however, that game with the “Millers” was mainly notable for bringing into prominence young Peddie. Peddie, now regularly established at second, performed in a way that was little short of marvellous, taking part in two doubles and working with Smith even more smoothly than Buster Healey had ever done. He also secured a timely hit to add to his laurels. George Peddie, in short, was the hero of that encounter.
The weather settled down to warm days that made playing a delight and that brought out the best in everyone. High School’s batting improved remarkably during the last two weeks in May, and the pitchers began to come into their own. Toby Williams showed more improvement than either of the others, but was still far from being the pitcher that Tom Pollock was. Carl Moran went through six or seven innings occasionally without misadventure, but was not yet equal to twirling a full game. Behind the bat Sam Craig was still the same reliable, heady player as ever, while Jack Speyer was rapidly getting experience as a substitute. Amesville had a fine outfield in Sidney Morris, Jack Strobe, and Walter Cummings. Sidney and Jack were especially clever players, with Cummings promising to be quite as good with more experience. On the whole, the school looked forward to the Petersburg game on the twenty-first of June with more confidence than usual. Petersburg had won a scant majority of the annual contests to date and was always considered dangerous. But this year, with a fast, smoothly-working infield, two first-class pitchers, and an outfield of proved excellence, Amesville considered that she was more than the equal of her old rival. Someone, however, has said that baseball is two-thirds skill and one-third luck, and that one-third has often upset the wisest calculations.
So far Jack and Frank Foley were nip-and-tuck in their race. Neither had missed a game. Jack tried to say that since Foley scarcely ever played an entire contest through he was already defeated, but Handsome Frank—more handsome than ever now that Summer was at hand, with its better opportunities for sartorial display—reminded his rival of the terms of the wager. “I said I’d play in more games with outside teams than you would. I don’t have to play a game through from start to finish.”
“It’s a good thing you don’t, then,” laughed Jack. “If you did I’d be carrying my bat around in that nice leather case right now! All right, old chap. Go to it. But you’ll have hard work stealing a game on me!”
“Oh, I don’t know. You might break something or have measles, Jack. I hear there’s lots of measles around town.”
“Don’t worry. I’ve had ’em.”
“I know, but some folks have them two or three times.” Foley grinned exasperatingly. “Haven’t you got a sort of rash on your forehead there now?”
“No, I haven’t! That’s sunburn, you idiot!”