“I really think some of it is too plain,” said the Professor, rather more pleased than he would let on. He found himself quite an adept in this new language.
“It improves as you go along, I think,” said Tim.
“Let’s see what happened in the second inning,” went on the Professor. “Barber College goes to bat now, doesn’t it? Amberg hit one over the shortest route to Everson (that must be a straight-line hit), Wheeler spun three times and sat down (spun what? I don’t get that).”
“When a fellow strikes at a ball hard and misses he generally spins around,” said Tim. “Wheeler missed three strikes which he tried very hard to hit.”
“I see,” said the Professor, “and Dorner did the same. So Black struck out two in succession, eh?”
“Black (was Black the first man up?) did what was expected of the pitcher. What is expected of a pitcher at bat? I don’t get that.”
“Pitchers generally bat poorly. Black struck out,” said Tim.
“Oh, I see! Gibbie is up next. Gibbie got a one timer (that’s a one-base hit, I guess) back of Wilson (let me see, where does Wilson play? Oh, yes, third!). Gibbie got a one-base hit back of third (very plain), Ross arched one to Knight (an arching fly), Everson dropped one in front of the rubber (a bunt, I am getting on splendidly again), Gibbie annexing the keystone bag (Gibbie got to second), Little Arthur was there with a dew drop (dew drop? What’s a dew drop, Tim?).”
“A little fly ball that comes down out of the sky and lights on the grass without touching anything,” said Tim.