"That's the way to do it, Joe," called a friend.
Again the ball was delivered. It looked fast but was slow, and the batter struck at it and missed it.
"Strike two!"
At this the batsman scowled and gripped the ash afresh. Joe gave him no time to think of what he wanted to do. In came the sphere with all the speed at the young pitcher's command.
"Three strikes—batter out!"
A wild cheering came from the Lakeport supporters.
"That's the way to do it, Joe! Strike out some more of 'em!"
The second man to the bat resolved to be careful and consequently he had two strikes called upon him almost before he was aware. Then he knocked a foul which Fred captured with ease.
The third player to come up was Boardman. He glared fiercely at Joe and then glared at Fred.
"Oh, you can't scare me, and you needn't try," said Fred, with spirit, and this made some people in the grand stand laugh.