As of old, Walter Bannister was first at the bat, and after having two strikes called on him, he knocked a clean two-base hit to leftfield. This was a beautiful start, and Bart followed it up by a safe single which took Walter to third. Then came Fred with another single, and Walter came home, while Bart reached third.
"Hurrah! Lakeport scores the first run!"
"Two on base and nobody out!"
Fred was followed by Matt, who went out on a short fly to second. Then came Teddy Dugan, who was playing in Frank's place, Frank having gone off to Boston, on a visit to a rich uncle.
"Whack it good, Teddy!" was the cry. "Knock it over the fence!"
"Th' fince, is it!" ejaculated the Irish lad. "Sure an' I'm goin' to knock it out av town, so I am!"
The ball came in swiftly, for Si Voup was mad. It was just right for Teddy, and by good luck he met it fairly and squarely and sent it bounding swiftly into centerfield, just over the second baseman's head.
"Run! run! Everybody run!" was the mad yell, and everybody did run, Bart coming in like lightning, followed by Fred, while Teddy reached second by sliding and grabbing the bag in such a fashion that he slid completely around the baseman.
"Two more runs!"
"And a man on second and only one out!"