Just then an easy fly was knocked to Paul Shale, but for some unknown reason he missed it. A groan went up.
"Take that wooden man out of centerfield!"
Missing the fly made Paul wake up and he made a resolve that he would miss no flies when the game began.
At last the time for practice came to an end and the umpire sent the Excelsiors into the field.
"Batter up!" he called out, and Walter Bannister, who was looked upon as the heaviest hitter on the Lakeports, came to the plate. As he took his position his friends gave him a warm welcome.
"Make it a homer, Walter!"
"Sock it for keeps, old man!"
"Play!" called out the umpire.
Si Voup was the pitcher for his club, and it may be added here that he could really handle the ball with considerable skill. Eyeing the home plate for an instant, he let drive with all of his speed.
"Ball one!" called out the umpire. "Too high."