“My, what a muff that was! That center fielder is a regular butter-fingers!”
“Soak it to ’em good and plenty, Longley! Only two men out!”
Thus the hubbub on the part of the students of Longley Academy continued while the cadets of Colby Hall had little to say. There were one or two cries to take Halliday out of the field, but these were quickly hushed.
“Anybody might muff a ball,” declared Jack. “It’s too bad, but probably it couldn’t be helped.”
The very next player to the bat knocked a liner between first and second and got to second on a fumble by the first baseman. Then the next player, after having two strikes called on him, sent a low one down to center field.
“Go for it, Halliday! Get it!” yelled the cadets eagerly.
Halliday ran for the ball, but was only able to get it on the first bounce. Then, as he saw the batsman rounding first for second, he threw the ball wildly.
“Run, Newcomb, run!”
“There goes the ball for the grandstand! Hurry up, Markle, and make it a homer!”
The ball had sailed over the head of the runner and landed at least ten feet away from the home plate. The catcher made a dive for it while the pitcher came to the plate to stop the runners. But it was too late, and before the sphere could be sent in both runs had been scored.