Bob Grimes walked up to Dare Phelps, who was occupying the pitcher's box.
"Take it easy, Dare," he pleaded. "Don't let 'em rattle you."
"They are not going to rattle me," responded Dare Phelps, and pitched the next batter out in one-two-three order. In the meantime, however, the man on first managed to steal second. A moment later he tried to reach third. The pitcher threw the ball to Sam, who leaped up into the air and caught it, coming down on the runner while he was still a foot from the bag.
"Runner out!" cried the umpire, and Roxley's player arose rather crestfallen and limped off to the benches.
"That's the way to do it, Sam. Nab 'em every time!" cried Tom.
When the inning was ended Roxley had only the one run to its credit.
Brill came to the bat for the third time with a sort of do-or-die look on the faces of the players. It was plucky little Spud who started a batting streak, getting safely to first and followed by another player who managed to reach second, landing Spud on third. Then came two outs. Before the inning was ended, however, two runs were placed on the board to the credit of Brill.
"Two to one in favor of Brill!" cried one of the students.
"Just wait, this inning isn't over yet!" cried one of the Roxley sympathizers. Then Roxley went to the bat, and because of a bad fumble on the part of the Brill second baseman, they managed to secure another run.
"Two to two!" was the cry, as the figures went up on the big score board.