“Line it out, Jack! Don’t be fooling with fouls!” yelled Fred Rover.
“Show ’em where the river is!” added Randy Rover.
The next ball to come in was a wide out-curve, and again Jack let it pass him.
“Ball two!” shouted the umpire.
“That’s the way to do it, Jack! Make ’em give you what you want!”
With two balls against him, the noted pitcher for the high school exercised a little more care in his next delivery. He sent in a straight, swift one, directly over the outer point of the plate. It was not exactly what Jack desired, but it was good enough, and he swung at it with all his strength. Crack! And the ball went sailing directly over the head of the shortstop and into the field beyond.
“Run, Jack! Run! It’s good for a two-bagger!”
“Leg it, Dan! Leg it for home!”
“Send the ball in, Wiffles! Don’t let ’em get home!”
These and a hundred other cries rang out as nearly every spectator sprang to his or her feet in the excitement. Dan Soppinger, half way to third when Jack made the hit, had now touched that bag and was tearing for the home plate.