In that way every afternoon of the first week of the outdoor season was taken up with preliminary work and it was not until Saturday that Mr. Clarkson felt that the Penguins were ready for their first clash with the Penningtons.
It was a five inning game and it was played on the Pennington’s home grounds with the Penguins batting as the visiting team and it developed into a real battle before the fifth inning finally closed,—a contest in which Jeff Thatcher and Rabbit Warren stood out conspicuously among the scrubs. It resulted disastrously for the first team not in the matter of scores so much as in the loss of one of its capable group of outfielders. Dave Gleason went to the bench with an injury to the calf of his leg; a strained tendon which besides being very painful threatened to keep him off the field indefinitely. This happened in the very first inning and as a result Jeff’s roommate, Wade Grenville, was the first player to be moved over from the scrub team to the first team. He took Gleason’s place in right field and Tiny Drexel, a diminutive Sophomore and substitute scrub team fielder was moved into the line up.
Gleason’s injury resulted when he slid for the plate in the first inning trying to squeeze over the first run on a close decision. He tallied all right but when the dust had cleared away he could not get up. Al. Canner, the scrub catcher, and Coach Rice, who was umpiring, had to help him to his feet. He was lying with his right leg doubled up under him in a position that told plainly enough that no boy could fall that way and not suffer as a result.
“My golly, he’s broken his leg,” exclaimed Al. Canner throwing off his catcher’s mitt and stooping over him.
“Fine slide, Gleason, but I’m afraid it’s going to cost you something, poor kid,” said Mr. Rice lifting his body so that his leg could be straightened out.
The coach felt of the member carefully while Dave’s face was distorted with pain.
“Isn’t broken. Ankle isn’t even sprained. Where does it hurt you, Dave? In there?” Mr. Rice dug his thumb deep into Dave’s calf and he groaned with pain.
“Shucks, that’s too bad. I know what it is now. Pulled a tendon. That means a mighty painful leg for you for weeks. Guess you’re on the bench for a while. Here, you fellows, lend a hand. He can’t step down on his right foot. It will hurt too much. Lift him. Put his arms around your shoulders. That’s the way. Take him over to the bench and one of you run over and call Dr. Stout.”
Dutch Hecht and Lafe Gammage came over from the bench and all but carried Gleason back to the stand where they made him comfortable while one of the boys on the side lines ran off to the administration building to get Dr. Stout.