“We’re all behind you, Bobby!” sang out Sparrow.
Bobby sized up the batter and wound up for the first pitch.
CHAPTER XXIII
THE EGG AND THE FAN
The ball whizzed over the plate, cutting an outside corner for a strike.
The Rockledge rooters regarded this as a good omen and greeted it with wild shouts. They all had a warm spot in their hearts for Bobby, and they had been disgusted at the unsportsmanlike way in which Hicksley had left the box.
The next ball was a high fast one, at which the batter refused to bite.
Bobby had seen out of the corner of his eye that the occupant of the third bag was taking too big a lead. As the ball came back to him from the catcher, he suddenly turned and shot it to third.
The runner tried frantically to get back, but Sparrow had the ball on him like a flash.
“You’re out!” shouted the umpire.
“Scubbity-yow!” yelled Fred. “That was nice work, Bobby.”