Quickly tightening his hold on his bat, to the surprise of his team mates and the Landon players, who had closed in, he swung with all his might and caught the ball full.
At the crack of the bat, Taffy raced for home, while Sandow reached third and hesitated.
"Keep going!" bellowed Hal.
"Home run! Home run!" roared the Baxter students, waving their banners and jumping about joyously.
Fred's sudden decision to hit the ball had caught the Landon outfield napping.
As the sphere sailed through the air, the center and right fielders started for it. Racing at top speed, their eyes on the ball, they gave no heed to one another.
Closer and closer they drew.
"Right field take it!" shouted Mitchell, in frantic endeavor to prevent a collision.
But his command was too late.
With a thud, the two players came together, recoiled from the shock, and went sprawling, while the ball dropped less than a yard away.