The game had gone into the third inning, with the Centrals retired from the bat and the Souths now in from the field.
In the second inning Greg, backed splendidly by Tom and Dick, had scored a run for his side—-the only run listed as yet.
In this third inning, with South Grammar now at the bat, two men were out, and one on second when Ted Teall stepped to the plate.
"Put a real slam over on 'em, Ted!" shouted a South fan.
"Drive a ball over into Stayton and then fill up the score card while the Centrals are looking for it!" advised another Teall partisan.
"Centrals?" jeered another boy from the South. Grammar. "Centrals?
Show 'em they're just plain hello-girls!"
Ted grinned broadly at this "hello-girls" nickname. Just then another fan from the southern part of Gridley piped up:
"Ted, eat 'em. They're only nine pieces of blue cheese!"
That was going too far, and it was time for Central Grammar to take notice effectively.
"Bang!" roared one half of the Central fans.