Coach Luce had walked over to a post behind the sub bench.
Umpire Foley, his mask dangling from his left hand, now summoned Purcell and the Gardiner captain. A coin spun up in the air. Gardiner's diamond chieftain won the toss, and chose first chance at the bat. Purcell's men scattered to their fielding posts, while the young captain of the home team fastened on his catcher's mask.
The umpire took a ball from its package, inspected it, then tossed it to Dick Prescott, who stood in the box awaiting it. There was a moment's tense expectation, followed by the command that set all the real fans wild:
"Play ball!"
Gardiner High School had put up a husky young giant who stood beside the plate, a confident grin on his face as he swung the bat.
Dick moistened his fingers. The batsman saw that, and guessed what was coming. He didn't guess quite low enough, however, for, though he stooped and swung the stick lower, the ball went under it by three inches.
"Strike one!" called Mr. Foley, judicially.
An imperceptible signal told Purcell what was coming next. Then it came—-a jump ball. This time Gardiner's batsman aimed low enough but it proved to be a jump ball.
"Strike two!"
A howl of glee went up from all quarters, save from the Gardiner visitors.