Center-field threw with all his might, but the distance was long.
Second base had to stoop for the ball. Even at that, it got past his hands. He wheeled, bolted after the ball, got it and made a throw to the catcher.
Out of the corner of his eyes, young Prescott saw the arching ball descend, a good throw and a true one.
Yet, ere it landed in the catcher's hand, Dick, by the fraction of a second, had sprinted desperately across the home plate.
"Runner safe home!"
"Whoo-oopee! Wow! wow! wow!" rang the chorus of thousands.
"Four to two!"
"What about Gridley, now?"
"What about Dick Prescott?"
Then words were lost in volleys of cheers. The Gardiner fans who had risen to cheer slipped dejectedly down from the stand.