19. Elmhurst vs. Mercyville
The bleachers of the ballpark at Elmhurst High School were rapidly filling. Down on the field, Tommy was throwing a ball to his warm-up catcher, and Billy and Buzzy, together with the rest of the school team, were running, catching balls that were batted out to them, and playing catch.
The Mercyville team was on the other side of the field warming up. Doris and Kit climbed into their bleacher seats just back of first base and watched the practice eagerly.
“I don’t know so much about baseball,” Kit admitted. “We should have brought someone along who knows the game.”
“Yes,” Doris agreed.
At three o’clock, the game started. Mercyville was at bat first, and Kit felt her heart sink as Tommy, the pitcher, faced the first batter. He looked very small and young as he took his windup.
Tommy retired the first two batters, but the third man to face him singled to right field. Buzzy Hancock, who was playing right field, caught the ball on the first bounce and hurled it to the second baseman. The Mercyville runner, who had rounded first base, saw the Elmhurst second baseman catch the ball, and he scooted back to first. Tommy tugged the neck of his shirt and turned to pitch to the fourth batter. He struck the boy out on four pitches.
Kit sighed with relief and settled back. Doris gnawed the end of her finger.
“I wish I hadn’t come,” she confessed to Kit. “This is awful!”
Kit, realizing that Doris’s loyalties were divided, nodded sympathetically.