Doris could see Bert Cramer wave to his field captain from the bench. The boy ran over to Bert and held a hurried conference with him. Elmhurst had runners on first and third base with one man out. Mercyville was worried.
The Mercyville team captain, acting upon Bert’s instructions, called for a new pitcher.
“That’s smart baseball,” Ralph said. “We have a right-handed batter next, and so Mercyville is putting in a right-handed pitcher.”
“Whatever are you talking about?” Jean asked.
Ralph chuckled. “There is a theory that a right-handed batter has trouble getting a hit off a right-handed pitcher.”
The new Mercyville pitcher struck the first batter out. A groan went up from the bleachers. Most of the spectators were rooting for Elmhurst. And the last batter of all hit an easy grounder to the second baseman. The game was over, and Mercyville had beaten Elmhurst, two to one.
Ralph and the girls made their way down through the crowd to the field, where Tommy was standing beating his hand into his mitt dejectedly.
“You pitched a whale of a game, Tommy,” Ralph said, holding out his hand. “There’s no reason to feel bad. Your whole team looked good.”
“Thanks,” Tommy said sadly. “Boy, I never thought we could hold them. But when we came so close, it sort of hurt to lose.”
Ralph smiled. “I know, old man. Their generalship beat you. Their players aren’t any better, but that boy who manages the team knows a thing or two about the game.”