“Show what you can do!” exclaimed the head coach to him as he took the mound. “And don’t worry.”
“Don’t worry?” repeated Joe.
“That’s what I said. Remember what I told you, and don’t try to win the game by merely pitching.”
Joe recalled his instructions about backing up first base in an emergency, of taking care of the bunts, of watching the catcher, who might try to deceive the man on third.
And it was well for Joe that he did. For, though he did well from the pitching end, there came several opportunities to distinguish himself in making infield plays. Once he made a fine stop of a bunt that, had it been a safety, would have done much to lower Yale’s lead. Again he managed, by a quick play, on getting the ball from the catcher, to throw out the man at second, who was trying to steal third. There was applause for Joe Matson that day, though he did not pitch the team to victory.
“Well?” asked Mr. Hasbrook of his colleagues, after the contest. “What did I tell you? Isn’t he an all-around good player?”
“He seems so,” admitted Mr. Benson. “But I think Weston did most excellently.”
“Yes, he did,” said the head coach, “but mark my words, he’s overtrained or he hasn’t the grit to stick it out. Here we are at the beginning of the season, and he has failed us several times. I don’t want to force my judgment on you gentlemen, but I think we ought to give Matson a better trial.”
“All right, we’ll send him in earlier in the Cornell game next week,” suggested Mr. Whitfield, and to that the head coach agreed.