“Don’t you want to win the pennant?” asked Mabel, softly. She had thanked Joe—and her brother—with blushing cheeks for the return of her keepsake bracelet. But her blushes were not for her brother.
“The pennant! Of course!” cried Joe. “I almost forgot about that! And we’re going to win it!”
“I’m going to see every game, too!” exclaimed Mabel, with brilliant cheeks and eyes.
The first pennant game with Clevefield was a hard-fought one. Collin took the mound in the opening of the battle, and for a time all went well. He made some mistakes, and the heavy batters on the other side began “finding” him. But he was well supported by the fielders and basemen, and three innings ran along with the visitors securing nothing but zero tallies.
Then came a break. A swift ball glanced off Collin’s glove, and Charlie Hall, the shortstop, after a magnificent jump, by which he secured the horsehide, made a wild throw to first. Then began a slump, and Collin had his share in it.
Joe was called on, but too late to be of any real service, though he stopped the rout.
Score: Pittston three, Clevefield nine.
“We’ve got to take three straight, or make a tie so as to get another game—making five instead of four,” said Gregory, gloomily that evening.
The next contest would take place in Clevefield and the teams made a night journey there. Reggie and his sister went on by auto early the next day, arriving in time to visit Joe before practice was called.
“Joe, you’re nervous!” exclaimed Reggie, when he met the young pitcher, just before lunch. “You ought to come out in the country for a little run. I’ll take you in my car. It will do you good.”