“Boys, we’ve just got to win that game to-morrow!” cried Gregory.
“If they don’t I’ll make them live on bread and water for a week!” cried Trainer McGuire, with a twinkle in his blue eyes.
The second day following proved all that could be desired from a weather standpoint for a ball game, the grounds having dried up meanwhile. It was bright and sunny, but not too warm, and soon after breakfast the team was ordered out on the field for light practice.
This was necessary as their day of comparative idleness, added to the damp character of the weather, had made them all a little stiff.
“Get limbered up, boys,” advised Jimmie Mack. “You’ll need all the speed and power you can bring along to-day. Joe, how’s your arm?”
“All right, I guess,” answered the young pitcher.
“Well, do some light practice. Come on. I’ll catch for you a while.”
There had been some slight changes made in the Newkirk grounds since last season, and Gregory wanted his players to familiarize themselves with the new layout. Joe was delighted with the diamond. Though Newkirk was a smaller city than Pittston the ball field was kept in better shape.
“Of course it isn’t the Polo Grounds,” Joe confided to Charlie Hall, “but they’re pretty good.”
“I wonder if I’ll ever get a chance to play on the Polo Grounds?” murmured Charlie, half enviously. “It must be great!”