But it was not to be. Sam gave the first man his base on balls and there was a groan of anguish from his fellows and the Riverside crowd. Then the second man whacked out what appeared to be a pretty three bagger, scoring the runner from first. The batter slipped on his way from second to third, however, and was put out when Joe made a magnificent throw in from deep centre.
With one out Sam gathered himself together and struck out the next man. Then came to the bat the mightiest walloper of the rival team.
“Wait for a good one. Make him give you what you want,” advised the coacher to the batter.
And the latter did wait, for when he got what he wanted he “slammed it” away out in centre field.
“A home run! A home run!” yelled the frantic crowd.
“And win the game!” shouted a score of the players’ friends. “Come on, baby-mine!”
Joe was madly racing after the ball, which had gone away beyond him. He got it and hurled it to second for a relay home, as a quick glance had shown him the man rounding third.
Straight and true the ball went and the baseman had it. Then he sent it to Catcher Ferguson as the runner was racing in. Sam had run from his box and stood watching and expectant near home plate.
The runner dropped and slid and Bart Ferguson, as the ball landed in his mitt, reached over to touch him.
“Safe!” howled the umpire, and it meant the defeat of the Silver Stars.