The ninth inning saw a single run tallied up for the visitors, and in this connection Joe did some great work, pulling down a fly that was well over his head and receiving a round of applause for his pluck, for it was a “hot” one.
The unexpected happened in the ending of the ninth, when the visitors were one ahead. Seth Potter, never reckoned as a heavy hitter brought in a home run, and the score was once more a tie for no one else crossed home plate.
“Ten innings!” was the cry and the spectators began “sitting up and taking notice” as Rodney Burke said.
“Now, Joe, it’s up to you to shut them out,” advised the captain. The young pitcher nodded and then he cut loose.
His arm was paining him very much for by a sudden twist he had wrenched the muscles injured in saving the lad from the trolley car. But Joe would not give up, and he struck out three men neatly, only one, the second up, getting any kind of a hit, and that only good for the initial bag.
“A goose egg!” yelled Rodney Burke. “Now one run will do the trick!”
“Snow ’em under!” cried Darrell.
And the Stars did, for they rapped out the necessary run amid a jubilant riot of cheers, making the final score twelve to eleven.
“Oh, I knew you could do it! I knew you could!” cried the captain, trying to embrace all his lads at once. They had won handily though at one time it looked like defeat.
“Good work, Joe,” complimented Darrell. “You’re the regular pitcher from now on.”