The make up and batting order of the Silver Stars was the same as in the game with the Resolutes save that Joe was in Jed McGraw’s place, and this brought him second to the bat. Potter was up first and managed to get a single.
“Now, bring him in,” commanded Darrell with a smile at Joe, as the latter picked out a bat. He was very nervous, as any lad would have been, playing his first game with a new team. He did want to make good!
“I’ll try,” he said simply.
Painter, the Red Stocking pitcher, had no phenomenal speed and his curves could not be depended on to break at the right places. Still he was a good “bluffer” and he made many a batter think that he was getting a very swift ball. Often it would look as though it was going to hit the man at the plate and he would instinctively step back, disconcerting his own aim.
Joe let the first ball pass, and was somewhat surprised to have a strike called on him. But he did not kick, for, as a matter of fact, the horsehide had clipped the plate.
“I’ll get the next one,” thought Joe grimly. Then Painter worked his usual trick, of throwing a ball close in, and Joe bent his body like a bow.
“Strike two!” yelled the umpire and Joe felt a flash of anger. But he said nothing, and when the next ball came he swung viciously at it. He heard the heart-stirring ping! and, dropping his bat, he legged it for first as Potter darted to second.
But Joe had not hit the ball nearly as hard as he thought he had, and the result was that the shortstop gathered it in, and, by a quick throw to first, caught our hero there.
“Quick, to second!” yelled the coacher, but Potter dropped and slid, being counted safe.
“One down, only two more!” yelled Murphy, captain and catcher of the “Reds,” as they were called for short.