“Sure, that’s the new jump ball he’s been practicing lately,” grinned Oldsmith, though whether he really believed such a thing himself or not was a question, for he seemed to be a practical joker. “Old Hendrix is always hatching up something fresh, for the other side. You fellows needn’t expect to do much running today, for most of you will only whiff out at the rubber. He’s got your number, all right.”
Of course that did not bother Joel very much. He knew how prone baseball players are to boast when things are turning their way; and at the same time find all sorts of plausible excuses when the reverse tide begins to flow against them.
Donohue seemed to be at his best, for he immediately struck out the first man who faced him, tossing up just three balls at that. This was quite a creditable performance the Chester rooters kept telling their Harmony neighbors, considering that he was no veteran at this sort of thing, and Hutchings could usually be counted on as a dependable hitter.
Clifford fared but little better, though it was through a lofty foul to right field which Big Bob easily smothered, that he went out. Then Captain Martin tried his hand, and he, too, seemed unable properly to gauge the teasers that Donohue sent in, for after fouling several, he passed away on the third strike.
The crowd made up its mind that it was going to be a pitchers’ duel in earnest. Many would go the way of those who had been unable to meet the puzzling curves and drops that had come in by turns.
When next the Chester boys tried their hand, Toby got his base through Parsons juggling the hot grounder which came his way, and failing to send it across the diamond in time to nip the runner. The Chester folks took notice of this error on the part of the third baseman, who had been touted as a wonder at snatching up everything that came his way, regardless of its character. Still, that had been a difficult ball to handle, and the error was excusable, Jack thought.
There was no run made, though Big Bob did send out a terrific drive that under ordinary conditions should have been a three-bagger at least. Oldsmith, after a gallant sprint at top speed, was seen to jump into the air and pull the ball down. He received a storm of applause, for it was a pretty piece of work; and Chester fans cheered quite as lustily as the home crowd; for, as a rule, baseball rooters can admire such splendid results regardless of partisanship.
Badger struck out, in his turn, being apparently unable to solve those puzzling shoots of the cool and smiling master in the box. But then Harmony was no better off in their half of that inning, for not a man got as far as second; though O’Leary did send up an amazing fly that dropped squarely in the hands of Big Bob. The other two only smashed the thin air when they struck, for they picked out wide ones, and let the good balls shoot over the edges of the plate like cannonballs.
“Notice one thing,” said Jack to several of the Chester players when once more it was their turn at bat. “Every Harmony fellow turns partly toward the right when he bats. That’s the short field in this enclosure, and with the bleachers in between. They know the advantages of sending the ball in that direction every time it’s possible. Phil, Joel and Bob, make a note of that, will you, and try to duplicate their game? They know the grounds, and have the advantage over us.”
“Watch my smoke, Governor,” chuckled Big Bob Jeffries, confidently. “I’m only trying things out so far. When the right time comes, me to cash in with a ball clean over that short field fence. They’ll never find it again either, if I get the swoop I’m aiming for.”