“So will the other fellows,” said Tom. “Now let’s see what they do to Chester.”
The first one of the enemy was thrown out at first and the second barely beat the ball out and was called safe. A sacrifice bunt placed the runner on second base and, with two down, the local sympathizers breathed more freely. But the next batsman, after waiting until Chester Madden had put himself in a hole with three balls, found one to his taste and wrapped a hot liner over second baseman’s head. Rightfielder came in hard and threw to the plate, but the ball got there a fraction of a second after the runner had crossed it in a cloud of dust, and Providence had scored.
A pop fly to shortstop made the third out and the teams changed places. Lyman, the diminutive shortstop, hit past the Providence pitcher and reached first on second baseman’s error. But, although he got down to second when Ness was put out at first, he died there, for both Cook and Madden fanned. There was no more scoring by either team until the fourth. Madden settled down and displayed a very fair article of ball. He had but one strike-out to his credit, and most of the enemy connected with his slants in one way or another, but a deal of sharp fielding and a lot of good luck saved him until the first half of the inning mentioned. Then things went bad from the start for the Blues’ captain.
The first purple-stockinged batsman took the first delivery, which was a fast, straight ball, and sent it arching far out into centerfield. Perhaps Cook should have got under it, but he didn’t, thus saving himself from a possible error and allowing the runner to get safely to second base. The next man laid the ball down about six feet in front of the plate and both Madden and George Connors, the catcher, made for it. Connors got it and hurled it down the base line. It was a hurried throw and, instead of landing in Ness’s hands, the ball took the runner squarely between the shoulders, sent him staggering over the bag and then bounded off into the crowd at the foot of the grand stand. The Providence coach hustled the astonished and breathless runner to his feet and sent him sprinting to second, while the man on that bag raced home.
Confusion ensued at once. Mr. Chase sent the first runner back to third, as the ball had been interfered with, but allowed the batsman to hold second. Captain Madden objected strongly, claiming that the batsman should be allowed but one base. The Providence captain rushed up and added his voice to the controversy and players of both teams crowded around. Whereupon the purple-stockinged youth on third base nonchalantly walked home and the runner on second ambled to third and would have followed his team-mate’s example had not Jerry Lippit shrieked a warning to Madden, who held the ball.
“You’re on third!” cried Madden, pointing accusingly at the runner who, having crossed the plate, had now joined the group. “Mr. Umpire, send him back to third, sir!”
“I can’t do that, Madden,” replied Mr. Chase quietly. “Time has not been called.”
“It hasn’t?” ejaculated Madden, aghast.
“Certainly not. You didn’t ask for time.”
Murmurs of resentment arose from the Audelsville players, while the visitors grinned or openly chuckled. Madden flushed angrily.