“That’s all well enough,” grunted Willard, “but they’ve got six mighty big tallies on that scorebook. We’ve got to do some hitting to get this game, fellows!”
The rest agreed, all except Spider and Teddy, who were arguing heatedly over the question of how to score that second run. Spider declared that the runner should be credited with a steal, while Teddy insisted that it was somebody’s error, he didn’t know whose!
“If it was anybody’s error,” said Jerry, “it was Chester’s. The big boob ought to have asked for time.”
“The man stole on catcher,” suggested Tom. “Wasn’t it catcher’s error?”
“No, because pitcher held the ball,” contradicted Willard. “It’s plainly Chester’s error.”
“It was everybody’s error, I guess,” murmured Teddy, scowling at his scorebook. “Guess I’ll present everyone with one-ninth of an error!”
Meanwhile high school was falling before the clever curves of the opposing pitcher, and, although the home team managed to get a runner as far as second, there was no scoring in the last of the fourth. Nor was there any scoring in either half of the fifth or sixth. The game settled down to a pitchers’ battle, with the honors pretty evenly divided between Billy and the purple-stockinged youth. Then, in the last of the seventh, things began to look up for Audelsville. Berger, rightfielder and a mediocre batsman, was hit on the arm and went down to first rubbing his elbow and grinning. The incident unsteadied the Providence pitcher for a moment, and Connors, who usually fanned out expeditiously, somehow managed to get his bat in the way of the ball and sent a slow bunt toward third. A mix-up ensued between third baseman and pitcher, and Connors was safe on first and Berger was hopping gleefully around at second. Billy Younger was an erratic performer with the stick and his retirement was already discounted when he faced the pitcher. But luck was with Billy to-day and he swung against the first delivery and cracked it out over second baseman’s head for a long roller that sent Berger across the plate and left Connors on second. The bleachers howled approval and the High School coachers danced and cavorted and uttered weird noises at first and second. Lyman, head of the batting list, might be expected to bring in another run, and he received evidences of distinguished consideration as he stepped to the plate and faced the pitcher determinedly. But for once the clever little shortstop proved a distinct disappointment, for the best he could do, after watching two strikes go past him and then fouling off two deliveries, was to send a weak grounder to third baseman, who hurled to second in time to catch Billy. Second completed the double. Meanwhile Connors had reached third, however, and there was still a chance of another run. Ness, first baseman, long and lank and a mighty swatter, came up and was passed to first. Cook, centerfielder, while not as dependable as Ness, was a fair batter, and this time he did his duty, banging a hot liner at shortstop which that youth stopped but could not field in time to prevent another score. With men on first and second Chester Madden fell a victim to the pitcher’s wiles and sent an arching fly into centerfielder’s hands, and the inning was over.
In their half of the eighth the Providence players squeezed in another tally, although Billy added one more strike-out to his growing score. High School started badly, Jordan and Jones each being thrown out at first. Berger, however, managed to do some heady waiting and got his base on balls. Connor connected with a low ball and popped it up into short centerfield. Shortstop went back for it and centerfielder raced in for it. Even second baseman showed a disposition to take a hand in the catching of that fly. The result was that it fell to the turf while the three players stood and glared at each other. It was Billy’s turn at bat again, and it was a foregone conclusion that, having had one streak of luck, Billy couldn’t expect another and would prove an easy out. But the pitcher, worried by the misadventure that had left two on bases instead of retiring the side, went suddenly wild. Billy used his head and waited. One ball, two balls, a strike, three balls—Billy waved his bat and danced at the plate. Another strike!
“He can’t do it again, Billy!” called Chester Madden.