“I don’t know much about him. I’ll ask Frank.”
Frank Lamson was summoned to the conference and the question put to him. “Phillips?” replied Frank, carelessly. “No, I guess he isn’t much at baseball. He played football at Townsend School last year, but I never heard he was much of a baseball shark. Anyway, we’re only playing for fun, Toby, so what does it matter?”
“Well, he’s a heap older than us fellows,” Toby objected. “It doesn’t seem quite fair, that’s all.”
“You’re afraid of getting licked,” laughed Frank. “Be a sport, Toby!”
“If Toby doesn’t want us to play Phillips,” began Arnold.
“We haven’t any one else, though,” said Frank impatiently. “We can’t play them with only eight men!”
“All right,” said Toby. “Go ahead. Maybe it won’t make any difference.”
But it did make a difference, as was soon apparent. For when Tracey Gay had reached first on Tony George’s poor peg to Billy Conners, and Arnold had sacrificed him neatly to second, Phillips stepped to the plate in a knowing way, swung at Tim Chrystal’s first offering, and slammed it into deep right for two bases, scoring Gay. One more tally was added before the Towners succeeded in disposing of the third Spaniard, and that two-run lead held until the fourth inning. Then Tony George, first man up for the home team, got a scratch hit past shortstop and Gus Whelan sent him to second on a bunt, being thrown out at first. The next two men went out, and it was up to “Snub” Mooney to rescue the runner on second. This Snub did by dropping a “Texas Leaguer” behind third, Tony George getting to third on the hit and racing home when the fielder unwisely threw to second to get Snub. Snub slid into the bag unchallenged, and Tony got to the plate before the ball from second baseman reached the catcher.
But the Spaniards came back in their inning and added two more tallies, making the score 4 to 1. In the fifth the Towners went down in one, two, three style, for Frank Lamson was pitching a much better game than a fortnight before and the whole team from the Head was playing together in very snappy form. There was some improvement in the Towners as well, but they displayed an unfortunate disposition to make errors at critical times. Tim Chrystal was slanting them over in good shape, but both Phillips and George Dodson found him for long hits every time they came up. The game held more excitement than had the first contest, and Mr. Trainor, very warm and perspiring, was forced to make a number of close decisions at bases. Whenever he did so loud hoots of derision came from under the green sunshade! Mr. Trainor’s office was no sinecure that hot afternoon!
It was the seventh that saw things happen. Manuel Sousa waited and got his base. Morgan laid down a bunt half-way to the pitcher’s box, and Frank juggled the ball and both runners were safe. “Snub” Mooney went out, third baseman to first, advancing the runners. Tim Chrystal, who had so far failed to connect, smashed a line drive into short center. Sousa and Morgan tallied, but Tim was out in an attempt to reach second on the throw-in. With two gone, the inning looked about over, but Toby, next up, took advantage of Frank’s momentary let-down and pushed the ball down the third base line just out of reach of the accomplished Phillips, who had so far fielded his position like a veteran—which he probably was. After that, although Frank threw to first repeatedly in an effort to catch him, Toby stole second on the third delivery, beating the throw by inches only,—but beating it. Billy Conners fouled off two strikes, watched two balls go past him, fouled another for good measure, and then landed on a drop and raised it high and far into center field.