“Pshaw,” said Leddy. “Mount Morris isn’t so different from Corliss. They play a little better, that’s all. The big thing is to just go in and tell yourself, and make yourself believe, that you’re a heap better than any batsman they can put up. Isn’t that so, Ben?”
“Yep, I think it is. Confidence is a big factor in pitching, Dud. And we want you to spend the next week or so accumulating a lot of it. You’re not likely to have to work Saturday, although you never can tell what’ll happen in a ball game. Anyway, you won’t have to work more than an inning or two. I’m pretty sure I can go four and Nate isn’t likely to break down under five, I guess. I wish to goodness we had one south-paw in the bunch!”
“Brunswick’s a left-hander,” offered Dud.
“I know, but he isn’t ready yet. I guess he’ll come around nicely next year. Well, that’s the outlook. Now, if you take my advice, you’ll do a little work every day, Dud; not a great deal, but enough to keep silky; and you’ll get used to the idea of going into one of those Mount Morris games and doing a lot of pretty pitching. I’m going to get out of here tomorrow and we’ll have a try-out, just you and I, Dud. I want to see that cross-fire of yours again. If you can make that good it might be a big asset against some of Mount Morris’ right-handed batters. How is your hitting nowadays, Dud?”
“Pretty poor, I’m afraid,” replied Dud ruefully.
“Try and brace up with it. You never can tell when a hit will mean a whole lot to your team. And a pitcher that can smash out a safety now and then—especially when it’s needed a lot—is pretty useful.”
“That’s the only thing that got Ben his place,” said Leddy dryly.
“It helped a lot, anyway,” laughed Ben, “especially when I started in with the second and didn’t have much more than my glove. But you try to meet ’em between now and next Friday, Dud. And, by the way, better not let Pete Sargent know that you’re on. Maybe he will give you a hint himself in a day or two, but until he does you let him think you don’t suspect anything.”