Then Tommy and his chums braced up, and though they had never before played together in a regular game, though they had no uniforms, and not a very good outfit, they played so well that they tied the score.
“But we’ve got to win!” cried Tommy, as it came time for his boys to go out in the field. “We’ve got to win!”
“I hope we do,” said Sammie Sandlass. “But their pitcher throws big curves.”
“I’ve got to have more practice at that,” admitted Tommy. “They’re a stronger team than we are, but I think we can win.”
It came to the ending of the ninth inning. The score had increased until it was now ten runs to eleven in favor of the Ramblers. It was the turn of the Riverdale Roarers to bat for the last time. If they could get two runs they would win. Could they do it?
“We’re just going to!” exclaimed Tommy. “I bat right after you do, Teddy. You try and knock a three-bagger, and I’ll try to make a home run, and that will win us the game.”
“Of course I’ll try,” spoke Teddy, “but you know it isn’t so easy to make runs as you’d think.”
“Of course I know, but do it! Do it!”
“Yes, you’re the boy who does things!” laughed Teddy. “Well, here I go,” he added, as he walked up to home plate.
“One strike!” shouted the umpire, though Teddy had not moved his bat.