"But never mind," said First Baseman Tom Clifton, fiercely. "We've eight more innings coming to us."
"Batter up!" commanded the umpire.
John Hackett, looking very important indeed, strode to the plate. "Jack Frost" rubbed a little dust on the ball. He raised his arm in the air, brought it down again, and a snappy drop was speeding toward the batter.
John Hackett made a mighty swing—and missed.
"Rah, rah, rah for 'Jack Frost'!" came from the field.
Jack was a little nervous. He had not yet gained his usual control of the ball. The next two went wide of the plate.
Hackett, however, landed on the fourth. But the pitcher scooped up the bounder which resulted and retired the batter at first.
Kirk Talbot was the next to face the pitcher.
At the very first ball delivered he sent a hot line drive whipping straight toward Charlie Blake. Charlie, though still struggling against a feeling of nervousness, easily made the catch.
Jeff Wilber, right fielder of the Stars, reached first on balls; but Nat Wingate's effort to advance him was nipped by Dave Brandon's clever catch of a high fly in left field.