Then came a hard ground hit to George Ives, who threw the batter out at first base, but this enabled the first batter to reach third. Then a safe hit was made just over Ray Wendell’s head, and the runner on third base scored. The next man I succeeded in striking out, and we took the bat.
George Ives opened with a good safe hit, and according to Ray Wendell’s direction, he dashed down to second base at the first ball pitched. The catcher hardly expected this, threw over the second baseman’s head, and George reached third. The next two, Percy Randall and myself, were thrown out at first base, and it looked almost as if George Ives would be left on third, but Holland saved us from this by hitting safe and bringing George home. We made no more runs, and the inning closed with the score 1–1.
In the second inning neither scored. In the third inning Halford made one run, while we were blanked. But in the fourth inning we returned the compliment by making a run and blanking them. In the fifth inning they made one more run, making the score 3–2 in their favor. In the sixth and seventh innings they kept this lead, and prevented us from scoring.
In spite of their being ahead, we had felt no anxiety, for we were sure of our superiority both in the field and at the bat, and we believed that our time would come. It was only at the end of the seventh inning that we felt the least uneasy.
“Boys,” said Ray, “this won’t do. We are nearing the end of the game, and they are still in the lead. We must break this up. You see, it is just as I told you: they play a fine game while they keep the bases clean. We haven’t pushed them hard enough. We must set the ball rolling. Start her off, Alfred.”
His last words were addressed to Burnett, who was first at the bat in the ending of the eighth inning. But Alfred evidently did not see his way clear, for he struck out.
“Oh, pshaw, let me show you,” cried Percy Randall cheerfully, as he took his position.
Percy was as good as his word, and at the second ball pitched, placed it nicely over the short stop’s head, reaching first base in safety. This was Percy’s first chance and we immediately learned his value. He followed Ray’s instructions by performing two successive feats of reckless base running such as I had never in my life seen before.
At the very first ball he was off for second base. The catcher threw straight and true, but Percy hurled himself forward head first, and slid into the base safely. Hastily picking himself up and without stopping to dust himself off, he started off at the next ball, and dashed for third base. Again the catcher threw straight, but, by another brilliant slide, Percy reached third.