A HOT FINISH
"It's anybody's game so far!" one of the Scranton boys was calling out.
"Well, I told you that Kinsey would grow better the longer he was in
the box," laughed the local rooter, who had spoken before. "Why,
he's just getting warmed up by now. Your fellows will be lucky
to touch him again from now on. It's as good as sewed up already."
"Don't crow too soon," Scranton told him, unflinchingly, for boys
are not to be so easily bluffed; and the Scranton fellows still had
great confidence in their team, led by Hugh Morgan, as strong finishers.
It began to look very much like a pitchers' battle from that time
on. Kinsey was fast becoming invulnerable, and batter after batter
failed to connect with his wizard delivery. He would smile at them,
and then proceed to give them something they were not expecting, so
that the heaviest Scranton batters struck out.
On the other hand, Alan Tyree was doing almost as well, and if he
fell a trifle short his teammates made up the difference, for they
performed splendidly. Several hummers that apparently were ticketed
for two-baggers, perhaps more, were hauled down by expert fingers
before they could get out of the diamond, while the fielders caught
several particularly vicious flies that would have counted heavily
against Scranton were they allowed to fall safely.
The ninth inning saw no change, for the tie was still unbroken. This
sort of thing pleased the crowd immensely, as an extra inning game
always means additional excitement, and added thrills for the money.
Even the tenth did not break the monotony, although at one time
it looked as if Belleville might add a tally to their score, and
possibly clinch matters. Leonard, their hard-hitting backstop,
sent one out in short center, failing to give it enough force to
take advantage of that incline back of "K.K." Then Conway, who had
been hitting savagely latterly, tried to knock the cover off the
ball, but only succeeded in popping up a high foul which Thad smothered
in his big mitt after dancing around for several seconds, as though
the twister were difficult to gauge correctly.
Gould bunted unexpectedly when the stage was set for a mighty blow,
with the fielders playing away out. He advanced Leonard, although
caught himself, thanks to the quick work of the pitcher, who closed
in on the ball, and tossed it to first ahead of the sprinting Gould.
So Leonard was on second, with two out, and another slugger at the
plate in the person of Wright, with Waterman to follow.
Some of the Belleville boys started cheering and they appeared to
be almost certain that a run was as good as counted, but for once
they made a mistake, because after Tyree had gotten himself into a
bad hole, with three balls and one strike called, he forced the
batter to foul, and then shut him out on a dizzy inshoot that he
failed to connect with, being called out by the watchful umpire.
The eleventh inning saw no difference in the prevailing score, which
after both clubs had had a turn at bat remained the same, eight to eight.
"Why, anything is possible with those two boys going as strong as
they are right now," the Belleville rooter was saying. "That pitcher
of yours, Scranton, is no slouch, believe me. He isn't hardly in
the same class as Kinsey, but your fellows are supporting him in
great shape, and saving many a run by fine field work. But of course
we'll win in the end; we're bound to. One of our boys will put in
the big wallop and circle the bases on a trot, and then it'll all be
over but the shouting. It's no disgrace to be whipped by a Belleville
team, Scranton."
"Spell able first!" taunted the visiting fan, still filled with
implicit faith in his school representatives.
It was now the beginning of the twelfth. Hugh had again talked to
his fellows, and once more implored them to get busy with their bats.
"Don't ever get the notion in your heads that you can't hit Kinsey's
shoots and drops!" he told them, as Julius Hobson selected his bat,
being the first man up. We've just _got_ to work a man around the
circuit this inning."
"If we don't we never will next time, because it's the unlucky
thirteenth," remarked another, who, like many baseball players,
seemed to have a touch of superstition in his make-up.
"The thirteenth is as good as any other," Hugh told him, reprovingly;
"and if we reach it I hope you'll not lie down on that account. Julius,
you're due for a wallop, remember."
"Sure thing, Hugh, watch my smoke!" chuckled the other, as he stepped
blithely out and tapped his bat several times on the plate after
a fashion he had, while Kinsey was eyeing him reflectively, as though
trying to remember what the long and short suit of the Hobson boy was.
Then he sent in a screamer which Julius as promptly sent far out
in the heavens, and started running like mad for first. They could
see the long-legged Conway out in left field sprinting like a huge
grasshopper in hopes of getting under the soaring ball in time to
set himself for the catch. As if by a preconcerted signal everybody
in the grandstand and the bleachers stood up, the better to see
what happened, because it was a most critical point of the game.
Julius was half-way down to second and still going strong when Conway
was seen to fairly leap up into the air, then take a headlong fall;
after which he hastily scrambled to his feet, holding up his hand
to signify that he had a ball, which he then threw in to the pitcher,
amidst a roar of cheers. Even Scranton fans joined in the applause,
being able to appreciate a fine bit of work, although it gave them
the keenest sort of disappointment to realize that after all Julius
had had all his run to second for nothing.
But at least his mighty blow would serve to encourage some of his
team-mates, who latterly had not been doing much with Kinsey's weird
offerings.
Of course, nothing was expected of the pitcher, for Tyree was a
notoriously weak man at the bat. He tried the best he knew how
to connect, but after three attempts had to go back to the bench.
So two were down, and Thad Stevens at bat. Hugh said something
to his chum as the latter stepped forward to the plate. Thad looked
very grim as though he felt that the whole fate of the game rested
on his young shoulders just then. He waited for his ball, had a
strike called, and then connected. The sound of that blow would
never be forgotten by those eager Scranton fans. It was as loud
and clear as the stroke of a woodsman's ax on a hollow tree. And
they saw the ball speeding away out dead ahead. Everybody started
up again to watch its course, while shouts rent the air.
Major was making along like mad. No use, Major, because that ball
is ticketed for a home run, and nothing on earth but a collapse of
the part of the fellow spinning around the bases can prevent it.
When the ball struck the ground Major was not within thirty feet
of it. He did not even attempt to jump up and tag the fleeting
sphere as it passed far above his bead, realizing the absurdity
of such a proceeding. His business was simply to recover the ball,
and get it in home as rapidly as he could.
But before this could be accomplished Thad Stevens was lying on
the ground among his mates, panting for breath, but a pleased grin
on his face, while some of the fellows were patting him happily on
the back, and telling him that he had saved the day for good old
Scranton High.
That ended the scoring for Scranton, although "Just" Smith did manage
to get on first by means of a scratch hit. Joe Danvers tried to equal
the performance of the backstop, but while he met the ball and sent
it far afield, unluckily. It went too high, and this enabled Major
to get beneath, with the result that the fly was caught, and the side
went out.
The excitement started all over again when Belleville came to bat for
their turn. It was plain to be seen that they had "blood in their
eye," and meant to redouble their efforts to score.
An error, together with two fair hits, put a couple of the locals
on the bases. Only one man was down in the bargain. Everybody
looked anxious on both sides, for the game was likely to be ended,
one way or the other, in that same twelfth inning.
A single would tie the score, a double give the game to Belleville.
Hugh signaled to his infield to play close. He wanted a double play
so as to put an end to the intense strain, which was beginning to
tell upon every player.
It was the great Conway at bat again. He looked particularly dangerous,
for he had a way of standing there like a mighty warrior, flourishing
his club, and watching the pitcher like a hawk. Conway had shown
himself to be the most consistent hitter on the Belleville team when
up against the deceptive shoots of Alan Tyree. Would he again succeed
in connecting with the elusive ball, and sending one or both
runners home?
Tyree appeared perfectly cool, but of course he was far from being so.
He delivered his first offering, and the umpire called it a ball.
A second followed likewise labeled. Some thought he feared Conway
so much that he meant to pass him, to take chances with Gould, who
had been less able to connect with the ball.
But with the third effort they heard again that suggestive "crack"
as Conway struck, having finally received the ball he wanted. The
crowd gave a convulsive gasp, but that was all; there was no time
for anything more, so rapidly did events occur. Three runners were
in motion, Conway heading down for first, Leonard making for second
and O'Malley beating it along the line full-tilt toward third.
Owen Dugdale was seen to leap frantically up into the air, then
almost fall over with the force of the ball which he held tightly
in his right band. He did not make any attempt to cut the runner
down at first, partly because Conway was already out through the
catch, and then things were better fixed for him closer at hand.
O'malley was coming down like a hurricane. He saw what had happened
and tried to get back, but Julius was at the bag and ready to take
the toss like lightning.
When the spectators saw him touch the bag, and that the umpire had
made the motion to indicate that Leonard was easily out, a great
shout arose; for the game was over.
After all the intense anxiety Scranton had won the first of the series
of three games which she expected to play with Belleville, unless
the other team failed to take the next one there would be no necessity
for playing the "rubber."
So Scranton boys were able to wend their way homeward in the coming
dusk, singing their school songs, and feeling all the airs of conquerors.
A happy crowd it was, taken in all, and rosy visions of the future
naturally filled the minds and hearts of those boys who had fought
so valiantly that day to overcome the enemy.
They could even look forward confidently now to the next game, which
would be with Allendale, two weeks off; and some there were who
already saw in imagination the championship pennant of the Three Town
High School League floating from the flag-pole on the dear old campus
during the Fall session of school.