THE BASEBALL GAME
The coming of Dan Soppinger and his crowd filled the Rover boys and
their chums with pleasure, and they did all they could to make the new
arrivals feel at home.
“We got to Beldane quicker than we thought,” explained Dan. “And there
was a boatman at the hotel who said he knew where your bungalow was,
so we thought we’d come right up instead of staying in the town over
night.”
“And you did just right!” answered Gif. “And we want you to stay here
for a few days at least.”
“And we want you to help out in a baseball game. That is, if we can
have our challenge accepted,” put in Jack. And thereupon the other boys
were told about the rival camp on the other shore of Big Bear Lake.
“Gee, that will suit me!” cried Walt Baxter.
“I’d like to stay here. But don’t ask me to play ball,” puffed Fatty
Hendry. “You know that exercise is too violent for me. I’m willing to
root, but that’s all.”
“I’ll be glad to play,” came from Ned Lowe. “It’ll be a change from
touring. I get rather cramped sitting in the car all day. Since we
started we’ve done nothing but ride, making a hundred and fifty miles
or more a day.”
“Maybe we can get the motor-boat fellow to take a challenge across the
lake before he goes back to Baldane,” suggested Gif. The man was still
at the dock awaiting orders from the lads he had had for passengers.
“That’s the talk! We’ll send the challenge right away!”
The boatman was consulted and readily consented to leave the challenge
at the Willoughby camp before returning to the Beldane hotel.
“We want you to put our baggage on check in the cloakroom until we get
back,” said Dan. “And take good care of our auto, too. You can come
back for us next Monday,” he added, after consulting Gif. And so it was
all arranged.
In the letter to the Longley boys Gif explained about the arrival of
the other lads and challenged their rivals to a game of baseball on
their own grounds on the coming Saturday afternoon. If the challenge
was accepted the cadets from both schools were to go to Beldane and
there select an umpire.
The arrival of the challenge from the Colby boys created a great stir
in the Longley camp. Ted Maxwell and a number of others were in favor
of an immediate acceptance, but Flanders and his cronies demurred.
“I didn’t come here to play ball. I came to take it easy,” growled
Flanders.
“I don’t want anything more to do with them,” put in Halliday.
“You were willing enough to go over there and rough-house the place,”
came from Maxwell. “Why not be a real sport? If we don’t play them,
when we get back to school they’ll tell everybody we were afraid.”
A hot discussion lasting fully an hour followed. Then a vote was
taken and eight of the Longley boys were found to be in favor of the
game while only three were openly opposed. Thereupon Flanders and his
cronies finally said they would play.
“And remember,” said Ted Maxwell, “if you do play you’ve got to do your
best.”
“Oh, don’t worry! We’ll wipe ’em off the face of the earth,” growled
Halliday.
“You let me pitch and I won’t let ’em get in a single run,” added
Flanders.
“I’ve got an idea,” went on Maxwell. “We might make this game quite
an affair. They’ve got a regular ball grounds down at Beldane, and
this week they’re holding a drive for a hospital that’s to be located
there. Why can’t we arrange to play at Beldane for the benefit of the
hospital? That ought to give us a good audience.”
“You’ll have to talk to Gif Garrison’s crowd first,” said Bob Mason.
Then came the question of getting an answer back to Gif. On account
of what they had done at the bungalow scarcely any of the lads wished
to go over to the other shore. They were much surprised, however,
when they landed to find that not a word was mentioned regarding the
“rough-housing” that had taken place.
“It would be a splendid scheme to play at Beldane for the benefit of
the hospital!” cried Jack. “That suits me exactly.”
“Let’s do it, by all means,” put in Fred.
And thereupon three boys from each camp set out in a rowboat for the
lower end of the lake to make the necessary arrangements.
As luck would have it, the ball grounds were not to be used on the
following Saturday, and the local authorities were only too glad to
have the exhibition game take place for the hospital’s benefit. No
admission fee was to be charged, but it was understood that during the
game a silver collection would be taken for the benefit of the proposed
institution. “And a silver collection doesn’t mean that you can’t drop
a bill in the basket,” added one of the committee.
Some of the boys had their baseball uniforms with them, while others
managed to either borrow or rent uniforms, so that on the day set apart
for the game both sides made quite a creditable appearance. They had
new balls and bats, and the Rover boys and their chums had spent all
their spare time in practice.
As in years gone by, Jack was to pitch for the Colby Hall team, as
it was called, while Tommy Flanders was to fill the box for Longley
Academy. Fred was to be first baseman, with Randy at third and Andy in
center field. Gif went to second and also captained the nine.
“You’ll have to act as a substitute, Fatty, whether you want to or
not,” said Gif.
“All right,” answered the stout cadet. “But please don’t call on me.
Finish the game among yourselves. I’ll be a high and mighty rooter,”
and he grinned.
It was advertised around the lake that two well-known military
academies would play a game of ball for the benefit of the new hospital
and this brought to the grounds a large number of people, including
quite a few automobile tourists. When the boys trotted out on the field
they were greeted with applause.
“There are the Colby Hall boys.”
“And there are the cadets from Longley Academy.”
“Looks as if we might see a pretty good game.”
The manager of the local ball team had consented to act as umpire, and
promptly on time the game started. Longley was first at the bat and in
a second more Jack found himself facing Mason.
“Now then, Bob, knock it over the fence!” cried one of the Longley boys.
“That’s it, Bob! Bring in a homer first clap!”
Although he had not been on the Colby nine since the new rule
concerning officers had gone into effect, Jack had not given up his
baseball practice and he felt himself in excellent condition when he
caught the ball that the umpire tossed to him. Then came the command,
“Play ball!” and he gave a warm up-swing and threw the ball over the
plate. Mason was on the alert and promptly knocked the sphere down to
center field where it was stopped by Andy and quickly sent to first.
“He’s out!”
“Hurrah! First blood for Colby Hall!”
It was a splendid beginning, but such a fine showing could not last.
Before the inning came to an end the Longley boys had scored two runs,
much to their delight.
“Now, Colby, show ’em what you can do!”
Although the left-handed pitcher who had battled against Colby Hall
during the games at the schools was at the camp, Tommy Flanders had
insisted upon filling the box and now he came forward with his usual
confident air.
“Go at ’em, Tommy! Eat ’em up!” cried Codfish, who had been playing
center field.
Flanders was on his mettle and it must be confessed that he did very
well――so well, indeed, that the Colby boys were retired in that first
inning without getting further than first base.
“Hurrah! That’s the way we’ll do ’em up!” shouted one of the Longley
supporters.
After this the game went along without either side scoring until the
fifth inning. Then Andy managed to get a single, followed by a double
from Gif, and then came another single by Walt, and when the inning
came to an end the score was a tie, 2 to 2.
“Some game, I’ll say,” said one of the men from the hotel. “Almost as
good as the professionals put up.”
“Fine young pitchers, both of them,” said his gentleman friend.
After that the game seesawed along until the eighth inning, when the
score stood 4 to 4. Both Jack and Tommy Flanders had pitched well, and
the support on each side had been almost flawless.
“Some game, I’ll say,” remarked Fred, as he came in to the players’
bench. “Why can’t all of us put up a game like this when we’re at home?”
The only flaw in the proceedings had been when Flanders had been
cautioned by the umpire for stepping out of the box when about to
deliver the ball.
“You’re mistaken. I didn’t step out,” growled Flanders, and became
quite angry.
“You heard the warning,” was all the umpire said, but the tone of voice
was such that the Longley pitcher knew he must pay attention to what
was told him.
When the Longley boys came to the bat for the last time their best
stick men were to the front, and as a result they managed to get in two
more runs, much to their delight.
“Hurrah! Six to four!” cried one of the Longley boys enthusiastically.
“Now then, hold ’em down to another goose egg and the game is ours!”
“We’ve got to do something, fellows,” said Gif earnestly. “Who is at
the bat?”
“I am,” answered Fred.
“Well, do your best.”
“I certainly will,” responded the stout young Rover, as he grasped the
ashen stick and walked to the plate.
Two balls and a strike were called on Fred. Then the sphere came in
just where he wanted it. Crack! went the bat, and the ball went sailing
between first and second base. Away flew Fred, reaching the bag in a
cloud of dust.
“Hurrah! A single! Now then, pile up a few more, fellows!”
Randy was to the bat next, and it must be confessed that he was just
a bit nervous, for he realized that their chances of winning the game
were slim. Nevertheless, after having a strike and two balls called
upon him, he managed to land on the horsehide for another single, which
took Fred safely to second.
Spouter now came forward and managed to dribble the ball down close to
first base. He was put out, but Fred managed to slide to third while
Randy reached second.
The next fellow to the bat was Ned Lowe. He knocked a pop fly, which
the second baseman gathered in with ease.
“Two out! Now hold ’em down and the game is ours!”
“Hit it, Jack, hit it for all you’re worth!” whispered Gif, as Jack
came forward with his bat.
The major of the Colby Hall battalion did not answer. But he set his
teeth and took a firm grip on the ashen stick as he faced Tommy
Flanders. A ball was called and then a strike, and then another ball
and a strike. All those in the grandstand seemed to hold their breath
for what might be coming. The game might be won or lost in a few
seconds more. Tommy Flanders wound up with care and the ball came in
just a trifle low. Crack! went the bat, and the horsehide sailed upward
far into the left field.
“Run, boys, run! It’s a two-bagger!”
“No, it isn’t! It’s a home run! Run!”
Fred, playing well off third, came in with ease and Randy followed
almost immediately. Jack was racing down to second, and as he did this
he saw that the fielder was still running to gather the bouncing ball.
Up he tore to third and there hesitated for an instant.
“Go in! Go in!” yelled Gif. “You can make it, Jack! Run! Run!” And with
leaps and bounds Jack came in over the home plate.
“Three runs! Colby Hall wins the game!”