THE SECOND STRUGGLE
LOWELL JEFFERSON
Everson, 2b Laird, 3b
Larke, lf Beach, cf
Talkington, cf Church, 1b
Robb, rf Hollins, ss
Hagner, ss La Joy, 2b
Case, 1b Warcford, lf
Delvin, 3b Twitchell, rf
Gibbs, c Brest, c
Radams, p Cam, p
When the teams lined up at Lowell for the second game, the batting
order was the same but there was a somewhat different air to be noticed
among the players. The boys who hit the ball were not satisfied with
their batting records in the first game, and they were determined to
knock somebody out of the box. This time it was Jefferson’s first turn
at bat, and as Laird came up Radams prayed for a little luck to enable
him to get a good start. Thinking about it so much spoiled his control,
for when he had pitched six balls the count was two and four and Laird
was walking down to first as a result.
Beach was true to his first inning record and got a nice single to
right field and Laird got to third. Captain Church came up with lots
of confidence and tapped the ball smartly, but it was an infield fly
which Everson caught near the pitcher’s box. Radams was having a hard
time with his nerves, apparently, for he gave Hollins four bad ones in
succession and he walked to first also. This brought La Joy to bat and
he hit a fast grounder over second, but Hans made a one-hand stop right
at the bag, touched second forcing Hollins and threw to first for the
third out.
[Illustration: “Hans made a one hand catch.”]
“Let’s do something in the first inning besides field,” said Hughie, as
Everson started for the plate with his bat.
“Here goes,” said Johnny. Cam, the pitcher, was sizing up Johnny and
also wishing, as had Radams a moment before, for a little luck in
getting the first man. When he pitched the first ball, however, Everson
waded right in and turned it into a single to right and was off for
first like a streak. Larke immediately hit a low roller to La Joy who
got the captain at first, but Johnny had reached second before Larry
had stopped the ball.
Talkington, after getting two strikes and three balls, hit an easy
fly to Twitchell in right. Cam was willing to let Tris hit it, but he
was trying to make him hit it in the air, and Tris did; but when Cam
pitched the same kind of a ball to Robb, Ty rapped it for a long triple
out over Warcford’s head, scoring Everson. Hans got a base on balls
and stole second; then while Cam was winding up to pitch to the next
batter, Ty started for home, but Roger tagged him easily this time as
he was attempting his great slide, and the side was out.
Warcford was the next man up for Jefferson. He struck at the first ball
Radams pitched and it went over Delvin’s head for a neat single. It
surely looked as though there would be some hitting. Twitchell next up,
struck at the first ball and missed and Delvin played out so as to be
able to stop anything that came like Warcford’s hit of a moment before,
but Twitchell bunted the next ball toward third, so Delvin couldn’t
get it in time to catch either runner, and they were both safe. Then
Brest sacrificed and Warcford and Twitchell perched on third and second
respectively. Cam struck out, but Laird singled to left, scoring
Warcford, and Twitchell tried to get home too, but was caught at the
plate by Captain Larke’s beautiful throw to Gibbie.
In the Lowell half, Case was first up and the best he could do with
Cam’s curves was to hit one of them to Hollins who fielded it in time
to get Hal at first. Delvin drove a long fly to center, but Beach got
it. Gibbie put new hope into the inning by doubling to left center, but
Radams struck out.
Beach was up again in the third, and Radams tempted him to miss three,
and he was out of the way. He had almost as good a time with Captain
Church, who hit the third one on a line into Robb’s hands out in right.
Hollins, however, drove a single over the first bag which was fair by
inches, and La Joy came up. This time Radams decided on a base on balls
after getting Hughie’s signals from the bench and it went through all
right; but before Warcford got a chance at a good one Hollins undertook
to steal third and was caught by a quick throw from Gibbie to Arthur.
Everson went out on a good stop by Cam which he tossed to Church at
first. Larke tried to put one between Beach and Warcford in left
center, but it went a little too high and Beach got it easily.
Talkington bunted along the first base line and was safe, but would
have been out if Church hadn’t expected it would roll foul, for he
could have easily thrown Tris out to Cam, who covered first. The Lowell
boys were looking for something good from Robb, but the best he could
do was to hit one in the air out Twitchell’s way and it was an easy
catch.
When Warcford came up first in the fourth, Hughie signaled the outfield
to play way out. He motioned a second time to Robb and he went almost
out to the fence. Warcford noticed this and thought if he could drop
a short fly in right field it would drop safe. The ball came to him
just right, and Hal noticing where Ty was playing started after it,
but presently he saw Ty coming full speed ahead and knew that Ty had
a chance for it, so he stopped. Just as the ball was about to hit
the ground Ty stuck out both hands and got it and then turned two
somersaults on the grass--one of which he couldn’t help. Twitchell
drove a single between Everson and Case which Ty fielded, and Roger hit
the first ball with a mighty swat on a line straight to Everson, and
Twitchell was doubled off first before he could even try to get back.
Hans first to bat in the Lowell half of the fourth picked out a nice
spot in left field, and placed a neat single where Warcford couldn’t
get it. Hal, under instructions, made a sacrifice bunt and was out
at first, Hans taking second. Arthur got three balls in a row and it
looked as though Cam was going to walk him, but the pitcher fooled
him by putting the next two straight over and then it was strike out
or hit it. Arthur did his best and struck out, but while he was doing
this Hans made a clean steal of third, to the great surprise of the
Jefferson team and especially Roger Brest the catcher, who didn’t even
throw to catch Hans. Having in mind Gibbie’s double in the second
inning Cam gave him a base on balls. Radams then made a good effort to
get a hit, but the ball went to the pitcher’s box, so Cam got credit
for an assist and the side was out.
Cam was first up for Jefferson in the fifth. He struck at the first one
that Radams pitched to him. The second ball the umpire called a strike
and Cam bunted the third one and was out. The Lowell boys and rooters
got a good deal of amusement out of this, but anyone is liable to make
a mistake of this kind. It, however, gave Lowell the edge on Jefferson
for that inning. Laird, next up, drove one to Hans which almost knocked
him down. Hans tried to throw it just as hard to Case, but threw it
high and Hal had to jump for it, which he did, and saved Hans an error.
Beach let one strike be called on him, and then he banged into the next
one for a hit to left center that hit the fence and was an easy triple.
In fact, it would have been the easy homer which Beach tried to make
out of it but for the wonderful relaying of the ball by Captain Larke
and Hans. Hans ran out into left field and caught the ball as Larke
threw it to him and turned, without looking, and threw it straight to
Gibbie at the plate who didn’t have to move his hands an inch to make
the catch and who tagged Beach not over six inches from the plate. If
Hans had stopped before making the throw to get his direction, Beach
would have been safe, but he couldn’t have made a more perfect throw
even if he had looked. It was the greatest play of the game so far.
In the Lowell half Johnny hit a grounder to Church who was playing
back on the grass and the two had a foot race to first, Everson sliding
feet foremost. It looked to many as though Johnny beat Church, but the
umpire waved him out, and after a few remarks Johnny stuck his chin in
the air a little higher and walked to the bench.
Captain Larke came up determined to make up for what he thought was a
poor decision, and placed a neat single over second base, which rolled
to center, and stole second on the first ball pitched, Brest’s throw
being a little late and high. Tris felt like doing something, but his
best effort was a foul fly in the direction of the bleachers near third
base which nobody had a right to get, but which Laird got just the same
after a long run and a beautiful catch.
Ty Robb now came up, swinging three bats. Larke was on second and
watching Ty closely, as the hand with which the batter threw away
the extra bat was a signal which gave the runner the tip on what his
instructions were, but Ty was carrying three bats, and three bats had
never been included in the signal list, so Larke was puzzled. Just
because he was puzzled, perhaps, he thought this signal might mean
steal third, so he started to do so. Ty saw him and tapped the ball
for a bunt toward third and beat it out while Larke perched safely on
third. Hans then came up and singled to right, scoring Larke, but Ty
tried to get to third on the play and was caught by a fine throw from
Twitchell to Laird.
Church started the ball rolling in the sixth by an easy grounder to
Everson who fumbled, and the Jefferson captain was safe. Hollins
bunted along the first base line, but Hal was on his job and fielded
the ball quickly to Hagner, forcing Church. La Joy then dropped a
beautiful single to left and Hollins had to stop at second, making
runners on first and second. Warcford drove a low liner between first
and second and La Joy started toward second. The batted ball hit him on
the left foot and rolled into Hal’s hands.
La Joy was out on this play, of course, and Hollins had to return to
second. Twitchell now came up and hit the third ball pitched for a two
bagger to right center, which Robb received and threw to the plate, but
Hollins and Warcford scored, and Twitchell went to third on the throw
in. He overslid the bag, however, and was out when Gibbie snapped the
ball to Delvin, who tagged him before he could recover. Hughie sent
Miner out to warm up.
Case put up a foul back of the plate and Brest caught it near the
screen. This was close to the box in which the Vice President and the
notables were sitting. “He has it,” said some one, as Roger made the
catch. The Vice President turned to see who had spoken. “What kind of
baseball talk is this? Say ‘he’s got it’ not ‘he has it.’” Delvin hit a
grounder which struck Cam on the leg and glanced off in the direction
of the first base, where Church picked it up and touched the bag for an
out. Gibbie tried to get a base on balls but was called out on strikes.
Brest was the first batter in the seventh. Babe managed to give Roger
a base on balls. Cam sacrificed him to second and Laird, the third
batter, hit sharply to Hans who threw to Delvin and caught Brest.
Beach, the next batter, gave the signal to Laird for the hit and run
and worked it successfully and then also tried to work the double
steal. They were unsuccessful, as Laird was caught at the plate by
quick work between Everson and Gibbie.
In the second half, with the crowd standing, Huyler, the pinch hitter,
went in to bat for Babe and drove a long fast liner to right which
Twitchell caught after a great run backward. It should have been a
triple, at least, but the way these two teams were fielding it was
almost impossible, seemingly, to drive the ball out of their reach.
Everson went out, pitcher to first, and Larke also was out by way of
shortstop to first.
Black in the eighth inning went in to pitch for Lowell. Church, first
up, was easy for Everson and Case and then Case and Black attended to
Hollins.
La Joy walked to the plate and stood there swinging his bat carelessly
and easily. Finally Black, after looking him over, pitched a ball that
cut the plate and before Larry hit it, Miner knew part of what would
happen. When he saw it leave the bat, however, and heard the crack he
knew that ball was headed for outside and sure enough it was. It went
over the center field fence ten feet high and never was found. Larry
simply jogged around the bases while Lowell’s hopes seemed to be dashed
to earth. Sam Warcford took encouragement from Larry’s swat, but his
hit got no farther than Delvin, who threw him out at first.
Hughie put some ginger into the boys at this stage of the game.
“They’re only two runs ahead and we’ve often made six in one inning,”
said he as Talkington walked to the plate. Tris did his part, and
drove a single to right which might have been a two bagger but which
Twitchell fielded perfectly, and Tris went back to first, when
Twitchell threw to second. Then Ty bunted to the pitcher’s box and Cam
fumbled, and both Tris and Ty were safe, Cam was clearly going up and
the Lowell rooters were doing all they could to help him.
Hans came up and Church walked over to the box and tried to give Cam
a chance to cool off a bit by talking to him and instructing him also
to give Hans his base. Cam pitched two balls very much to the right of
the plate from the catcher’s position which Hans couldn’t have reached
with a twelve-foot bat, and then Hans jumped to the other side of the
plate and started to bat left handed so as to reach the balls, but then
Cam put the next two very much to the left of the plate and there was
nothing for Hans to do but walk to first. There were now three on bases
and Hal was up.
Here was the first real chance he had had in either game to show what
he could do with his bat and everybody else had been hitting Cam so
here was his chance. Just then, however, Captain Church waved to Cam
with his right and motioned to Mellen with his left and Cam left the
box and Mellen went in. “Well,” thought Hal, “Mellen probably isn’t
very well warmed up and he ought to be able to hit now.” The first two
balls pitched were bad ones and were so called by the umpire.
“Just let him put one over,” said Hal to himself, “and I’ll put it
over the fence.” But Mellen wasn’t pitching that kind of a ball just
then. The third ball pitched Hal struck at and missed. The next one
was straight over but looked high, and the umpire called it a strike,
at which the stands roared in rage. The next one was a pretty good one
but Hal took a chance and let it go by and the umpire called “Ball
three.” It was now two strikes and three balls, and Mellen decided
to put the next one over and take a chance. It came straight for the
plate; Hal took a mighty swing at it and the ball started on a line for
second, but Mellen stuck out his right hand, knocked it down and threw
to Brest in time to force Talkington at the plate. Hal’s chance was
gone. He would have made good only Mellen didn’t mind taking a chance
with his pitching hand. Most pitchers would have preferred to sidestep
the danger. There were still three on base and Arthur was at bat. He
got three balls and two strikes on account of fouls, and then Mellen
gave him one where he could hit it but it was a pop fly which fell
into Hollins’ mitt and there were two out. It was now Gibbie’s chance
to save the game, but Mellen’s pitching was too swift for him until he
also had three balls and two strikes and then he knocked a long fly to
Warcford and the inning was over.
Black gathered himself together for a mighty ninth inning effort. He
felt sure of the fielding of the boys behind him, but he made up his
mind to take as few chances as necessary. So he decided to strike out
the side if he could, and after he had succeeded in doing that with
Twitchell and Brest, he had a lot of confidence in his ability to do
the same to Mellen, and he did it.
The last half of the ninth opened rather well for Lowell. Black was the
first man up and he fooled the entire Jefferson infield by a perfect
bunt which put him on first. This surely was a good start.
Everson, however, waited too long. He let two strikes be called on
him, and they were good ones, too. The third one looked good also and
Johnny struck at it and missed and there was one out. Captain Larke
then knocked one down the line toward Church and the latter tried to
complete the out unassisted, but Larke beat him to the bag and Black
reached second. Tris knocked a slow rolling grounder to Hollins and by
the time he got to it he could only catch Tris at first, for Black had
reached third and Larke was at second.
Robb came to bat feeling good. He was to have his great chance after
all. Two men on bases and a single would tie the score. He even allowed
himself to remember that a homer would win the game for Lowell. Mellen
on the other hand realized his great chance. If he could outguess Robb
this time there would be a game to Jefferson’s credit. His was the
first move and he tried to tempt Ty with a ball, but Ty let it pass.
Then Mellen tried him with another one of the same kind, thinking,
perhaps, Ty would bite on the second one, but he just waited.
The next ball came straight over the plate and Ty hit it and it went
sailing out over first base, a fast liner that didn’t stop till it hit
the fence, but it was like La Joy’s ninth inning hit in the first game,
only longer, for it struck the fence two feet outside of the line and
the umpire said, “Foul one strike.”
The next ball also came straight and Ty thought to fool them by
bunting. He did, and almost perfectly, as the ball didn’t roll over
six feet in all. Black was nearly at the plate before Ty got started
to first but as hard luck would have it the last foot of the distance
the ball rolled outside the foul line and it was “Two strikes” and
everybody went back to where they were before. Then it was a study to
watch Mellen and Robb.
Would Mellen send another one straight over and try to make him think
it would curve or would he send one up wide of the plate and make it
curve in, or would it be a high one that would drop to the strike level
at the plate? It was a great guessing match that lasted for several
seconds.
Then slowly Mellen began his wind up. The ball started for the plate.
It was coming straight over. Was it possible that Mellen had decided
to take a chance on his hitting it safe? Ty thinks he’ll fool him on
that. He will just put that ball over the fence. He pulls back his bat
to meet it squarely. He makes a savage swing at it and listens for the
crack of the bat. Instead he hears a thud--and Ty knew he had struck
out, and the game was lost to Lowell by the score of 4 to 2.
BOX SCORE
JEFFERSON AB R H PO A E LOWELL AB R H PO A E
Laird, 3b 4 0 1 2 1 0 Everson, 2b 5 1 1 2 3 1
Beach, cf 4 0 3 2 0 0 Larke, lf 5 1 2 0 2 0
Church, 1b 4 0 0 10 0 0 Talkington, cf 5 0 2 0 0 0
Hollins, ss 4 1 1 1 3 0 Robb, rf 5 0 2 2 0 0
La Joy, 2b 4 1 2 0 1 0 Hagner, ss 4 0 2 2 3 0
Warcford, lf 4 2 2 1 0 0 Case, 1b 3 0 0 7 3 0
Twitchell, rf 3 0 3 3 1 0 Delvin, 3b 4 0 0 3 2 0
Brest, c 2 0 0 8 0 0 Gibbs, c 4 0 1 8 2 0
Cam, p 1 0 0 0 4 1 Radams, p 2 0 0 0 1 0
Mellen, p 1 0 0 0 1 0 Black, p 1 0 1 1 0 0
Huyler[A] 1 0 0 0 0 0
----------------- --------------------
31 4 12 27 11 1 39 2 11 [B]25 16 1
JEFFERSON 0 1 0 0 0 2 1 0--4
LOWELL 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 0--2
Two Base Hit--Gibbs, Twitchell.
Three Base Hit--Robb, Beach.
Home Run--La Joy.
Sacrifice Hits--Brest, Case, Cam.
Stolen Bases--Hagner, 2; Larke, 1.
Left on Bases--Lowell, 10; Jefferson, 6.
First Base on Errors--Lowell, 1; Jefferson, 1.
Double Play--Hagner, Case--Everson, Case.
Struck Out--by Radams, 3; by Cam, 3; by Mellen, 2; by Black, 3.
Bases on Balls--off Cam, 3; off Radams, 4.
Hits--off Cam in seven innings, 8; off Radams in seven innings 11.
[A] Batted for Radams in seventh inning.
[B] Cam out bunting third strike. La Joy out; hit by batted ball.
It was now one game apiece and it would take a third to decide the
championship.