Jamie Kennedy was the next man to fall before the destructive tactics now followed by the Catalpas. Jamie hit a sharp ball to Larry Boyne, who, with characteristic skill, retired him at first base. This clever bit of play took a load from the hearts of the Catalpas, and, in the excitement of the moment, Deputy Sheriff Wheeler ejaculated “Gosh all hemlock!” whereupon everybody in that region laughed, as if glad of a pretext to slacken their attention from the play for an instant.
But the riveted intentness of the spectators was at once resumed as the boys of Catalpa went to the bat in the eighth inning, and succeeded in placing another run to their credit. Hiram Porter hit to Kennedy at second base, and was retired at first base. Ben Burton followed his example and “The Lily” finally secured the home run which he had been looking forever since he had left Catalpa. “The Lily” had many strong points, but base-running was not one of them. He had two strikes called on the first two balls pitched, and then made ready for the third, and, as the ball curved in, he stepped backwards a few inches and hit it with all his might, which was a great deal, for “The Lily” was a man of brawn and muscle. The ball flew over the center fielder’s head like a rifle-shot and Bill covered the entire circuit with ease, winning an irrepressible and resounding burst of applause from the multitudes that crowded the amphitheater.
“Splendid, Bill! perfectly splendid!” cried Alice Howell, wholly oblivious of the fact that there were other people than herself in the circle about her. Mr. Heaton looked around with admiration at the impulsive girl, while the dignified maiden aunt glanced into the next box to see if anybody had caught the words of her erratic ward and niece. While this little byplay went on, Alice’s eyes were fixed on Larry Boyne who ended the eighth inning by sending a fly ball to McWilliams and so going out.
The score now stood four to two in favor of the Catalpas. To his infinite chagrin, Captain Ayres saw defeat staring him in the face. Hastily calling his men about him, he held a hurried consultation, as they came in from the field. He said,
“Boys, we must take all the chances this time. They lead us two runs, and, in order at least to tie them, you must trust to errors, and, above all things, do not hug the bases.”
Captain Darius was right in this particular, and the men obeyed his instructions to the letter in regard to hugging the bases; but it was impossible for them to show any sign of insubordination, as not a man went beyond the first base. Every member of the Calumet club was retired as fast as he went to the bat. Charlie Webb gayly faced “tricky Charlie,” and hit the first ball pitched. It went sailing out of the Diamond and into the hands of Sam Morrison. The second victim was McWilliams who failed to take down the pride of King, as he had promised himself that he would; and Charlie felt prouder than ever as he sent his formidable antagonist to the players’ bench, put out on strikes.
Darius Ayres made several ineffectual attempts to hit the sphere, and at last struck the ball fairly, but Larry Boyne was prepared for its coming his way. Running backwards, with his eye fixed on the little black speck that dropped out of the clouds with lightning-like swiftness, Larry moved over the turf without seeming to move. Ida Boardman so far forgot herself as to cry out, at this critical juncture, “Catch it! catch it!” The sphere fell into Larry’s hardened hand with a resounding thud, and with a fervent “Heaven bless you!” the young lady sunk back into her seat, while a prodigious cheer, frightening to flight the sparrows that twittered on the edges of the structure, and faintly heard far out by sailors on the lake, proclaimed the contest ended with a famous victory for the Catalpa Nine.
The band broke forth into a paean of triumph, and while the majority of the spectators began to shuffle out with eager haste, a few, other than the delighted visitors from Catalpa, remained to gaze with undisguised admiration on the stalwart and handsome young fellows who had so unexpectedly won the day.
The two captains, as the game was concluded, advanced towards each other with outstretched hands.
“Your men are capital players,” said Hiram Porter, a glow suffusing his cheek, “and I consider it a great honor to have defeated them.”
“Aye, aye,” said Captain Ayres, not without a wince. “It is a little hard for our boys to be defeated after playing a game without errors; but your victory was due to lucky batting, and it does not signify that your men are the better players. We will try and turn the tables tomorrow.”
The visitors gave three cheers and a tiger for their opponents, and then retired from the field. It would be useless to attempt to describe the thrill and the suppressed exultation with which they read on the bulletin boards of the city newspaper offices, as they went to their lodgings, the following score:—
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Calumets 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 = 2 Catalpas 1 0 2 0 0 0 0 1 0 = 4 Runs earned—Calumets, 0; Catalpas, 4.
Base hits—Calumets, 5; Catalpas, 6.
Errors—Calumets, 0; Catalpas, 3.
Umpire, Mr. Thomas Walsh.
Time of game, two and a half hours.
XII
After the Victory
“The boss says he would be
