Batting to Win: A Story of College Baseball

  CHAPTER XXVI

  TOM STOPS A HOT ONE

  There was much excitement of a quiet sort when it was known what standBascome had taken. He was roundly condemned by the sophomores, juniorsand seniors, and even by a number of the freshmen students. But Bascomeremained firm, and he carried the class with him. Only a few freshmenput their names down on the petition, and they resigned from theexclusive freshman society to be able to do so.

  For there was, that year in Randall, a somewhat bitter feeling on thepart of the whole freshman class against the sophomores, on account ofsome severe hazing in the fall. It had created trouble, had engendered asense of injury, and there was lacking a proper spirit in the college.

  This had its effect, and the freshmen were almost a unit against thenine, which (and this was perhaps unusual) happened to be composedmainly of sophomores that season.

  "What do you think of the dirty sneak?" asked Tom of Phil, to whom henarrated the refusal of Bascome.

  "Think of it? I'd be ashamed to properly express myself, Tom. It'srotten, that's what it is. But I guess we've got enough names as it is."

  "Hope so, anyhow. I'm going to send it in, at any rate."

  The petition was duly delivered to Dr. Churchill, and a faculty meetingwas called. A unanimous vote of the corps of instructors was neededto reinstate a student suspended from athletics for a violation ofthe rules, such as Sid had been accused of, this being one of thefundamental laws of the college since its inception. Now the absenceof the names of the majority of the freshman class tended to operateagainst the petition being accorded an unprejudiced hearing, but whatdid more to keep Sid out was the vote of Professor Tines.

  The latter could not get over the destruction of his silk hat, though anew one had been purchased for him, and when the final vote was taken hebarred Sid from getting back on the nine.

  "I have reason to believe that Mr. Henderson is inclined to too muchhorse-play," he said, "as indicated by what he did to my hat. Again,if he were a popular student the freshmen would have joined in therequest. They did not, as a class, and so I am constrained to vote asI do."

  None of the faculty--even Professor Tines--knew the real reason why thefreshmen names were not down, and no one cared about mentioning it,for it was not a thing for students to discuss with the teachers. Mr.Leighton did his best, in a delicate way, but it was of no use. Thepetition failed, and not a few members of the faculty were deeplygrieved, for they wanted to see a championship nine in Randall. Stillthey would not argue with Professor Tines.

  And the chances of Randall winning the championship and the loving cupseemed to be diminishing from day to day, in spite of the strenuousefforts of Tom, Ed Kerr and Mr. Leighton. There was something lacking. Noone could just say what it was, but there was a spirit of uncertainty,and a sense of worriment in the nine, that did not operate for perfectteam work.

  Tom threatened and pleaded by turns, but his words had little effect.The men showed up well in practice, and played a fast and snappy gamewith the scrub, but when it came to going out on the diamond there wasa lack of batting ability and an absence of team work, that had a badeffect, and several games were won only by narrow margins, while some,that should have been won, were lost.

  "We play Boxer Hall, Saturday," observed Tom, in his room with Phil andSid one evening. "I wonder how we'll make out."

  "It isn't the last game, is it?" inquired Sid.

  "No, there's one more, and another with Fairview. But I'm not worryingmuch about the co-eds. It's Boxer that has me guessing. Oh, Sid, but Iwish you were with us."

  "So do I," and Sid turned his face aside.

  "Can't you get back?" asked Phil. "Can't you go to Dr. Churchill, andexplain--about that bottle of liquor--you know."

  "No," answered Sid gently, "I can't."

  "The nine may lose," declared Tom.

  "I'm--I'm just as sorry as you are, Tom," said the second basemanearnestly, "but it's out of the question. I can't explain--just yet."

  "Can you ever?" demanded Phil eagerly.

  "Perhaps--soon now. I am hoping every day."

  "Have you given a--a sort of promise--to some one?" asked Tom gently.

  "Yes," replied Sid in a low voice. "It's a promise, and a great dealdepends on it--even more than the championship of Randall college." Andthat was all Sid would say for the time being.

  The game with Boxer Hall was a hard one. Tom and his men had to workfor everything they got, for Langridge seemed to have improved in hispitching, and the fielding of Randall's enemy was a thing to rejoice theheart of her captain and coach.

  The game ran along to the seventh inning with some sensational plays,and the score was 6 to 4 in favor of Boxer. Then Langridge grew a bitwild, and issued several passes until the bases were full, when a threebagger which Holly Cross knocked brought in three runs, and put Randallone ahead. There was wild delight then, and as none were out it lookedas if Randall would be good for at least two more runs. But Langridgegot control of the ball, and struck out three men, and the next inningBoxer put in a new pitcher--a semi-professional it was whispered, thoughTom and his fellows decided to take no notice of the talk.

  Then began a desperate effort on the part of Boxer Hall to get in twomore runs in the remaining two innings. They adopted unfair tactics, andseveral times the umpire warned the men on the coaching line that theywere violating the rules.

  Tom managed to stiffen his work in the eighth, and, though two men gotwalking papers, no runs came in, for the next three batters went downand out under the influence of Tom's curves. But that inning saw no runsfor Randall, either, and when her men came in for their last chance Tompleaded with them to get at least one more to clinch the victory thatwas held by such a narrow margin. It was not to be, however, and a zerowent up in the Randall space on the score board.

  The score was 7 to 6, in favor of Randall, when Boxer Hall came up forthe ending of the ninth inning.

  "If we can only hold 'em there," thought Tom wearily, for his arm ached.Still he would not give up, though Rod Evert was anxious to fill thebox.

  Tom struck out the first man, gave the next one a pass, and was hit fora single by the third batter. Then the Randall captain knew he must workhard to win. He struck out the next batter, and as Dave Ogden, whofollowed, was a notoriously hard hitter, Tom was worried. A threebagger, which was Ogden's specialty, would bring in two runs, and winthe game for Boxer.

  Dutch signalled for a drop, but Tom gave the negative sign, and indicatedthat he would pitch an out. As the ball left his fingers he was awarethat it had slipped and that Ogden would hit it.

  He did. There was a resounding "whack" and the ball, a hot liner, camestraight for Tom. The Boxer Hall crowd set up a yell, thinking their manhad made good, and that two runs, at least, would come in. For no oneexpected to see Tom stop the ball.

  But he did. It was well over his head, and passing him on the rightside. He leaped into the air, and with his bare hand caught thehorsehide. The impact on his unprotected palm was terrific, and he wasat once aware that he had split the skin. But though a pain, like a redhot iron, shot down his arm, he held on.

  HE LEAPED INTO THE AIR AND WITH HIS BARE HAND CAUGHT THEHORSEHIDE.]

  "Batter's out!" cried the umpire. Then, amid the wild and frenziedshouting of his chums, Tom dropped the ball, and walked in, his armhanging limply by his side, while Dutch and Mr. Leighton ran anxiouslytoward him.

  But what did Tom Parsons care for an injured hand? He had saved Randallfrom defeat, for that ended Boxer's chances, two men died on bases, andthe game was over, the score being 7 to 6 in Randall's favor.