CHAPTER XXIX.
THE WINNING RUN.
In the next inning Joe managed to strike out two of the Excelsior players, and the third knocked a foul which the first baseman scooped in on the run. The Lakeports made another run.
"Keep it up and give them the worst drubbing they ever had!" cried a young man of the crowd, who had learned how Joe and Fred had been treated.
No runs were scored in the third inning, nor in the fourth. By this time the Excelsiors were furious and almost went to pieces entirely, so that at the end of the sixth inning the score stood: Excelsiors 0, Lakeports 7.
"We are certainly going to have a walkover," said Fred to Joe. "It does my heart good to see it, too."
"I've got something in my mind," returned the captain of the Lakeports. "They thought they could down our club if we were missing. I know Link and Matt would like to try their luck at battery work. Why not let them?"
"Just as you say, Joe. I think they deserve the chance, since they were so willing to serve in the first place."
Joe talked the matter over with the others, and all were willing to let Link pitch and Matt catch for at least one inning.
This was scarcely decided upon when it was Joe's turn at the bat. As he walked to the plate Si Voup glared at him fiercely.
"I suppose he'd like to chew me up," thought the young captain of the Lakeports.
Voup made a certain sign to Boardman which meant that he was going to hit Joe. Then he stepped back, took aim, and threw the ball in with all his might.
It came directly for Joe, and so swiftly that the batter scarcely had time to do any thinking. Had he tried to jump back it would have taken him full in the arm or side. But Joe did not jump back. Instead, he fell flat on the plate, and the sphere whizzed past him and also past the catcher.
"Run! run!" yelled the crowd to a player who chanced to be on first, and the player ran as hard as he could and reached third base before the ball was again into play.
"What are you trying to do, Voup?" was the cry. "Do you want to kill Joe Westmore?"
"He wants to hurt the Lakeports' pitcher!"
"The—the ball slipped," growled Voup, sourly.
"If the ball slips again, this bat may slip and hit you in the head," came from Joe. "I know your dirty tricks too well, Si Voup!"
With the crowd against him, Si Voup did not dare to attempt the trick again. He tried to strike Joe out, but could not, and the captain of the Lakeports got safely to first while the runner at third came home. But that was the end of the luck for that inning.
When Link took his place in the pitcher's box and Matt went behind the bat a little cheer went up. Boardman saw he would have no chance to injure Fred.
"Hurrah! the Lakeports know they have won the game!"
"They are going to give the Excelsiors a little run for their money!"
"I think Joe and Fred deserve a little rest—they have done so well," said Mr. Monroe Corsen, with a smile.
"Oh, they have done splendidly!" said Laura Westmore, who sat near by. "I'm just as proud of them and of the others as I can be!"
"Now, take your time and don't get excited, Link," whispered Joe. "Even if they do get a run or two, it won't matter."
"I'll do my best," answered the new pitcher. "Of course, I don't expect to hold them down as you did."
The first player to face Link was a good batter, yet all he managed to get was a one-base hit. The next batter went out on strikes, and the crowd cheered lustily.
"Good for Link Darrow! He knows how to pitch, too!"
The next boy to the bat struck a short fly to left field and managed to get to first, while the other runner got to third. Then came a low ball between first and second bases. As will happen at times, it was missed by both the basemen, and before it could be secured the runner on third came home.
"One run for Excelsiors!"
"Keep it up, fellows!"
"Don't mind that, Link," said Fred. "You're doing all right."
Link bent to his work with a will and put the next man out on strikes, and again the crowd cheered wildly.
"Good for little Link Darrow!"
When the inning came to an end the score stood: Excelsiors 1, Lakeports 8.
"Shall I pitch any more?" asked Link.
"Certainly," said Joe. "I don't call one run much."
The Excelsiors were doing a great amount of talking among themselves, and presently another pitcher was put up in Si Voup's place, while another catcher took Boardman's place.
"Hullo, they are sick of Voup and Boardman!" cried Harry. "Well, I don't blame them."
Strange as it may seem, everybody on the Lakeport Club but Harry had scored a run. Harry had gotten to first twice, and second base once, but nothing had been done to help him get home.
The new pitcher for the Excelsiors meant business. He was fresh and had a good delivery, and he retired the Lakeports with nothing more that inning than one-base hit.
The ninth inning opened with the score still standing Excelsiors 1, Lakeports 8. By a combination of circumstances two runs were quickly scored, and then, by a fumble of the ball at second base, another run came in and two players remained at first and third.
There was only one man out, and the spirits of the Excelsiors rose wonderfully. Their friends yelled themselves hoarse.
"You've got 'em a-going! Keep at 'em!"
"Knock out a few home runs!"
Link called Joe up to him.
"Do you want me to continue to pitch, Joe?"
"Yes. It was not your fault that the runs came in. I was partly responsible, as you know. They seem to have a new lot of steam on."
Again came a base hit, and then a drive to shortstop which was just out of reach. Two more runs, and the Excelsiors fairly danced with joy.
"That's the way to do it, fellows. You have six runs now! Go after the other three!"
"Joe, you had better pitch," pleaded Link. "Perhaps you can strike them out."
"If you want me to, I'll do what I can," said Joe.
The Excelsiors had changed several players in the middle of an inning, so they could not complain of the action of the Lakeports. As Joe went into the box, Fred took his old position behind the bat.
"Hurrah! this winds it up for the Excelsiors!"
"Link Darrow is afraid to pitch!" sneered one of the rival players.
"I was only put in to give Joe a rest," answered Link, calmly. He thought more of his club than he did of himself.
The Excelsiors watched every chance, and when a ball was dropped by a Lakeport player at second, one of the runners slid home. Then another run came in, and the score was a tie.
"A tie! A tie!"
"Keep at 'em! You've got 'em on the run!"
Two men were out. The best batter of the Excelsior club now faced Joe. In came the ball swiftly.
"One strike!"
Again was the ball delivered.
"Two strikes!"
With the ball in hand, Joe made a signal to Fred, for a slow drop. In it came, in a manner that was truly tantalizing to the batsman. He swung his bat savagely—and missed it.
"Three strikes—batter out!"
"Joe Westmore has struck him out!"
"Wasn't that pitching for you?"
With the score 8 to 8, the Lakeports came to the bat at the ending of the ninth inning. They tried their best to score, but in vain. One player got to second and that was all.
"Nine innings and a tie!"
"This is a great game!"
"Now for the winning run!"
So the comments ran on. Everybody was wildly excited and all in the grand stand were on their feet, cheering their favorites.
The first to come to the bat in the tenth inning was Si Voup. With a face that was alternately flushed and pale, Joe faced his rival. He made up his mind he must strike out Voup.
He signaled a low curve to Fred, and sent it in with great force. Around came the ash to meet it.
"Strike one!"
Next Joe signaled a high inshoot and sent in the ball without delay. Once more Voup was fooled and only fanned the empty air.
"Strike two!"
"Take your time, Si!" called a friend.
Again the ball came in. It was such a good one, Voup did not dare to let it go by. He struck—and missed once more.
"Three strikes—batter out!"
"Hang the luck!" roared Si Voup, and threw his bat on the ground with great violence.
The next player went out on a foul to third. Then Joe steadied up once more and the third player went out on strikes as Voup had done.
"No runs this trip for the Excelsiors!"
"Now, Lakeports, see what you can do!"
"The winning run is what we want!"
It was Harry's turn to bat and he selected his ashen stick with care.
"Don't be in a hurry," cautioned Bart. "Make him give you the ball you want."
"I will," said Harry.
When Harry stepped to the plate he felt a curious sensation all over him. He seemed to be possessed of but one desire in life—to hit the ball and drive it just as far as possible.
Si Voup was again pitching—he had insisted upon going in the box, even against the wishes of many of his friends. He stepped back, made a signal to his catcher, and let the ball drive with all force.
It was the ball Harry wanted—he felt this the moment it left Voup's hand. With one step forward, he swung his bat, and crack! the ball went flying far down into centerfield, over the fielder's head and toward a clump of bushes bordering a ditch.
"Whoop! look at that!"
"Run, Harry, run!"
"You can get three bags on that with ease!"
"Oh, what a dandy hit!"
"Get the ball! Throw up the ball!" yelled the Excelsior players. "Hurry up!"
"Go on to third, Harry!" cried Joe. "Go ahead, you have plenty of time!"
Harry was already at first. Now he tore down to second like wildfire. Then up he went to third and slid in to the bag.
"Come home!" yelled Fred, and some others. "Come home! You have plenty of time!"
Harry looked into the field. The fielder was just preparing to throw the ball up to the second baseman. Away he started for the home plate, with the whole crowd yelling like a lot of demons. Boardman was at the plate waiting for the ball, and now he stepped to his left—directly in the runner's path.
Harry came like a whirlwind.
Harry came like a whirlwind.
Harry came like a whirlwind.
"Get out of the way, Boardman——" began Link, when Harry came in like a whirlwind, hurling the catcher flat. Then the ball came in—but it was too late.
"The winning run! Lakeport takes the game!"