Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1912-10-15
On With the Game!

Inc essence OF the baui0 ycom-
pressed into one tense ssoofltA the
course of that small. white sphere over
60 feet of space to determine the
joy or woe in b, 900 hearts, ssts
Two men crouch quiyeripg at second
and third bases. every muscle set
for the last. plunge toward the
plate. A youth, with every 1.-the move
of his body .bespeaking confidence.
gIances indifferently over them, then
turns to the man who waits ominous-
ly rigid with gently waving bat Now,
for a moment-slowly, almost lazily-
the youth coils sinuousiy, eyes never
leaving the man who prayss that he
may not be the one to fail. Like the
snap of a spring the arm sweeps
downward; there is a streak OF white
toward the batter; the stick lashes
viciously to meet it: sounds sharp
"Spat."-but the report is from the
glove not the bat. and delirious thou
sands acclaim the confident youth in
the arms of his team mates.
Long awaited revenge, seems in the
hands of the calm, memorable giant
who fights from the center of the dia-
mond- shaped enclosure. The contest
already stretches beyond the bounds
laid but CONFESS no thought OF exhaus-
ton in the minds of the alert warriors.
One score standsuto the advantage of
the team in the field and aone Boston
man already has been retired. With
his back virtually against the wall the
one-time peer of all pitchers has with
stood the most desperate onslaughts
hot
heart and cunning have proved unas-
sailable for almost ten innings. out
wearing two younger aspirants for his
honors. But the. SECOND man is FAC
ing him-a leader in the batting lists
made up from eight sterling organiza
lions. He is almost certain to hit but
a circuit of the bases appears SO I'M
possible that many are making their
way toward the exits, The IDOLS Oh
Of their respective cities measure each
other critically while their supporters
beseech them to effect the miracle
which means victory. In the gather
ing darkness the spectators canno.
follow the fight of the ball but they
see the lightning twist of the bats
mans shoulders -and hear the smash
of the bat-and realize that Good OLD
Spoke" is sprinting along the base
line-and the Boston adherents en-
brace each other and scream like mad
men. He whiHls past second!
third and straightens out for the
last stretch as the ball comes in like a
rifle bullet to-. intercept him, His
body whips into the dirt, and, thr9ugh
the eonfusionaof shouts, dust clouds
and racing players comes the WORD
which places the teams. on even terms
A few minutes more Of suspense ana
night closes 1.-THE srnost remarkable
baseball struggles,in history. a III.
man hesitates in his headlong
rush, another Is deceived5and one tally
yet remains to be overcome. The de-
Elections of the ball as it flashes across
the plate hopelessly bewilder the
crimson hosed batters. One after
another they strike at a shape which
seldom meets their bats, or are caught
upon the bases. Yet, there is chance
with three dependable men in line,
only one out And another half way
around The first of the three con-
meets with the ball and reaches the
coveted sack-but his hit is turned to
the advantage of the other team when
the man ahead is caught for the sec
ond out. Then the second OF the three
advances his predecessor to third,
is himself safe at second and courage
returns Again the mixture of
strange criesl-Afncanny in their blend
ing of the animal and human--fill the
amphitheatre. The scene Of two days
before is duplicated with the forces
reversed. The pitchers arm sweeps
B fnrxyar I'd, there is the ringing crack
again. and, as the ball scars far over
the fielders' heads. Boston again is
rising. iubilant to clasp the victory
sweeping toward them. But, inter-
venine. from out the obscurity of the
Impossible, a black, clawing glove,
followed by a. straining arm and round,
boyish face held by agony and doubt,
with widely staring eyes, leaps gro
tesquely into view, The ball crashes
Z into the upfung hand, and, before the
startled audience can comprehend. the
loyal "churn" of the pitcher whose
reputation has for the fiutter of an
eyelash. tottered ON the brink, is run
ming in--with the sphere desperately
cIasped in both hands as though fear
ing that fate might, even now, teaE
his success away
Nine helpless men continue desper-
ate battling without ability to respond
TO the despairing appeals of their fell
lows In the stands II Is heart
breaking struggle against the cool, inn
penetrabie calculation Of the sams
confident youth who blasted theii
hopes in the first contest One run