The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1915-05-30


no orders for that style of play.
Spears had said nothing to him. Fane
lost his nonchalance and settled
down. He cut loose with all his speed.
EuDe stepped out, suddenly whirled,
then tried to dodge, but the ball hit
him fair in the back. Rube sagged
IN his tracks, then Strengthened up,
and walked slowly to first base.
Score to 5, bases full, no outs,
Mccall at bat. | sat dumb on the
bench, thrilling and shivering. Nc
Call! Ashwell! Stringer to bat!
play it safe! Hold the bagsr" YELL
ed the coacher
Mccall fairly spouted defiance as
he faced Nane.
Pitch! It's all off! An you know
itp'
If Nane knew that. he showed no
evidence OF it. His face was cold. un-
smiling. rigid. He had to pitch to
Mccall. the fastest man in the league:
to Ashwell, the best bunter; to
Stringer, the champion batter. 1t was
supreme test for a great pitcher
There was only one kind of a ball
that Mccall was not sure to hit, and
that was a high curve, in close Vane
threw it with all his power. Carter
called it strike. Again Vane swung
and his arm fairly cracked. Mac foul
ed the ball. The third was wide. Slow
ly, with lifting breast, Vane got ready,
whirled savagely and shot up the
ball. Mccall struck out.
AS the Buffalo players crowed and
the audience groaned, it was worthy
Il H. 1,ttIa M-r,n IL
temper. Yet he had failed to grasp a
great opportunity.
Ash, | couldn't see EN-" he said,
as he passed to the bench. Speed,
whew! look out for it. He's been saw
in up. Hit quick, an you'll get him."
Ashwell bent over the plate and
glowered at Nane.
pitch, It's all off, an you know
it," he Kissed, using Macs words.
Ashwell. too, was left-handed; he,
too, was extremely hard to pitch to;
and if he had weakness that any
OF us ever discovered, it was a slow
curve and change of pace. But I
doubted ii Nane would dare to use
slow balls to Ash at that critical mo-
ment. | had yet to learn something
of Vanc. He gave Ash slow, wide
sweeping sidewheeler, that curved
round over the plate Ash always took
strike, so this did not matter. Then
Vane used his deceptive change of
pace, sending up a curve that Just
missed Ash's bat as he swung.
"Ohi Ash! hit" walled the bleach
ers.
Nane doubled up like a contortion-
ist and shot up lightning-swift drop
that fooled Ash completely. Again
the crowd groaned. Score tied, bases
full. two out, Stringer at bat!
IT'S up to you, String" called Ash,
stepping aside.
Stringer did not call out to Vane
That was not his way. He stood tense
and alert. bat on his shoulder, his
powerful form braced and he waited.
The outhelders trotted over toward
right field, and the inhelders played
deep, calling out warnings and en-
couragement to the pitcher. Stringer
had no weakness, and Nane knew this.
Nevertheless he did. not manifest any
uneasiness, and pitched the first ball
without any extra motion. Carter
called it strike | saw Stringer sink
down slightly and grow tenser all
over believe that moment was long
er for me than for either the pitcher
or the batter. Nane took his time,
watched the base runners, tented to
throw to catch them, and then deliv-
cred the ball toward the plate with
the limit of his power.
.Stringer hit the ball. As long as
live, ! will see that glancing low
liner. Shultz. by wonderful play in
deep center. blocked the ball and
thereby saved it from being a home
run. But when Stringer stopped on
second base all the runners had
scored.
A shrill. shrieking, high-pitched
yell! The bleachers threatened to de-
stroy the stands and also their throats
in one long revel of baseball mad
ness.
Jones, batting in place of Spears,
had gone up and fouled out before
the uproar had subsidized.
"Fellers. | reckon | feel easier"
said the Rube. 1t was the only time
| had ever heard him speak to the
players at such a stage.
"Only six batters, RUDE called out
Spears. Boys, it's grand game, an
it's our'n"
The Rube had enough that inning |
to dispose of the lower end of the |
Buffalo list without any alarming bids
for run. And in our half, Bogart and |
Mullaney hit vicious ground balls that |
gave Treadwell and Wiler opportuni- |
ties for superb plays. Carl, likewise, !
made a beautiful running catch Of
Gregg's line fly. The Bisons were still
in the game. still capable of pulling
it out at the last moment.
When Shultz stalked up to the plate
I shut my eyes moment. and so still |
was it that the field and stands might |
have been empty. Yet. though | tried, |
| could not keep my eyes closed. l
opened them to watch the RUDE. |
knew Spears felt the same as /, for
he was blowing like porpoise and
muttering to himself: "Mebbe the
Rube won't last an I've no one to put |
inn
The RUDE pitched with heavy, vio-
lent effort. He had still enough speed |
to be dangerous. But after the manner
of ball players Shultz and the coach
ers Knocked him.
Take all you can." called Ellis to
Shultz.
Every pitch lessened the Rube's
strength and these wise opponents
knew it. Likewise the RUDE himself
knew, and never had he shown bet
ter head work than in this inning. If
he were To win he rnust he ot,ict Sol