The Washington times., 1925-02-11

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I saw no reason to let all these
circumstances affect my pitching.
We had shut out Caldwell in the
past Ny average for the season
was. fourteen strikeouts per game.
And so, while hot fight was looked
for, we were confident of winning.
It is safe to say $4,000 was
wagered on the game. The doctor
referred to in the last chapter han
placed $500 that / would win.
imagine every home In TOWN was
deserted that afternoon because the
crowd broke all records.
Both teams reached the fifth in
ming without q score. Our play
ers found il hard 20 connect with
HigginbOtham's curves. They were
more effective than my fast ball
was against his team. In the
very first inning q great catch
by Hungry Higgins saved me
from what looked like home run.
Again in the fifth inning a double
play saved me from disaster. Our
first baseInan snagged . swift
liner and doubled a runner ullas-
sisted. But after that I held Cald-
well safe.
With nine innings. played the
game was still tie. Neither team
could score a run. We got a run.
ner around to third base in our half
Of the tenth. think II was Guy
Meats, our catcher. With one down
the next man up hit the first ball
q mile into left field. He was past
second base when the fielder re-
covered the ball. The runner scored
standing up and the home crowd
was pretty blue. 1t rocked like the
game was cinched right there and
patting Meats on the back / said,
eff can't shut out these fellows in
their half I'd better go lack to
driving mules"
But suddenly there was an up
roar. The Caldwell captain rushed
out and pointed to where he claimed
the ball had hit. six inches out
side" he shouted. getting down on
his knees and sticking his finger
ia the dirt Several Caldwell play
ers surrounded the umpire and the
crowd yelled Foul ballr' Oilr sup
porters were in the minority, hut
for a time 1t looked Ike serious:
trouble. 9'hc sthre atening crowd
and the nagging of the players had
its effect. and the umpire ruled
foul ball" From where l was
standing the balI seemed fair. but
like TO leave 1t TO the umpire
as long as he tries 10 be fair. And
had no complaints during the
nine innings he had been calling
balls and strikes.
$50 back to third base. There's
only one man out" ! said TO
Meats. / almost had to carry him
20 the bag he was so sore at the
empire.
With two strikes and no balls
the batter was So affected by the
excitement that he swung 1T the
next ball and missed 1.-two feet
over his head. Then of course Guy
Meats blew up. He wanted to start
the fight all over again, but con-
WINGED him he had a good batter
coming up-my old friend Hungry"
Higgins. He had saved the game
in the first inning, and / figured
he was going to win it in the tenth.
He was dependable batter, and
especially good at bunting. With
q man on third and two out, the
excitement was at a high pitch.
Except for the Weiser rooters the
crowd was quiet. Isut take it from
me. the air was char ged with dyna-
mite.
just as Higgins set himself to
meet the ball, a doctor, well known
in Caldwell, rushed out from the
crowd. He had bet $500 on the
game and offered half the amount
to Higgins II he would score the
runner. Seven hundred and fifty
bucks is yours. If you score that
man from third" he shouted, wav-
ing the money a few feet from the
batters' box. Several of our players
ran out after the doctor and pulled
him back. Higgins was so upset
by the sight of that much money
he stepped away from the plate. as
the ball sailed across the middle. The
umpire called it strike.
Higgins gave the squeeze sign TO
Meats, on third base, and stepped
back into the box. Meats saw
cut" on the $3.50 and became ex-
cited. AS the pitcher wound up.
Meats dashed for home, leaving
third base entirely too soon. He
ran almost up TO Higgins, who was
waiting to bunt him in. Meats
dashed back toward third, but Hlg-
Rinbotham then grew wild and threw
one that nearly passed his catcher.
Immediately our coach sent the run
ner back toward home again, where
he was tagged out by inches,'a after
perfect slide.
That was the end of the game for
US. Caldwell put one run across the
plate in their half of the tenth and
won the game, to 0.
1t ended my scoreless innings after
a total of eighty-five and it ended
my pitching days in Idaho.
copyright, 1925. by the Christy
Walsh Syndicate.)
Naxt Observation-Disclosures feels