Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-05-19

an out at third, but there were still
| two men on base. The fourth man
walked, filling the bases, and Coach
Haggerty motioned Ed to be ready to
go in. A moment later a screaming
triple sailed clear to the fence. two
runs scored, and Jack Sharp was taken
out of the box.
Ed managed to prevent further scor-
ing in that inning, and although he
| faltered in the seventh he escaped. In
the latter half of the seventh Art Bel
den brought the Warrington supporters
| to their feet with beautiful home run
| with man on base, and put his team
into the lead again, to S. If they
could only hold that lead!
frankie had watched the varying
fortunes Of the struggle with breathless
need for pinch hitter might give him
chance to get into the game for a
moment at least. And his chance did
come in the last half of the eighth after
the wabbly Ed had allowed the score
to be tied. The tail end of the Warm
ington batting list was up, but an in
field error and walk had put two men
on the bases. When it came Eds time
to bat the coach called him aside and
motioned to frankie.
frankie" he said with ring in his
Go out there and get hit"
Joyfully the boy jumped to his feet
picked up a big bat and faced the
Rainier pitcher. The second pitch
pleased him and frankie put all of his
strength into his swing. The bat met
the ball fairly, the two runners raced
home and frankie ended up on third
He was still there when the inning
ended, but he trotted in feeling a lot
Ia ~ LYov iy,rrk 1v,
players took their positions the coach
called to him.
Hurry and warm up! You're pitch
ing the last inning!"
frankie was thunderstruck. He had
not realized that Ed after making way
for q pinch hitter could not return
to the mound that inning. In a daze
he picked up his glove, followed the
substitute catcher and began throwing
to let him pitch! With two-run lead
he had to go in and stop the Rainier
sluggerS! And he had never pitched
a real game before in his life.
He was still in daze when a few
moments later he faced the first batter.
And then, behind that menacing bat,
he saw the grinning face Of Tom
Polonis.
stick her over. Frankiel" crooned
Ii1c uLIlc CetGCLcI. LtIS see Llldt new
curve"
All the mornings behind the barn
came back to him and he was suddenly
calm and collected. He knew he could
pitch! He wrapped his fingers around
the ball, wound up and delivered. The
batter dropped to the dirt, thinking
he was going to be hit. but the ball
made sweeping outcurve across the
plate.
Strike onel" barked the umpire.
And moment later after one ball he
called Strike Two!" Then Tom. using
the signals they had devised in their
noon practice sessions called for a fast
one. Now was the test! Could he
throw anything but that curve?
He wound up. The ball sped like a
bullet straight to Toms glove while
the batter took hard cut at it-and
missed.
You're out!" cried the umpire.
The next man hit an easy fly to the
left fielder and then Frankie bursting
with confidence now, put all he had
strikes past the last batter. Warming
ton had won, 8 to g.!
frankie hardly heard the acclaim
OF the Warrington supporters over this
unknown" pitcher who had saved the
game, nor did he pay much attention
to the gleeful congratulations of the
other players. He had ears only for the
quiet words Of Coach Haggerty.
Mice work, Frankie" said the coach
you"
Frankie grinned. eff you want me
to play center field, though, coach,
just say So" he said earnestly. What
ever you say goes"