Page:Stanwood Pier--Crashaw brothers.djvu/191

This page has been proofread, but needs to be validated.

CHAPTER IX

THE ELEVENTH INNING

IN that first inning not a man for St. John’s reached first base, and St. Timothy’s were cheering gayly. But in turn their own batsmen did no better. Already it appeared that the game would be mainly a contest between the two pitchers, Bell and Jackson—the formidable Jackson, who revealed himself to Edward now as left-handed, and who seemed to reach up to a height of about ten feet and from that point hurl the ball down at the batter with terrific sharpness and speed. He struck out four men in the first three innings.

“I don’t believe he can last, just the same,” Payne said to Bell. “Not at that speed.”

While Jackson was striking out the St. Timothy’s hatters. Bell was forcing St. John’s to knock pop flies. In the fourth inning, however, with one out, Jackson came to bat for St. John’s and drove the ball over Warren’s