Page:Stanwood Pier--Crashaw brothers.djvu/195

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THE ELEVENTH INNING
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of the seventh. Then Blanchard was first at bat for St. Timothy’s.

“We’ve got to score this inning, Blanche,” Jim Payne said to him imploringly as he picked out his bat.

Blanchard made a response better than any words, for he hit the first ball hard at Jackson’s feet; it bounded past him and skipped over second base and out into centre field.

Durant stood in front of the St. Timothy’s crowd and cried, “Now, fellows, keep it going, keep it going till we score!”

Before the cheer which he started could be finished, it was turned into a tremendous shout of joy, for Blanchard, the swiftest runner on the St. Timothy’s nine, had gone down to second on the next ball and reached it safely. Fred Bell was at the bat, Jim Payne and Harry Carr, the best batters St. Timothy’s had, were to follow.

“We’re going to score!” shouted Durant.

“Cheer, fellows! Three times three!”

And as before, that cheer was never finished, for it was interrupted by a sharp crack,