Page:Dave Porter at Oak Hall.djvu/313

Rh for baseball, and it was arranged that the rival clubs of the school should meet on the following Saturday to try conclusions. Everybody was eager for the test, and the entire school assembled, with not a few students from Rockville, to see the game.

"Here is where we show that crowd what we can do," said Plum to Poole. "We ought to whip them out of their hides."

"We will, too," answered the aristocratic youth.

Phil's club went to the bat first, and after several errors on the part of Plum's players managed to get two runs. Then the rival team scored one run, and this score held until the fourth inning, when Phil's side scored three runs and Plum's team one run. The fifth was a "goose egg" for each, and in the sixth Phil made a home run, which brought forth great applause. In the seventh Dave made a beautiful two-base hit, and came in on another two-base hit by Roger. At the end of that inning the score stood, Lawrence's Club, 9; Plum's Club, 5.

"I want you to pitch this next inning," said Phil to Dave.

"Very well, I'll do my best," answered Dave.

When the boy from the country walked out to the slab, Plum and Poole smiled to themselves.

"Now is our chance," whispered Plum, to the boy at the bat. "He isn't half the pitcher that