Page:Dave Porter at Oak Hall.djvu/318



game began amid a breathless silence. Shadow Hamilton was the first to the bat, and he was retired on strikes. Roger followed, and then came Dave, who by the merest chance managed to reach first. But before Dave could steal down to second, the fourth man up went out on strikes.

"Hurrah! A goose egg for Oak Hall!" came from the Rockville followers, and they began to yell and use their horns and rattles.

"Gasperfelder is certainly a good pitcher," was Phil's sober comment.

"Yes, but it is a question if he can pitch nine innings like that," said Ben, who was one of the substitutes.

A student named Jennings was in the box for Oak Hall, he having pitched the first innings against Gus Plum's team. He was swift, but had spells when he became badly rattled.

"Now, Jennings, do your best," said the captain of the club. "Don't let them rattle you."

"If I get rattled, put Porter in the box," said the pitcher, who knew his own weakness. Rh