Page:The Rival Pitchers.djvu/92

82 was even said that some now on the 'varsity might be relegated to the scrub and some from the second team advanced. Tom secretly hoped so in his case, but his common sense told him he stood a slim chance. Langridge, of course, was pitcher on the first team and Kerr was the catcher. Kindlings Woodhouse played on third, where he could direct the efforts of his men.

When the scrub and regular teams ere out on the diamond ready for the practice game Kindlings looked over his players.

"Where's Sid Henderson?" he asked.

"He got turned back in Latin at last class," volunteered Jerry Jackson.

"Here he comes now," added Joe Jackson, as if he was an echo to his brother.

Sid came running up, all out of breath, buttoning his blouse as he advanced.

"What's the matter, son?" asked the captain.

"That rotten Latin."

"Be careful," warned Kindlings. "Don't slump too often or you may put us in a hole. You aren't the only first baseman that ever lived, but you're pretty good, and I don't want to go to work training you in and have you fired off the team by the faculty for not keeping up your studies."

"Oh, I'll be careful," promised Sid confidently, and then the game started.