Page:The spirit of the leader (IA spiritofleader00heyl).pdf/190

 Yelps of encouragement broke out from the players he left behind him on the bench. And again the coach's hand rested on the Owl's knee.

"Son," he said in an undertone, "you just keep them fighting for me." Even as he said it a strain of wonder ran through him. Had any other high school team, he speculated, ever been so influenced by a student who probably did not know the difference between an out and a sacrifice hit.

"Yes, sir," the Owl said seriously; "I will."

Vance crashed a long double into right field.

"Here's where we get our four runs," cried Littlefield.

But Northfield scored only once. Vance came home, after taking third on a passed ball, on a long fly to the left fielder.

Morelli shed his sweater and went out to pitch the second. "I'll hold them," he said to Jennings. He did. Not a Hastings runner reached first base.

The game ran on to the fourth inning with neither side scoring again. Then Littlefield tripled, and crossed the plate on Stafford's safe shot to center. The score was now 4 to 2.

"We'll get the runs for you if you'll hold them," Jennings said to Morelli.

"I'll hold them," the pitcher answered grimly. He went out to the rubber—and a Hastings boy