There was still but one man out, and Watkins, profiting by the general stage-fright, hit an easy one to shortstop, who got it, dropped it, found it again and then threw wide of first. Watkins went on to second. A base hit would score him, but Morris was not equal to the emergency and plumped a short fly into the second baseman’s mitt. The Towners began to recover their equilibrium then, and, with two strikes and only one ball, scored against him, Truesdale looked like an easy out. But Prince, possibly with a desire to end the wretched inning, put one across “in the groove” and Truesdale met it fairly. It went to right field, and, although right fielder tried his best to reach it, it fell to earth, a clean base-hit. Watkins scored easily. Dolph went to bat next and his supporters howled joyfully, for Dolph was a good man with the stick. A hot grounder between shortstop and second put Truesdale on second and Dolph on first. Grady laid one down in front of the plate and the catcher hurled it to third in an attempt to cut off Truesdale. But third baseman dropped it and the runner was safe and the bases filled again.
Ted was up for the second time in the inning. With three on bases it was necessary to hit the ball outside the infield. That, however, wasn’t so easy, for Mort Prince had steadied down and was once more pitching good ball. “Strike!” said Mr. Shay.... “Ball!... Foul! Strike two!... Ball! Two and two!... Ball three!”
Ted gripped his bat. This one would have to be a good one. And it was, and ball and bat met. The result was a Texas Leaguer behind first. Truesdale raced home, tallying the fifth run and tying the score, Dolph made it 6 to 5. Grady took third on the throw-in and Ted was safe on second. Time was called while Mr. Shay ordered the spectators back from the base-lines. Cook went to bat looking like one determined to do or die. But, when a clean hit would have scored Ted, the best he could do was to hit a liner to third baseman, who was playing well in. Third shot the ball to second, putting out Ted and ending the slaughter.
But 6 to 5 looked pretty good to the Boarders and they made the fact known unmistakably. Dolph patted Morris on the back as that youth walked to the pitcher’s box and picked up the ball. His arm may have been tired and lame; undoubtedly it was; but you wouldn’t have guessed it during the fifth and sixth innings, for only two Towners hit safely and only once did a man reach second. In the same innings the Boarders fared no better, for Prince struck out four of the eight men who faced him.