Rival Pitchers of Oakdale

in horns and cowbells. The manner in which they swept into Oakdale and hurried, eager and laughing, toward the athletic field, plainly betokened their high confidence in the outcom

ction of bleachers reserved for them. "They certainly act as if they thought they were going to

heir team has at least an even chance for the game; otherwis

cal'late they think he's the whole cheese; but mebbe they'll find aout

rotting onto the field, led by Lee Sanger, its pitcher

rd. Looks like he could eat hard

e horns or jangle the cowbells. Those noise-producing implements were held in reserve, with apparen

th Sanger, and suggested that he shoul

"Great day for the game. We're going to make you fellows go so

ere's a big crowd out to-day, and I'd like t

ng enough," prophesied Larkins, getting hi

which there seemed to be a trace of nervousness: "They certainly

Roger. "When the kettle boils aver, the soup gets scorched. Come, Phil, shake

instantly to dissipate the nervous

of the hesitation and uncertainty usually revealed by an ordinary country school team, even in practice. Copley, the stocky, red-headed catcher from Roxbury, received the balls when they were returned from the infield and the out, catching the most of them one-handedly with the big mitt, alth

yal interest in the home nine; but, nevertheless, in spite of his inwardly reiterated assertion that he had been used "rotten," he was annoyed by a constantly recurring sense of treach

he thought; "but, really, I'd rather be w

pley, who shook hands with him. Then Herbert drew Copley aside and began talking to him in very low tones, and with unusual a

he field. "Brace him up-that's right. Tell him

a final word with Copley, slowly sauntered back int

thought Hooker. "He's got an awful crust. I couldn't do a thing like that, a

t Dingley, standing at the end of the bench on which the visitors had seated themselves, began swinging two bats. There was a rustling stir among the spectators as they settled themselves down to watch the opening of the contest. The Oakdale players

d, "this is the opening game of the high school league, Barville ag

s gloved hand, glanced at it perfunctorily, gave it an unnecessary wipe against h