The High School Pitcher; or, Dick & Co. on the Gridley Diamond

r, thence to the basement, the leaders of the files quickly discovered

the new bulletin that those who got the best places had to

ti

on. Gridley will have some notable rivals in the field this next year. Information comes that several of school baseball teams will have better material and longer training for next season. It is earnestly desi

etics Committee of t

ward Luce,

lf of those present as Purcell, of

ool or second teams were filled with delight at th

ive-dollar bill to Tip Scammon the afternoon before, and now felt rat

desire to be well thought of. The year before, in the sophomore class, Fred had played as one of the pit

pitcher on the school team this year," thought youn

his afternoon?" ask

nswered Prescott, as Dick &

to make the

ck, smiling. "And so, I hope,

to," agree

t say to yourself that you're going to be one of the stars on the school team. If you have to fall into the second team--don't be cast dow

. "Not only that, but I'll proclaim it to anyone who'll be

, we'll all be on hand this afternoon, won't we,

that proposition

are allowed to interfere with studies. Now, as soon as the end of recess is called to-day, let's every one of us go back with our minds closed to baseb

at idea. We'll simply go ahead and put our sch

ther chums ag

usiast on the game of the diamond. The year before he had trained the school nine to a record that beat anything in the High School line in the whole sta

hat young man went into two classes, after recess, and reported "not prep

ing better than the second nine," muttered Fred to himself. "Sti

was his wont. He caught his father just

s' talk with you about one of

'm glad, indeed, to hear that you have any ambitions. Come i

d, I'd rather eat whil

back at school

scipline?" inqu

seball that I wis

d, what is it?"

noon. The start for the season is to be made early this year.

man health, strength, courage and discipline to take with him out into the battle of life. We didn't have much in

ther's praise of athletics waited pat

eing the star pitcher on the school team for this

that about all the benefits of school athletics can be gaine

," argued Fred, rather cleverly. "Besides, one of the best things about athletics, I think, is the spir

right about that, so

atter part of February. Duxbridge is only twelve miles from here. He could come over here, or you could let your man take me over to Duxbridge in your auto. Dad, I want t

cost?" asked the

y, sir. A few hundre

His mother, who was standing just behind

you can make yourself the star pi

ked Fred, making no effort to conceal t

, Fred, we'll make it to-morrow. I'll order ou

School that afternoon. He didn't arrive until five minutes before the hour for calling the meet

eighty High School boys of the three upper classes present.

d of the gym. There was an aisle

ease come to order, n

a small platform

throng seated in order. Then the coach rapped sharply, and

for some real work, for constantly sustained effort. Every man who goes into the baseball training squad will be expected to do his full share

er the holidays the entire baseball squad that enrolls will be required to start at once to get in general athletic condition. There will be ha

this year. In fact, I can assure you that the whole training, this coming year, will be s

dropped from the squad instantly. Every man who enrolls will be required to make

wish it were. But we will have training table to just this extent: Every member of the squad will be handed a list of the things he may eat or drink, and another list of those things that are barred. The only exc

-denial. It must be a disciplined and sustained effort for excellence and victory. Thos

ll the meeting to order again I will ask all who have decided to enter the squad to o

gym. The High School boys left their seats and moved a

. Luce's idea, Dick

to hear put forward. No shirking; every effort bent on excelling, and every man to keep his own body as strong, clean and wholes

now he did," declared Dave Darrin. "I wonder wh

sed quickly. Then Coach Luce called for the division. As the new baseb

soon as he had finished counting. "Five

ad, this year, contains three more men than appeared last year. It is plain that my threats haven't scared anyone off the Gridley diamond. Now, I am g

ll been written down. Then, after Coach Luce had called for s

ach, when he had gone t

swered Dan, loud

rri

," respo

ophomore goes in for work in the box it is noti

mes were call

zel

" replied Ha

sp of surprise went u

f short stop is the swiftest

lme

t fi

t Dick & Co., reporters and raga-muffins, expect to be two thirds of th

mes were called

esc

Dick answer

re luck than he had hoped for. What great delight

ea

ond

ple

the word out emphatically. In fact, the word left him so expl

laring all around him. "But you don't know what you're laughing a

rt here for gymnastic work from three-thirty to five," called the c

atisfaction. His eyes fairly gliste

self. "Humph! With the great Everett training me for weeks