The Rival Pitchers

a beautiful long fly to right field, where Jerry Jackson muffed it. There was wild delight on the part of Pete B

poke Bricktop, but there was

cknowledged Tom, "but I'

" said Captain Molloy kindly

his position in the box and it was somewhat justified w

than I thought he

at his rival had something that he himself lacked-a better

veloped into such a good pitcher yet that it applied in his case. He faced Langridge confidently and even smiled mockingly as a swift ball came in.

ll

ift one. Tom's bat met it squarely and it

yelled Molloy, his brogue very

es! take two!

om made it, for he was a swift runner, and the ball rol

observed Molloy as Tom came in on a

can't pitch?" aske

l right-facile princeps as the old Romans have it-which, being i

his chums rather went to pieces as regarded fielding, nor did Tom shine brilliantly in the box. He struck out two men and then he seemed to lose control of the ball. The bases were filled, two men knocking a one and two bagger respec

s men. The next man got a one-bagger and the player who followed him knocked a pop fly, which Molloy, who was on t

e to tie," murmured Moll

h. But it was not to be. Tom made one run and Sid another, but that was al

ams filed off the field, and there were several laughs at T

, coming to Tom's defense. "The g

dge, and Tom was too hu

of the 'varsity, who had strolled out to watch the practice. "He has a swift

uth. "We didn't do very well last year with Lang

l take him in hand as soon as the team is in shape. He'll probab

d it was with rather a bitter feeling in his he

xt game," said Sid,

was Tom's reply. "I saw Kerr and Langridge ta

r isn't going to be ca

you s

ip. We've votes enough to el

andidates were chosen, Coach Lighton ordered regular practice and established a training table. Tom was much chagrined when he found that he was named for pitcher on the scrub, while Langridge got the coveted place as pitcher on the 'varsity,

d practice on the diamond, that a hurried knock was

d, looking up fro

ly withdrawing it, as though he feared a book would be hurled at him. "Meet

ok across the room. "Come on, Tom. We'll have a ba

r chums formed a series of defensive rings. Then the sophomores came at them with a rush, seeking to displace the first-year lads and arrange themselves in a circle about the pole. If they succeeded in doing this inside of fiftee

motley crowd of students. On one side were gath

d Phil Clinton. "I shouldn't wonder b

that," declared Sid.

n who were to form the first circle about the pole. Tom and

ce!" cried the im

up, fellows!" s

heir positions. The prot

!" cautioned Phil as

g cry, and with a rush the sophomores hurled the