The Saturday chosen for the game was an ideal one, clear and not too warm.  The students from Pornell arrived early, and so did the other visitors, and by two o’clock the grounds were crowded.

As before a parade was had.  Then the umpire came out and gave each team fifteen minutes for practice.

“We’re in luck,” said Dick, when Putnam Hall won the toss and took last innings.  In a moment more they were in the field, and the Ump called out:  “Play!”

As was natural, Pornell had put its heaviest batters at the head of their list, and it is possible Tom was a bit nervous as he twirled the ball and sent it in toward the home plate.

“Ball one!” came the decision, and again the sphere came in.  “Ball two!” said the umpire.

“Take it easy, Tom!” called out Dick.  “Lots of time, remember.”

The next was a strike.  Then came a foul, and then a hard drive to left field, and amid a wild, cheering the Pornell batsman gained second base in safety.

“That’s the way to do it, Cornwall!  Keep it up, Snader!”

The second player now came up, and again the ball came in.  Tom was as nervous as before, and another hit was made, and the player covered first, while the man on second went to third.

“Tom, do be careful,” whispered Frank, walking down to him.  “Don’t let that fellow in,” and he nodded in the direction of the first runner.

The third player was now at the bat.  Two balls and two strikes were counted against him and then came a foul, high up in the air, which Frank caught with ease.

“One out, and two on base!  That’s not so bad.”

Again the ball came in.  “One strike!” said the umpire.  “I want a high ball!” growled the batter.  Again the ball was delivered.  “Two strikes!” Then the ball came in again.  “Three strikes!  Batter out!” And Tom got a rousing cheer for striking out the Pornellite.

But the two men were still on first and third, with one more man to put out.

“Take care!” whispered Larry, and the basemen all moved up closer.  One strike, and then came a high fly, far out in center field.

“Run, Sam!  Don’t miss that!” came in a yell.  “Run! run!”

And Sam did run, knowing that if he missed the ball the Pornell team would score two runs, if not three.  It was going far down the field, but he was after it, and just as it came down, he made a leap and —­ clutched the sphere with his left hand.

“He has it!  Hurrah!  No runs this innings for Pornell!” And the Putnamites howled themselves hoarse, while their opponents had nothing to say.

But the players from the rival academy had a fine battery, and it was impossible to “get onto” their pitcher’s curves during that first innings.  The players went out in one, two, three order, leaving the score 0 to 0.

“It’s going to be a close game,” said an old player from, Cedarville.  “I’m not betting on either side.”