South Pasadena High School - Copa de Oro Yearbook (South Pasadena, CA)

Page 30 text:

Cc O P A E O R O a OE en eS ee this?” asked Stub of Benson, who was now at bat. “Why not end it now?” “Guess I might as well,” responded Benson, and, 1 baseball terms, “he leaned up against the The and the score of this game hickory for a home run.” next man at bat fanned, was 2 to 1, Harrisburg’s favor. Preparations were now in progress for the Harrisburg-W estbury game, to be played in two weeks at Westbury. “lhere’s no use talking,” said Stubby, “there will be dirty I know the Westies. “Yes, the coach, “we'll have to keep Benson’s arm play. ” agreed in shape and also train Mitchell in case we happen to need him. It’s hard to tell what might happen.” Benson’s pitching was the talk of the school, every evening at practice, ¢ and even the Freshies, came out to see his curves. It was Friday evening when Dick rushed Stubby’s dragging into room, holding, or rather Percy Studious, by his coat col- lar. Sippy was rearranging some postal cards in a rack which he had on the wall. He looked up in astonishment and asked, “What's the matter, Dick; can’t you scrape up someone larger to pick on?” “Tt’s not that, Stubby; Percy valuable information.” has some “That's no reason why you should wring his neck. Let him explain.” “It’s this way,” said Percy. “I happened to be at Westbury yesterday visiting my aunt. I thought delightful it would be to see them practice, so I strolled All the fellows talking about the new pupil. how very out to the athletic grounds. were From what I could gather, there was a new stu- dent, who was an excellent pitcher, and who is scheduled to pitch tomorrow. I asked an acquaintance if he were out on the grounds then, and he pointed out to me a tall, thin positive that | knew him, but I did not know fellow. Who was he? I was just where ‘t had been that I had made his I studied for awhile, and, He used to pitch professional ball for a small eastern league, Smith. ‘What’s name?’ I asked of a bystander. “Thomas,” he replied. ‘Of course, thought I, ‘he wouldn’t enter college under his own name acquaintance. like a flash it came to me. and his name was his . 9 if ie wished to play ball. said Stubby ; “don’t say anything about this to anyone, and we Good for you, Perc,” will have a good chance to protest that game tomorrow.” SATO save, now? promised Percy. “But may I not go I have to prepare Caesar, Geometry, and Rhetoric for Mc ymnday.” “Yes, you're excused,” said Dick. “What good luck!” said Stubby. The bleachers were packed with rooters. Freshmen, Preps, and upper classmen, school teachers, old and young, men, women, and children carried banners, pen- nants or ribbons bearing the colors of one of the opposing teams. What seemed to be the the ‘They were not giving any yells. the raised his hands for silence. He matter with Harrisburg rooters? Presently Stubby appeared before bench and gave a little speech, the purport of which was that, being without a yell leader, he would nomi- nate Percy Studious for that honored posi- tion. Everybody seemed to be in favor of this but icallv objected to yells of the order of which Percy. This studious youth rad- college yells were. Thereupon two + Sopho- mores, to show off, carried him to the stand in front of the bleachers and presented him with a megaphone. The cheering on both Just as the Stubby stepped to the sides was now about even. game was called, umpire and officials of the game and pro- When the Westbury nine saw that they were found out, they tested ‘Thomas. knew it would be better to put in their regular pitcher and possibly win, than to win and have the game protested. Everything went well until the eighth in- ning, when the score was 1 to 0, Harris- burg’s favor. Benson came to bat and hit the ball to short-stop, who threw it high to the first baseman. Anyone could see that it had been pre-a The first base- caught it, arranged. man made a jump for the ball, and came down on Benson’s foot with all his might, spiking him so severely that he could scarcely walk. Harrisburg rooters could scarcely be restrained from being violent, for every one was angry at having lost by foul play their best player

Page 29 text:

C O P A E O R O eee motioning to a chair, said, “Hear about the game?” “No, what game?” asked Stubby. “The Westburys had it hung on to them today by that team that just entered the league this season. I think they blow from Wilmington.” “That’s good. Rather see them have the championship than the Westies. But what of that? That’s not so much to disturb a fellow for.” “No, but I have an idea, and—” “Really! An idea! Let’s have it quick,” interrupted Stubby, producing paper and pencil. “Don't get sarcastic, but iet a man have the floor. ‘There’s a rumor that we have a pitcher in school. You know that big fellow that entered school a couple of months back? He’s the chap. Been a Freshman four years, and got canned up north for raising a rough-house in the Physical Gig Lab. Mitchell's a good pitcher, but last Saturday he got so rattled in the ninth in- ning that he threw away the game. Now, here is my idea: ‘This pitcher, Benson by name, can play in no league games until a week from Saturday, as he has to be in school here ten weeks. Next Saturday we play Wilmington, and he will then have been here only nine weeks. Aren't you able to make it rain or snow, or can’t you devise some scheme for postponing that game until a week from Saturday? ‘Then we will have a chance to win, and if we beat Wilmington, we will have another whack at Westbury. Of course, I don’t know what kind of a pitc her Benson is, but we will find out Mon- day night. It is my plan to put him in the box when we play the Preps then in the practice game.” “Happy thought,” said Stubby, “but I don’t know of any way to make rain or snow or postpone that game. Probably we'll have luck. But say, Dick, how did you find out about this Benson?” “T have a little friend among the Freshies, and he has a cousin in the school from which Benson came. ‘This cousin writes, in every letter, praises of Benson's pitching, and my young friend tells me about it. Kind of nice to have friends among the Freshmen.” A timid knock was heard on the door, and a Freshman poked his head in and asked if he might enter. “‘No,” said Stubby, “this is no kindergarten.” “Yes, you may,’ said Dick, explaining to Stub that this was the youthful collegiate; was his friend of whom they had just been speaking. All three had a pleasant chat until bedtime, when Stubby Raymond and the Fresh betook themselves to their own rooms. The following Monday, in the practice game with the Preps, Benson was put in the box to try out for pitcher, and he made good. Mitchell now took a back seat, and Benson was the hero of the college. He and Stubby were constant companions, only leaving each other’s presence when they were compelled to. A queer looking pair they made, Benson towering a head or more above Stub, but fairly worshiping him. On Friday, the prayed for rain came, and the game was postponed until a week from Saturday. “Play ball!” said the umpire, and Benson pitched one straight over the plate. ‘The batter hit the ball to the short-stop, who threw him out at first. Harrisburg rooters cheered until it seemed as if their lung's would break. On the bleachers opposite the Harrisburg rooters, the Wilmington sup- porters were very meek. ‘he second man at bat got a hit over short-stop, and the attitude of the rooters was reversed. At the end of the first inning the score was 1 to O, in favor of Wilmington, and remained the same until the eighth inning, when Harris- burg tied the score. Both sides of rooters now redoubled their cheers, and, at the be- ginning of the last half of the ninth, the Harrisburg end of the bleachers was a mass of banners, hats, handkerchiefs and neckties flying in the air, Benson having fanned three men in succession. Stubby Raymond ran over to Benson and slapped him on the back, grabbed one leg and bade little Percy Studious do the same to the other. Percy dropped his books, which he usually carried with him, and did Stub’s bidding, and to- gether they carried him to the bench. ’‘I'wo men now were up who fanned. ‘What’s the use of making a ten-inning game of

Page 31 text:

Cc O P A D E O R O oo SSFSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSFFFSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS There was nothing left now but to put the old pitcher, Mitchell, in the box. In the last half of th e and tied ninth inning, the a climax. Westbury got a had There were three run score. Excitement now reached men on bases, with one out, and the score “Mitchell at bat,” went the He had reputation as a ‘sticker,’ but every one seemed to feel that Stubby came bustling around to the grand-stand was 1 to l. rounds of the Harrisburg rooters. much of a. never had the game was to be won by him. and asked Percy to start some yells. Percy strongly objected, saying he would not par- take in any of the meaningless yells. “Well, then, make some of vour own,” suggested Stub. This idea seemed greatly to please Sud- called Percy, who sat a moment thinking. denly, jumping upon his feet, he through the megaphone: “Everybody here knows what Caesar said to the people after gaining his easy victory over Pharnaces. It was ‘Veni, vidi, vici—I came, I saw, I con- quered. Everybody now, one, two, three.” I verybody supported the leader in his home made yell, and as the cheer rang out time and again, the Harrisburg team seemed to gain new life, and Mitchell, making a sacri- fice hit, scored a man. The next man up was out at first. Mitchell, in the next in- ning, was encouraged by that “Veni, vidi, vici,” and struck out two men, the other getting out on third base. Much different was the return from this game than from the one five weeks before. Westbury had gone down to disgrace, while Harrisburg had won the cup. THE SEARCH FOR LOST MOMENTS EEE MAS RSG? USER lielane: “Oh, dear, I’ve hunted for hours and I can’t find anything that looks like a golden moment!” cried Edith, and sat down upon a log to weep. “Some people are so easily discouraged,” said a tiny voice at her elbow, and, turning around, she beheld a large gray rabbit. “Well, I think you would be, too, if you had hunted all afternoon, and not only could not find them, but could not find your way out of the wood again.” “I can show you out of these woods,” answered the rabbit, “if that’s all you wish.” Bupaitise not. | I find moments first.” want to those “Then you had better come to the Fairy Queen,” returned Bunny. After motioning her to follow him, he trotted along in and out among the trees until he came to a large elm. “We will have to wait here until dark,” he said, “for the fairies do not hold their festival until then.” He scurried away to a tree near by and returned, followed by another rabbit carry- ing a basket in its mouth. Bunny told Edith to make a seat for PP OmWi kel mle herself in the tall grass and moss about the tree. He then spread the contents of the basket upon the ground. Edith was greatly surprised, for the lunch produced was per- fect. The rabbit, who had run away while she was His fur bright and shining and his white feet were eating, now returned. was spotlessly clean. He explained to Edith that they were all brushed and washed to be nice for the dance. By the time they had resumed their jour- ney, the but the white light of the moon could be seen faintly. woods were dark, soon After traveling some distance, Edith saw lights flickering here and there about an open space not far away in the forest. ‘I'he rabbit asked her to wait where she was until he had seen the Queen and told her Edith. He soon returned and told her that all was well. Upon the edge of the Fairy Court, Edith stopped. about It was in the circular opening surrounded by the high, strong trees of the forest. At one side of the court was a tiny All about its lake of the brightest water.