Oakhurst Collegiate School - Acorn Yearbook (Cincinnati, OH)

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13 THE ACORN whistled softly to himself, for he wondered whether now he had really found something worth while. Jack made some poor plays that afernoon, as well as some good ones, and felt encouraged when the coach said he might play the next day. He played many more times but was finally placed only as a subii on the team. Emerson was the big manli in the senior class and was a line pitcher, one to be relied upon, and so far had pitched every game in the last year. Finally the day came when the big game of the season was to be played. Pittsfield was to play a team from a school across the river and the loss of that game meant the loss of the seasonys championship. Excitement ran high, for all knew what depended on this game and their adversaries were pretty hard to beat. The grandstand was well crowded when, amid the cheers and yells 0f the crowd and schools, both teams walked out, looking very gay in their gray suits with bright-colored stockings and letters. Emerson played fairly well but seemed to be a little upset. He pitched eight innings and the score was 3 t0 4 in Pittsfieldis favor. All knew now that on this inning everything depended. In the First half Emerson struck out and his side did not score a run. Not knowing what to do, the coach consulted with the manager and they decided they would give Jack a try because he could keep steady and put his curved halls over, their adversaries would probably not score and then their side would win by one run, Groans from his team greeted Jack as he started slowly to walk to the pitchers box, and remarks that now they were surely gone, but he was so deep in thought he did not hear them. Someone yelled, liBatter up i and a boy walked up quickly and took his place. The First ball went rather well, but the umpire called, Ball one ! Then it was 'lStrike one! Then three more balls, at which the umpire called, 'Take your baseP Jack was in despair. The next boy struck out, at which a quiver of delight ran over Jack, and he was resolved he would beat that team. The man at first stole to second, but that was not Jacks fault. So after the next man reached first and the one following him had hit a beauty right to Derrick, playing left field, who missed it but did not let the man on second make a run, the bases were full with only one out. Jack and the catcher having talked it over and rearranged some signals, Jack decided that if the batter hunted, which he was in the habit of doing, he would force the rest to move up. Then he could run up quickly and throw home, while the catcher threw to third, and so make a double play and therefore not score. Surely enough the plan seemed to work, for the man 'bunted, Jack ran up, threw to home and put the man way out. But alas! As the catcher was about to

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THE ACORN 15 THE SUBSTITUT E ITTLE JACK LANGDON, as he was called by upper classmen and classmen alike, was not as little as one might suppose from the . name. He was probably the youngest boy in the sophomore class, but then he was built well and was about Five feet five, which is a fairly good size for a bOy of sixteen. He had come east to Pittsfield, a boys preparatory school, from a little west- ern town in Montana, and though he was not what you would call llgreen, still he wasnlt just like the rest of the boys. Even though they snubbed him and threw insinuating remarks at him, he gritted his teeth and thought of what his father had told him as he boarded the train: HNever mind, sonny, if your luck is ever down on you, just grin and bear it? So Jack always grinned as hard as he could. There was only one pleasant thing to Jack about coming to prepi' school, and that was the baseball team. He was bound he would try for it and do his best. He thought that if he could not make the school team, perhaps he could make the class team, as he had pitched for his home club one year before. So the next day he was naturally very excited when he saw on the bulletin boand a notice that all the boys who were going to try for the team were to be on the Field at three olclock. Jack immediately went to his room and pulled out his baseball togs, which he had hidden in the bottom of his trunk from the sight of the boys. That afternoon promptly at three, Jack was on the field, and as he walked proudly up to the coach he did not notice the grin which that individual hastily checked. As he came up to register the coach said sarcastically: thell, so you think you are going to play baseball! Which team do you want to try for- the freshmen 0r sophomore? To his amazement J-ack answered proudly, uI am going to try for the school team? The coach took down his name and all the necessary notes for one who is trying for a team. Jack came to practice every time promptly, but much to his disappointment, no opportunity to play presented itself. The jests, laughs and sneers of his fellow-players were very annoying to his sensitive nature. One day the coach called out, llLangdon, welll give you a try-although I donit think there is much usefl he added in a low tone. So Jack got up and quickly walked out to his box, determined to do his best. He knew he could rely on his one curved ball which he had practiced so much before coming east. He swung his arm to throw the ball, amid many sneers and remarks which quickly ceased, however, as the ball curved out and then, curving quickly in, went right over home plate. It was a great surprise, and the coach

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THE ACORN 1'7 throw the ball to third, it slipped and rolled towards the pitcher's box. Jack sprang forward, for he knew that in about four more seconds the man would reach third, and instantly threw the ball, not knowing whether the man was safe or out, until at last the umpire raised his hand and yelled, nOut! The game was over and they had won! Jack could not believe it until the coach rushed up and wrung his hand, declaring, much to Jacks embarrassment, that he had won the day. Needless to say, the boys quickly gathered around him; even Emerson, who felt pretty low-spirited, came up to him and said: HNice work, old man; nice work! tHELEN PAYNE, 1914.