Siskiyou Union High School - White and Gold Yearbook (Weed, CA)

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JD gm sa emit SECOND PLACE STORY Tommy sat nervously on the bench on the sidelines of the baseball field, clenching his hands together, the perspiration trickling down his face. Millions of thoughts were running through his head as he glanced across the field at the scoreboard which read: Riverton-83 Sunnyvale-6. It was the last half of the sixth inning and his school team, Sunnyvale, was up to bat. There was a man on second base, two outs, and his pal, jerry Blaine, the shortstop, was up to bar. Tommy held his breath as the ball swished down over the plate and the umpire called, Strike!,' He closed his eyes just as Jerry socked the ball to send it flying high out to left field. Sunnyvale's cheering section was cheering madly . . . but as luck would have it, the left fielder from Riverton High got under the ball just in time. Jerry's fly was caught, and he was out. The third out. Tommy was still waiting anxiously on the bench, chances were very small of his taking part in the game now. Gee, if only the coach would give him a break. Then suddenly the crowd was standing up and roaring. One man had been put out on first and Sunnyvale's pitcher was fast putting out the second one. Tommy breathed a sigh of relief and the kids in the cheering section were going wild with hope, hope that maybe Sunnyvale could still make it. Strike three, yelled the umpire and Riverton's second man walked to his side of the field. Tommy was standing up, yelling his head off with the rest of the gang. There was still a chance. Then his heart sank as River- ton's batter stepped up to the box . . . Big Bob Harper, Riverton's best hitter, one who never missed. Oh, if only Speed, their pitcher, could hold him. But the first ball whizzed down and the ump,' yelled out, Ball one!,' Tommy saw a smug grin spread over Big Bob's face. Speed was winding up now, the ball was again heading over homeg the next thing he knew it was speeding over the ground toward short stop, to Jerry. Tommy held his breath again, but Jerry, good old Jerry, scooped up the ball and had it to first a split second before Big Bob. Three outs for Riverton! The gang gathered around to pat Jerry and Speed on the back. The coach came to give out with the last-minute pep talk. This was the last chance now, the last half of the last inning.

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his serious enough to turn Winona from him, I might yet win her.', Filled with jealous anger, he watched them from afar through the bright days and even at night, for the struggle within him would not let him rest. One night he saw one of the strangers leave his lodge and disappear into the darkness. Later he returned and in the moonlight Micca recognized the sly, mean face of one who had come into the valley with the strangers. He entered the lodge of Winona's sweetheart, and for a few minutes no sound was heard. Then like a shadow he reappeared in the moonlight for a moment, then faded into the darkness. So through the night wandered Micca, seeking some ease from his sorrow. He spoke to no one of what he had seen, and thought no more about it. On the morrow as he walked through the village those who knew him cried out, Have you heard what happened? Last night the stranger robbed the chapel! He stole all the offerings of gold and silver. Had it not been for another of his party he no doubt would be out of the valley, over the walls and away with his treasuref' This was the story they told, and before the mind of Micca flashed the vision of a sly, mean face, and a friend who entered at midnight and slipped away on whispering feet into the darkness. This, then, was to be the weapon by which Micca would beat his rival. It had been placed in his hands through no effort of his own and he assured himself over and over that it was right that he use it. Winona would soon forget once the stranger was gone. He, Micca, would win her by never- failing kindness and love. Thus argued the mind of Micca in a neverceasin g effort to drown out what his heart was saying. Into the forest he went, there to wrestle the rest of the day with the demon within him. Then when the day was done and good had overcome evil, straight to the old ones who governed the valley he went. He told them of what he had seen and how in his jealous anger had thought to profit by it. justice soon was done and the stranger, released, turned his steps at once toward the home of Winona. Now Micca walks alone and the little house by the waterfall is being covered over by the woodland growth. Yet in the song of the birds he hears the voice of Winona, and the swaying birches by the river are Winona, dancing with her bare, brown feet in the cool waters at evening. He had given her the greatest gift in the world, happiness, and though he walks alone he is never lonely. GERALD DE RosE Yreka High School

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Tommy watched breathlessly as the first man went up to bat. He could have cried for joy when the first and second man got on base. He laid his head down on his knees as if to give a little prayer for his team . . . his mind was wandering again . . . still a chance, if only he could have a chance to play . . . Then he lifted his head in time to see one of Sunnyvale's players fall down by home plate. He'd been hit on the head by the pitcher, knocked cold, and must be replaced. Tommy watched the coach turn around and look toward the bench. His heart was beating fast, maybe he would be in for a while after all, but the coach walked right past him to tell Bill Morgan, next to him, to replace the injured man. Then to Tommy's surprise, the coach stopped in front of him. O.K., Fella, Bill's going in to run for jack, now I'm going to let you get in there and pinch hit for Harry. He's coming out now. Go to it, kidf' Tommy,s heart was in his mouth and his knees were shaking so hard he could hardly stand up, but he stood up to home plate. The men were still on bases and it was entirely up to him to win the game, if the game was to be won. Riverton's pitcher wound up and threw the ball, Tommy watched closely, it was outside . . . but at the last second it made a curve, a tiny, little curve, but just enough to make the umpire yell, Strike one! He struck at the next and it felt just like he had struck at nothing, he'd missed it as it dropped. He shifted feet and waited for the next throw. He watched it extra closely this time and let it pass. Ball one! He scarcely heard the umpire. The next thing that happened, he never could quite explain clearly. He breathed a silent little prayer, swung hard and ran. He could remember the crowd going wild, yelling for him as the ball sailed way out over centerfield and over the fielder's head and rolled. That's all he saw or heard until he rounded third base and was safe at home. Then the fellows and coach were piling around him, patting him on the back, the cheering section was cheering wildly for him. He felt himself being lifted up on the shoulders of Speed and Jerry. The first thing he saw as he was lifted high was the scoreboard. A lump rose in his throat, and he felt like a sissy as the tears filled his eyes. He read: Riverton-8, Sunny- vale-9. Sunnyvale had won the championship. JEANNE T1TUs '48 Happy Camp High School