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

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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

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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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FIRST PLACE POEM I thought that you would like to know That someone's thoughts go where you go, That someone never can forget The hours we spent since Hrst we met, That life is richer, sweeter far For such a sweetheart as you are. And now my constant prayer will be That God may keep you safe for me. AMELIA SAUCEDO 'S 1 Butte Valley High School How Ent, Jai lead SECOND PLACE POEM Way out in the West where the law is a pest And the men are as tough as nails, There once came a guy with a strange shifty eye That was white as a clipper's sails. Now Death Valley Jed was his name he said And his face twisted up in a smile And we all could see that he knew that We Were leery of him all the while. Now the clothes that he wore were dirty and tore And he walked like a man 'bout to die, But the main thing we saw was his soul minus law And his hideous, ghostly, white eye. Like a man who had sinned he had come like the wind But no one asked him where from, ,Cause when his eye met your face, your blood ran a race And your brain became quite numb. Now he walked to the bar, 'twas not very far, But it seemed like a day and a year. As he pushed aside the door, the noise ceased to roar, And the men at the bar acted queer. Now off to the side, sat a man in rawhide, Who eyed this man with a sneer. Then he stood on the floor and then out with a roar He cried, That Devil's Son's here!', Now his cry it went 'round, on his face was a frown And on Jed's face showed up fear.