E-text prepared by Al Haines Note: Project Gutenberg also has an HTML version of this file which includes the original illustrations. See 22948-h.htm or 22948-h.zip: (https://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/2/2/9/4/22948/22948-h/22948-h.htm) or (https://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/2/2/9/4/22948/22948-h.zip) RIVAL PITCHERS OF OAKDALE by MORGAN SCOTT Author of "Ben Stone at Oakdale," "Boys of Oakdale Academy," Etc. With Four Original Illustrations by Elizabeth Colborne [Frontispiece: PHIL SENDS THE FIRST BALL.] New York Hurst & Company Publishers Copyright, 1911, by Hurst & Company CONTENTS CHAPTER I. THE BOY WHO WANTED TO PITCH II. BASEBALL PRACTICE III. TWO OF A KIND IV. LEN ROBERTS OF BARVILLE V. HOOKER'S MOTORCYCLE VI. A DEAD SURE THING VII. RACKLIFF FISHES FOR SUCKERS VIII. READY FOR THE GAME IX. THE FIRST INNING X. THE CRUCIAL MOMENT XI. A CHANGE OF PITCHERS XII. WON IN THE NINTH XIII. RACKLIFF'S TREACHERY XIV. JEALOUSY XV. PLAIN TALK FROM ELIOT XVI. DREAD XVII. THE BOY ON THE BENCH XVIII. A LOST OPPORTUNITY XIX. POISON SPLEEN XX. FELLOWS WHO MADE MISTAKES XXI. A PERSISTENT RASCAL XXII. SELF-RESTRAINT OR COWARDICE XXIII. HOOKER BREAKS WITH RACKLIFF XXIV. ONCE MORE XXV. THE WYNDHAM PITCHER XXVI. THE PLUNGE FROM THE BRIDGE XXVII. A REBELLIOUS CONSCIENCE XXVIII. WHEN THE SIGNALS WERE CHANGED XXIX. PHIL GETS HIS EYES OPEN XXX. THE GREATEST VICTORY ILLUSTRATIONS Phil sends the first ball . . . . . . . . . . . . _Frontispiece_ Ere the horsehide was brought down between Rod's shoulder-blades, his hand had found the plate "Several prominent members of the great Oakdale baseball team, I observe," said Rackliff The local crowd "rooted" hard RIVAL PITCHERS OF OAKDALE CHAPTER I. THE BOY WHO WANTED TO PITCH. During the noon intermission of a sunny April day a small group of boys assembled near the steps of Oakdale Academy to talk baseball; for the opening of the season was at hand, and the germ of the game had already begun to make itself felt in their blood. Roger Eliot, the grave, reliable, steady-headed captain of the nine, who had scored such a pronounced success as captain of the eleven the previous autumn, was the central figure of that gathering. Chipper Cooper, Ben Stone, Sleuth Piper, Chub Tuttle, Sile Crane and Roy Hooker formed the remainder of the assemblage. "The field will be good and dry to-night, fellows," said Roger, "and we ought to get in some much-needed practice for that game with Barville. I want every fellow to come out, sure." "Ho!" gurgled Chub Tuttle, cracking a peanut and dexterously nipping the double kernel into his mouth. "We'll be there, though I don't believe we need much practice to beat that Barville bunch. We ate 'em up last year."