In their half of the eighth, the Chenangos went out in one, two, three, order, Collins flying to centre, Wheelock fouling to third, and Taylor being thrown out at first. In the ninth, Toonalta tried very hard to add to her score, but, when the first batsman was retired on an easy toss from Chase to Jim, she lost some of her ginger. Even Billy White’s fourth error, which put Burns on first and seemed to pave the way for a tally, failed to arouse the visitors to much enthusiasm. Probably they thought they could hold their opponents scoreless for another half-inning and were satisfied to call it a day. Gore, however, woke them up when he hit cleanly past Despaigne and advanced Burns to the second station, and the Browns’ coaches got busy again and once more things looked dark for the home nine. But Hunt fouled out to Hoffman--and the big catcher’s expression as he looked at the rival backstop was beautiful to see if you were a Chenango sympathiser!--and the Blues’ first baseman, who had played a star game all the afternoon, ended his services at the bat, and incidentally the inning, by fanning. Chase received an ovation for that strike-out as he returned to the bench, and he deserved it. Toonalta jogged into the field with a fine confidence, or an appearance of it. She had only to keep the adversary from crossing the plate to win, and since the fifth inning the Chenangos had failed to show anything dangerous. Perhaps the home team itself was more than doubtful of its ability to pluck that contest from the fire, although certainly Joe Taylor showed no sign of dejection. Joe insisted loudly and cheerfully that now was the appointed time, although he didn’t use just those words. What he really said was: “Now come on, Chenangos! Get at ’em! Eat ’em up! Here’s where we start something! Hit it out, Larry! Let’s get this right now!” But Colton was a disappointment, for he only rolled one to the pitcher’s box when he tried to bunt down first base line and was out in his tracks. Billy White was called back once to make place for Brewster, but even as the pinch-hitter strode to the box Taylor changed his mind again and it was finally the unlucky Billy who stood up at the plate. Just how Billy managed to outguess Ellis was a mystery, but outguess him he did, and presently he was trotting down the path to first base while Vic Despaigne tried to stand on his head and every other Medfield adherent made a joyful noise! [Illustration: Every Other Medfield Adherent Made a Joyful Noise] Joy, however, gave place to gloom a few minutes later when Hoffman, after almost securing a two-bagger--the ball only went foul by two inches--sent a hot one straight into third baseman’s glove. As the ball went back to the pitcher the audience started its exodus, for with two down and the runner no further than first, the end was discernible--or so they thought. But what followed only proved again the famous adage that the game isn’t over until the last man’s out.