The umpires emerged from under the stands and walked out onto the field. There was no consultation with managers. The batting orders had been handed in early. The gong sounded. It was time for the game to begin. Then came a sudden stop. Which team was to go to bat first? Of course it was neutral ground and that question must be decided. Hughie and Church tossed the coin. They looked at it as it landed on the turf. Was it heads or tails? They both walked back to their benches. The umpire made his usual announcement of the batteries. The crowd did not yet know which team had won the advantage of first in the field. The umpire said, “Batter up.” Then from the Lowell bench you could see the team arise quickly and trot out on the field. The Lowell “rooters” started a mighty cheer. The advantage of first field was theirs. It was only a slight advantage but their team thought it an advantage and that made it one. A sudden hush falls over the vast multitude. You can almost hear a pin drop. Laird at the plate, and Black in the box. Again that first ball may be the all important one. On it may hang victory, or defeat for either side. The crowd sits back silent, waiting. They are ready. So are the players. Alert, waiting. Suddenly the ball shoots toward the plate like a white streak. The big final battle is on. CHAPTER XXV THE FINAL GAME LOWELL JEFFERSON Everson, 2b Laird, 3b Larke, lf Beach, cf Talkington, cf Church, 1b Hagner, ss Hollins, ss Robb, rf La Joy, 2b Case, 1b Warcford, lf Delvin, 3b Twitchell, rf Gibbs, c Brest, c Black, p Mellen, p Laird waited and Black pitched two balls which didn’t fool him any, and then Miner put two over which cut the corners of the plate, one of which Laird struck at and missed and the other was called by the umpire. It was two and two. Then Miner tried to tempt Harry with a wide one and the umpire called it a ball, making it two and three, and Black was forced to put it over. He served up one of the kind that is hard to put outside of the diamond and Laird hit it for a bounder straight to the pitchers’ box and Miner set himself for an easy assist, when just as the ball was all but in his hands, it took an extra bounce and went high up over his head and neither Miner nor Everson could get near it in time to catch Laird at first. Beach let two go by and then hit one on the ground to Everson, who tried for a force out at second; but Laird beat this throw and both runners were safe.