“Me for the ball game after this,” replied Parker. “Think of it. Here it’s my first game of ball since I came to college, nearly the last game of the year, and me a Senior. I’ve been asleep. I’ve missed things.” “That’s the way it gets everybody,” said Hal. “It surely is the great American game.” Parker was sorry when the game was over. It was a great experience for him, and during the remaining few days of the term he had many talks with Hans and Hal about baseball and after he was graduated and became a famous preacher he became and remained a faithful enthusiast. Thus are “fans” made. [Illustration: The Making of a Fan.] CHAPTER XVIII THE TRIP TO JEFFERSON During the second week in June, the week of final preparation for the trip to Jefferson and the first of the three championship games with Jefferson, final examinations interfered to some extent with the baseball practice, but by getting out on the field very early in the morning and late in the afternoon, with here and there a special shifting of the examination hour, for this or that member of the team, the nine put in a pretty busy week. Coach Young had returned from Jefferson with a complete confirmation of the early reports about the nine that Captain Church had developed in the western college, and letters kept coming in daily from alumni in the west, sounding the warning that Hughie and his boys must “prepare for the battle of their lives,” as Church had built up a wonderful baseball machine--one that it would be the greatest task to beat. This talk had its effect on the Lowell boys, and Hughie and Captain Larke were a good deal worried. After a consultation they decided to telegraph to Johnny McGrew, Conny McGil and Pop Anderson to come on to act as assistant coaches and help put on the finishing touches. Most of the time was put in signal and batting practice, as all other games were out of the way. The coaches figured that with equal ability in the pitching department the batting would win the games, if backed up by perfect team work, which only a thorough understanding of the signals could make possible. Finally the great day came for the trip to the western college. A special train of twelve cars was provided and with the cheers of all of the students that couldn’t go along, professors and the townspeople, ringing in their ears, they started. The team occupied a special coach in the rear of the train, and no one not a member of the Varsity was allowed in the car, excepting of course, special coaches, Young, McGrew, McGil and Pop Anderson. With these surrounding them in the car, Hughie, Captain and Johnny laid out the plan of the coming battle.