Free the Shortstop (1992) by Zane Grey

for all that, the stands and bleachers rose in a body an d cheered. The day before Chase had doffed his cap in appreciation of their applause. Today he did not look at them. He put the audience out of his mind .
    But with all his effort, speed, and good luck he made an unfortunate play. It came at the close of the eighth inning. Wheeling got runners on second and third, with only one out. The next man hit a sharp bouncer to Chase. He fielded the ball, and expecting the runner on third to dash for home he made ready to throw him out. But this runner held his base. Chase turned to try to get the batter going down to first, when the runner on second ran right before him toward third. Chase closed in behind him, and as the fellow slowed up tried to catch him. Then the runner on third bolted for home. Chase saw him and threw to head him off, but was too late.
    In the dressing-room after the game the players howled about this one run that Chase's stupidity had given Wheeling. They called him " wooden head," " sap- head," " sponge - head."
    "dead-head." Then Mac came in and delivered himself.
    "Put the ball in your pocket! Put the ball in your pocket, didn't you? Countin' your money, wasn't you? Thinkin' about the girls you was with last night, hey? Thet play costs you five. See! Got thet ? You're fined. After this when you get the ball an' some runner is hittin' up the dust, throw it. Got thet ? Throw the ball! Don't keep it! Throw it!"
    When the players' shout of delight died away, Chase turned on the little manager.
    " What d' you want for fifteen cents -canary birds? " he yelled, in a voice that rattled the windows. He flung his bat down with a crash, and as it skipped along the bench more than one player fell over himself to get out of its way.
    " Didn't I say I had to learn the game? Didn't you say you'd show me? I never had that play before. I didn't know what to do with the ball. What d' you want, I say? Didn't I accept nine chances today?"
    Mac looked dumfounded. This young lamb of his had suddenly roused into a lion.
    " Shure you needn't holler about it. I was only tellin' you." Then he strode out amid a silence that showed the surprise of his players. Winters recovered first, and turned his round red face and began to bob and shake with laughter.
    " What - did he - want for fifteen cents - canary birds? Haw! Haw; Haw!" In another moment the other players were roaring with him.

    Chapter VIII.
    ALONG THE RIVER .
    CASTORIOUS blanked the Wheeling club next day, and the following day Speer won his game. Findlay players had returned to their old form and were getting into a fast stride, so the Chronicle said. Three straight from Columbus, was the slogan! Mac had signed a new pitcher, a left-hander named Poke, from a nearby country village, and was going to develop him. He was also trying out a popular player from the high-school team.
    Mac had ordered morning practice for the Columbus series of games. The players hated morning practice, "drill" they called it, and presented themselves with visible displeasure. And when they were all on the grounds Mac appeared with a bat over his shoulder, and with his two new players in tow.
    Poke was long and lanky, a sunburned rustic who did not know what to do with his hands and feet.
    " Battin' practice," called out Mac, sharply, ordering Poke to the pitcher' s box.
    Poke peeled off his sweater, showing bare arms that must have had a long and intimate acquaintance with axe and rail-pile.
    "Better warm up first," said Mac. It developed that Poke did not need an y warming. When he got ready he wound himself up, and going throug h some remarkable twist that made him resemble a cartwheel, delivere d the ball towards the plate. Thatcher just dodged in time to save his head.
    " Speed! Whew ! Wow ! " exclaimed the players.
    " Speed! " echoed Thatcher. " Wait till you, get up there! "
    Poke drove Thatcher away from the plate and struck Meade out.
    "Put 'em over " said Benny, as he came up.
    The