If Wayland should score even once in this inning, it would make a tie and call for a tenth inning.

If Wayland scored twice---but that was too nerve-racking to contemplate.
Then a hush fell.

The umpire had called for play.
Dick let drive with his most tantalizing spitball.

The leather fell down gracefully under the Wayland's batsman's guess, and Purcell mitted the ball.
"Strike one!" A hopeful cheer went up from Gridley seats, to be met with one word from Wayland fans: "Wait!" Dick served the second ball.

Swat! There it went, arching up in the air, a fair hit.