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.

Captain Church immediately sacrificed Laird and Beach to third and second respectively. On his way to the bench, the Jefferson captain put his right hand on Hollins’ left shoulder as he passed him and Hollins walked to the plate and gave Laird the signal for the “squeeze” play, Laird started for home as soon as the pitcher began to wind up and Hollins hit the ball smartly for a grounder between third and short which Delvin went after and fumbled. There was no chance to get the runner at the plate of course. The squeeze had been worked beautifully, and with the Lowell infield watching for it. Arthur’s fumble was just bad enough in addition to give Hollins time to get to first and this and the first score put Black in the hole to such an extent that when La Joy came up he wanted to give him a base on balls, but only decided to do so after Hughie gave him the signal from the bench.

This bit of strategy, however, and the hope of thereby retiring the side on a double play didn’t work for Sam Warcford was the next batter. Everybody was expecting him to try for a long one but he turned his best chance into what was better still, a Texas Leaguer in left which scored Beach.

It began to look like the kind of a game the fans like right there.

The infield came in and Twitchell, the batter, tried to drive one out of Hans’ reach to his right, but Hans made a beautiful stop and threw to Gibbie, forcing Hollins.

The Lowell boys breathed a little easier as there were now two out although the bases were filled.

Roger Brest came to bat and Black had in mind the way Roger had worried him in the other games and decided to get him. Brest let the first one go by and it was a strike. The second ball he struck at with a mighty swing and missed. Roger seemed to be slow in recovering from his swing and Miner tried to sneak a straight one over on him. But Brest was only pretending for he hit that ball for about as swift a liner as ever was hit, about six feet to Hal’s right. It looked like a sure hit and the Jefferson Singing Club was already cheering Roger when Hal stuck out his right hand and the ball stuck in his glove. Then it was time for Lowell to cheer, for the spectacular catch had saved two runs at least, and four runs in the first half is almost too much of a handicap. It had been a hard inning for Lowell to get by.

Everson started the ball rolling by hitting the first ball for a single to right, just to show the other fellows that there were others who had batting eyes. Captain Larke’s attempt at a safe one through the pitcher’s box went a little too near where La Joy was playing and Everson was forced at second.

Talkington tried hard to put one over Twitchell’s head, but all he got out of it was the satisfaction of seeing that sterling right fielder make another of his sensational catches.

Robb hit one in Hollins’ direction which was too hot for the Jefferson shortstop to handle, though it was almost straight into his hands and it went as an error against him and Robb was safe.

It looked as though Mellen intended to walk Hans, who was next up, for the first three balls were wide of the plate. The fourth, however, whether intentional or not, cut the outer corner and Hans quickly turned it into a long single to left center, which scored Larke. Robb thought this was a good time to tie the score and tried to come all the way home on the play. At that he came pretty near making it, for he made a beautiful slide and was nipped by inches on the relay from Beach to Hollins to Brest. The crowd settled back to enjoy what promised to be one of their favorite games—lots of hitting and sharp fielding.

The second inning opened with Mellen at bat, and Black went after him. He got two strikes on him right away, but Mellen made a weak effort on the next ball and it rolled to the pitcher’s box and was an easy out for Miner and Hal.

Black then thought he’d make it one of his good innings. He completely outguessed Laird who struck out, and when Beach looked as though he didn’t believe he could do it again, he put one straight over on Tommy after the latter had fouled one off and let another be called on him, and Beach struck out also, retiring the side.

In the second half Hal was first at bat. Hughie told him he just had to get on base and to hit it out. Mellen put one over that looked good and Hal struck at it with his short bat and missed. The next one looked even better and Hal hit it for one of those fast curving singles over Laird’s head which landed him on first.

Delvin fouled out to Laird and Hal made a clean steal of second on the first ball pitched to Gibbie. He then made an effort to steal third and in Roger’s anxiety to catch him he tried to throw before he had the ball secure in his hand and it bounded off his glove for a short passed ball, while Hal reached third easily.

Gibbie came across with the needed long fly to Warcford in left and Hal brought in the tying run.

Black, next to bat, made a hard try to hit one of the three balls that Mellen pitched him, but he missed all three of them and as he picked up his glove and walked into the box, Hughie said, “That’s the way, old boy, save your wind and strength for pitching.”

Captain Manager Church was first at bat and he hit one on Arthur’s left, which both Delvin and Hagner went after. It was too fast for Arthur to get his hands on, but Hans made a quick lunge and got it fifteen feet back of Delvin and threw quickly to first where Hal made a neat pick up and retired Church. Hollins tried to bunt the first ball pitched and missed. Then he struck hard at the second one and missed, and with his mind on nothing but fooling the Lowell infield by his change of tactics he forgot all about the rules when he saw the Lowell boys playing back and bunted the next ball which rolled foul and he was called out.

La Joy made one of his mighty efforts after getting two strikes, and it went out to left field where Captain Larke caught it after a long run close to the foul line.

It began to look as if each full inning would be practically the same, for the Lowell half of the third was also short. Everson batted one to La Joy which was easy for him, and Church, then Larke and Talkington were both retired by Hollins and Church.

In the Jefferson half of the fourth the fun began anew.

Warcford fouled off the first two over the stands and when Black offered him another one he didn’t do any waiting either, but rapped it far out over to right center in Robb’s territory. Ty picked it up after a stern chase and relayed it to Hal, for Sam was already well on his way to third and Ty played to catch him at the plate in case he tried to get home.

Things looked a little better, however, when Twitchell went out on a pop foul to Gibbie. Black thinking of the near damage which Brest had done in the first inning walked him, planning to get Mellen and a possible double play, but Big George knocked out a beautiful sacrifice fly to Talkington which scored Warcford. Tris saw that he couldn’t get the runner on third and quickly threw to Everson on second, catching Brest between the bases. He was finally run down by Johnny and Hal, the latter getting the put out.

This made the score three to two in Jefferson’s favor and it was up to Lowell to do a little better.

Robb missed one and fouled off another. The third one was also a foul, a tip, and Roger held on to it making a strike out for Ty. Then Hans walked to the plate and crouching in his accustomed manner watched two go by—one a strike and the other a ball. The third one he hit on a beautiful line over Hollins’ head between Beach and Warcford. Beach fielded it and threw to third as Hans had already passed second. He, however, went back when he saw that the throw would beat him.

Hal came up and giving the signal to Hans hit a fast grounder to the left of the pitcher’s box which went toward second like a shot and was well fielded by Hollins. Hans was, however, almost home by this time and all Hollins could do was to catch Hal at first which he did. The score was again tied and two out, Delvin made the third one by knocking a fly into Warcford’s hands.

It had been nip and tuck between the two teams up to this time with the advantage of a lead, when there was any, always with Jefferson, and Lowell’s best efforts were used to keep even.

The strain was beginning to tell on both teams, and Black buckled down to outguess Laird, the first man up in the fifth, but Laird was the best guesser and got a base on balls when Miner failed to put the third one over. Tommy Beach made a beautiful bunt down the third base line and as Laird had a good lead off first he got all the way around to third when the throw went to first and Beach was out.

Church at bat signaled Laird for another squeeze play and Harry did his part all right, but Jefferson’s captain missed the ball and Gibbie touched Laird out at the plate. Then Church hit a fast bounder to the left of Arthur who made a great stop and throw to Hal, retiring Church.

Gibbie came to bat and singled to right and there was great hope of Lowell getting the advantage. The plan went through all right so far as Miner was concerned, as he sacrificed and Gibbie reached second.

This brought Johnny to bat and he had the hard luck to touch one of Mellen’s twisters for a foul which fell into Roger’s big mitt and there were two out.

Captain Larke tried to knock the ball out of the diamond but the best he could do was an easy roller to La Joy who, however, made a mess of it with two attempts at picking it up before getting it, and by that time Larke was safe on first and Gibbie on third.

Larke started for second to draw the throw for the double steal but Roger couldn’t be tempted to throw the ball any place and Cap got credit for a steal. Having struck out Robb before, Mellen walked Talkington, filling the bases, and then Ty knocked a fly to the fence in center field; but when it came down Beach was there waiting for it.

Hollins, the first batter for Jefferson in the sixth, ought to have been out, as he knocked a liner direct into Robb’s hands. Ty dropped it, however, and Hollins hustled to first. The error upset the boys a little and when Hollins started to steal second Gibbie made a poor throw and the Jefferson shortstop was safe.

La Joy waited and got his base on balls which was good judgment on Black’s part as it later developed. Warcford came to bat and struck viciously at the first ball and missed and the infield guessed that Sam was bound to hit it out. All but Hal did, at any rate, for when Miner pitched the next ball and Sam bunted Hal started on his bunt fielding run to the plate, and making a quick stop he threw to Delvin at third, forcing Hollins. Then, with Warcford on first, Twitchell hit a fast one to Case, who made a one-hand stop, threw to Hans who covered second, and then hustled back to first in time to receive Hans’ return throw completing a quick double play and retiring the side.

Hans came up in the Lowell half and got another double. Hal sacrificed him to third and it again looked as though Lowell might take the lead. Delvin made what ought to have been a hit, for he drove a fast liner toward first, but Church stabbed it after a mighty leap into the air, and there were two out. Then the Lowell hope died down once more when Gibbie hit one to Mellen, who threw him out to Church.

Brest struck at three fast ones and missed all of them. Mellen went out also on a grounder that was easy for Hans and Hal. Laird came along with a pretty single to left, but was immediately caught stealing, Gibbie to Hans.

In the Lowell half Black hit one between first and second, which Church fielded nicely and threw to Mellen who covered the bag.

Everson hit a bounder to Hollins who let it roll between his legs, and Johnny was safe. Larke hit one, which La Joy got with little effort and tossed to Hollins, forcing Everson. Larke immediately stole second, Roger’s throw being high. Talkington caught them all napping by bunting toward third and reached first safely. Then it was Robb’s turn and he tried hard swinging on the first ball pitched which was one of Mellen’s twisters again, and it went foul back of third and was caught by Hollins after a great run.

The eighth started well and ended badly for Lowell.

Tommy tried for his usual two bagger, but Talkington got in the way of his fast liner after a mighty run and there was one gone.

Church tried to put one in short right but it went up in the air and foul. Case got it after a backward run near the first row of the grand stand.

Hollins dropped a short bunt in front of the plate and Gibbie fumbled it. Hollins was easily safe. It did not look bad to Black, however, as there were two out and the boys were fielding nobly, and Miner intended to make the next batter knock a fly if he hit it at all. It happened, however, to be La Joy. Larry fouled off four and it was certain in Black’s mind that if the kind of balls he was pitching were hit they would go up in the air, so he put over another one. Larry acted badly, however, for he straightened out that curve for a two bagger between Robb and Talkington, which scored Hollins. This rather got Black’s nerves temporarily and he didn’t have perfect control of himself. When Warcford stepped to the plate, Gibbie signaled for a low ball. Black insisted upon sending them up on the inside. Here is where Black went wrong, for Warcford hit the first one for a single to left and La Joy scored from second. Two runs in and both of them after two were out and it looked like the game. To complete the inning, Warcford tried to steal, but Gibbie nailed him by four feet on a perfect throw to Everson and the inning ended with the score 5 to 3 in favor of Jefferson.

It looked bad for Lowell, as they had been behind at all stages of the contest and the score as it stood then, taking into consideration the high-class fielding of both teams, made it look as though Lowell was surely beaten.

“Now is the time to do it,” said Hughie as Hans walked to the bat. “This is the one grand chance to get them. We only need three, Hans, and you can get one.”

Hughie’s coaching made no difference to Hans either way. He kept his eye on Mellen and the ball and when Mellen finally sent one up Hans smashed it for a single to right which got him to first.

Hal tried to hit it out and got a long fly to Warcford which kept Hans on first.

Delvin came up determined to do or die and he dropped a beautiful single in left which Warcford fielded quickly, holding Hans on second. Then Gibbie tried to knock the cover off the ball. He struck three times at what appeared like good ones and missed three of them, which was very good work on Mellen’s part. Hughie now sent Huyler up to bat for Black. Being two out Hans and Delvin started and got away with a double steal, Hans going to third and Arthur to second.

It was the only chance Huyler had in the game. He landed on the second ball pitched for a beautiful liner which went to the right field fence, but the unbeatable Twitchell made it look like an easy out, for he timed the ball to the instant and made a running catch that was as clever as any that had been made in the entire game. This made three out and Jefferson still two runs ahead.

The Jefferson crowd felt they had the game salted away and the team needed only to hold its advantage and the Championship was theirs. At the same time they intended to make the most of their last time at bat.

Babe Radams went in to pitch for Lowell and Twitchell feeling good over his line catch of a moment before couldn’t be stopped. He leaned against the third ball the Babe tossed up for a well-played single to right. This hit and Brest’s monkey shines at the plate got Babe going for a minute and Roger walked. Mellen, good hitter always, wanted to drive it out, but Captain Church ordered the sacrifice, and Twitchell reached third, and Roger got to second.

Laird came up to turn the trick and knocked one that took just one bound in Hans’ direction, and then tried to get over Hagner’s head, but Hans went up in the air, lurching somewhat to the right, got it, and with the same motion fired the ball to Gibbie, who got Twitchell at the plate. To the crowd it looked safe, but the umpire said “out” and that settled it.

Babe’s nerves were on edge by this time and unfortunately he hit Beach with a pitched ball and the bases were full. This put everybody more or less up in the air and anything might happen.

Church now came to bat. He was trying to make Babe walk him, and he did get three balls. Then Babe put two over which the Captain-manager missed. The last one he hit right over third base and nine times out of ten it would have been a safe hit but Arthur managed to knock it down with his right hand, and then picking it up hurriedly he fired it in Hal’s direction, but high. If there ever was a ball that was headed for the grand stand it was that one. For height it came near the record. The Jefferson crowd went wild, but they had never really seen Hal climb into the air. He ran three steps, made a mighty leap into the air, his back to the ball, and then that right hand of his shot up one, two, maybe four feet higher, and he got it. He was as far from the bag almost as the runner, only he was up over it. He came to earth feet on the base and as the umpire waved his hand for the out, Hal and Church came together and the breath was knocked out of both of them.

He had to call time, for these boys were both unconscious for a few minutes.

When Hal opened his eyes his first words were, “Did I get it,” but he couldn’t hear the answer, as the stands were yelling, “Oh, you Hal! Oh, you Case!” and then he heard Arthur say, “You saved the game for us, Hal. We’ve got another chance,” and when he turned to Hughie the latter just shook his hand. He was too much overcome to speak.

Then Lowell went to bat for the final half of the ninth with renewed courage, for the God of Champions surely intended them to have another chance when he enabled Hal to make that stop.

It had been a stern chase all the way for Lowell and now it was up to them for the last time. It would take three runs to win, but they had often made three or more runs in the last half and Hal’s catch had put the fire back into their hearts.

That’s the way they felt when Everson, the head of the batting list, came up. If he could get a base on balls he would have a good start thought he, at least he decided to wait until the count was two and two. That’s the way it worked out—two balls and then two strikes, one of which Johnny tried for. He guessed that Mellen would try to put the next one over and Johnny decided to hit it out. Mellen on the other hand wanted him to guess that way and he sent up what looked like a fast straight one. Johnny gave his sharp quick swing and missed. He had struck out.

It was a bad start. Larke came up and without waiting banged the first ball past the pitcher and out toward second base. The ball hit the bag, and glancing off at an angle to the right rolled straight into La Joy’s hands and it was two out and hope almost dead.

“They have to put three out before we’re beat, boys,” called Hughie after Talkington as the latter picked up his bat and started for the plate and all the Lowell rooters prayed hard even while hope died within them.

Mellen in the box, cool, confident, and with the big strain nearly over, was tempted to fool with Talkington. He had hopes of striking him out. He started two balls straight for the plate but they curved out. Tris let them go by and the umpire said after the second one, “Ball two.” Then he started one wide of the plate but failed to get the curve on it and it went for third ball. The next two came straight over but Tris never moved and let the umpire call “Strike two.” The crowd stood up ready to go home as Mellen let go the last ball. It was a wild pitch that hit the ground in front of the plate and Talkington trotted to first. The crowd sat down again. There might be something doing after all. Mellen was surprised and a little nervous. He let the first one slip a little and it came within reach of Ty’s bat, who connected with it for a single to right on which Talkington got to third. Then Ty stole second, which wasn’t hard, as Roger didn’t dare throw.

The slight chance had developed into an opportunity for the next batter, who was Hans.

Hughie was on the third base line yelling, “Eyah! Eyah! We’ve got them, boys!” pulling grass with both hands, yelling, whistling, kicking the air and calling, “You can do it” to Hans.

Church walked over to the pitcher’s box and La Joy and Brest joined them where they held a consultation at which it was decided to walk Hans. This was a natural thing to do, as Hal who was up next, while a good batter, was not so sure to get it safe. Hans knew what they were up to and the Jefferson boys knew he knew it. So he stood there at the plate, more or less resigned to his fate, acting as though it wasn’t any use even to watch the balls as they were pitched. At the same time he was standing a little nearer the plate than he usually did although Mellen didn’t notice this. Hans let three go by and they were about as wide of the plate as three balls could be. Hans hadn’t moved. When Mellen started to pitch the fourth ball Hans’ bat was swinging in his left hand. The ball came on high and wide and apparently Hans was going to take his base but as the ball approached he took one step forward, swung his bat up and out and met the ball on the nose. When Mellen heard the crack of the bat his arms dropped to his sides and he didn’t even turn to look where the ball went. He knew that ball wasn’t meant to be caught by any fielder within the grounds. As it went over Twitchell’s head that fellow also knew it would do no good for him to give chase and as for the rest of the Jefferson team, all of them except Church and La Joy stood still with mouths open and watched the ball go sailing clean over the right-field bleachers into the runway which leads from the ticket offices into the grand stand, and if they could have followed it after that they would have seen it bounce beyond the turnstile and clear out onto the elevated tracks, where it dropped through to the street. The aforesaid Church and La Joy merely took off their caps, threw them into the dust and stamped on them. Then they picked them up, brushed them off and put them back on their heads.

Meanwhile Talkington, Robb and Hagner had touched the plate and were trying to get through the crowd of Lowell rooters who had surrounded them and the other members of the team.

It was nothing but shoulders for the boys after that. Up they went surrounded by thousands for a parade around the park.

“Where’s Hal? He saved it!” shouted the crowd, and then, “Where’s Hans? He won it,” and after they had borne these two to the head of the procession, though no one could tell how it was possible, they carried them round the field a dozen times to the music of Lowell songs and yells, to finally land them at the Club House door where they left them to bathe and dress, after giving them to understand they were expected to attend the Lowell banquet at the Waldorf at eight.

Words could not describe the reception given to Hans and Hal by their team mates in the club house of the New York Nationals that afternoon, so no attempt will be made to do so, suffice it to say that it was thoroughly impressed on both that but for them the championship had been lost, and their names went to the top of the list of the Lowell Hall of Heroes.

BOX SCORE