Zane Grey by 1911 The Young Pitcher by Zane Grey

Author:1911 The Young Pitcher, by Zane Grey [1911 The Young Pitcher, by Zane Grey]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2011-11-26T03:09:03+00:00

Ken Clashes with Graves

Two weeks after the contest with State University four more games with minor colleges had been played and won by Wayne. Hour by hour the coach had drilled the players; day by day the grilling practice told in quickening grasp of team-play, in gradual correction of erratic fielding and wild throwing. Every game a few more students attended, reluctantly, in half-hearted manner.

“We’re comin’ with a rush,” said Worry to Ken. “Say, but Dale and the old gang have a surprise in store for ‘em! And the students—they’re goin’ to drop dead pretty soon…. Peg, Murray tells me he’s puttin’ weight on you.”

“Why, yes, it’s the funniest thing,” replied Ken. “To-day I weighed one hundred and sixty-four. Worry, I’m afraid I’m getting fat.”

“Fat, nothin’,” snorted Worry. “It’s muscle. I told Murray to put beef on you all he can. Pretty soon you’ll be able to peg a ball through the back-stop. Dean’s too light, Peg. He’s plucky and will make a catcher, but he’s too light. You’re batterin’ him all up.”

Worry shook his head seriously.

“Oh, he’s fine!” exclaimed Ken. “I’m not afraid any more. He digs my drop out of the dust, and I can’t get a curve away from him. He’s weak only on the jump ball, and I don’t throw that often, only when I let drive.”

“You’ll be usin’ that often enough against Herne and Place. I’m dependin’ on that for those games. Peg, are you worryin’ any, losin’ any sleep, over those games?”

“Indeed I’m not,” replied Ken, laughing.

“Say, I wish you’d have a balloon ascension, and have it quick. It ain’t natural, Peg, for you not to get a case of rattles. It’s comin’ to you, and I don’t want it in any of the big games.”

“I don’t want it either. But Worry, pitching is all a matter of control, you say so often. I don’t believe I could get wild and lose my control if I tried.”

“Peg, you sure have the best control of any pitcher I ever coached. It’s your success. It’ll make a great pitcher out of you. All you’ve got to learn is where to pitch ‘em to Herne and Place.”

“How am I to learn that?”

“Listen!” Worry whispered. “I’m goin’ to send you to Washington next week to see Place and Herne play Georgetown. You’ll pay your little money and sit in the grand-stand right behind the catcher. You’ll have a pencil and a score card, and you’ll be enjoyin’ the game. But, Peg, you’ll also be usin’ your head, and when you see one of ‘em players pull away on a curve, or hit weak on a drop, or miss a high fast one, or slug a low ball, you will jot it down on your card. You’ll watch Place’s hard hitters with hawk eyes, my boy, and a pitcher’s memory. And when they come along to Grant Field you’ll have ‘em pretty well sized up.”

“That’s fine, Worry, but is it fair?” queried Ken.

“Fair? Why, of course. They all do it.

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