Chapter 20 ON THE BALL-FIELD

Reff Ritter won the toss-up and sent the Browns to the bat. Pepper was the first batter up, and as he took his place at the plate a slight cheer went up.

"Play!" called the umpire, one of the teachers from another school.

Dan Baxter held the ball a second, looked at the plate, and let drive.

"Strike one!" sang out the umpire, although Pepp