It was equal to any that Ripley had shown.
"Confound the upstart! He's getting close to me on that style!" gasped the astonished Ripley.
Now, Dick held the ball for a few moments, rolling it over in his hands.

An instant later, he unbent.

Then he let drive.

The ball went slowly toward the plate, with flat trajectory.
"Wow!" came the sudden explosion.

It was a _jump-ball_, going almost to the plate, then rising instead of falling.
Three more of these Dick served, and now the cheering was the biggest of the afternoon.