It was not loud, nor insistent, and presently died out.

But Fred went as white as a sheet, then, with eyes cast downward, he dropped to his seat at the end of the sub bench.
His chest heaved, for the greeting had unnerved him.
"I wonder why I usually get that sort of thing, while that fellow Prescott has a band to play him in," muttered Fred.
The bulk of the audience was now quiet, while the three hundred visiting fans roared out one of their school yells.
Then followed a noisy whooping of the Gridley High School yell.
Coach Luce had walked over to a post behind the sub bench.
Umpire Foley, his mask dangling from his left hand, now summoned Purcell and the Gardiner captain.

A coin spun up in the air.
Gardiner's diamond chieftain won the toss, and chose first chance at the bat.

Purcell's men scattered to their fielding posts, while the young captain of the home team fastened on his catcher's mask.
The umpire took a ball from its package, inspected it, then tossed it to Dick Prescott, who stood in the box awaiting it.

There was a moment's tense expectation, followed by the command that set all the real fans wild: "_Play ball_!" Gardiner High School had put up a husky young giant who stood beside the plate, a confident grin on his face as he swung the bat.
Dick moistened his fingers.