THE GAME

To follow the children the grown-ups in Virginia City had formed a baseball team as well. Banker George Parker was the coach of this team while rancher Ben Cartwright and his sons Adam, Hoss and Little Joe taught the children how to play baseball. The Cartwright brothers played also in the team of the grown-ups.

After the announcing of all players the game began. Adam was as first at bat. He looked

for a second at Mitch who stood on the mount and gave him smiling a wink.

Sheriff Roy Coffee was the head umpire and said, “Play Ball!”

As sneaky as Mitch was he pitched 3 strike to his best friend Matthew Walker.

The commentator said, “Adam Cartwright is the first zero. Next at bat is pitcher Joe Cartwright.”

But just like his brother Little Joe too got 3 slag served by Mitch. And batter number 3 too got a strikeout.

Mitch was as first at bat.

When the young Cartwright stood at the home plate Adam asked concerned, “Are you alright kid?”

“Up till now yeah. As soon as I get tired I stop”, answered Mitch.

He looked at the first ball pitched by Little Joe. Mitch came into action right away and hit the ball out of the stadium. The boy threw down his bat and walked across all bases. Mitch got a standing ovation from all watchers, umpires and players except George and Barry Parker. With laughing eyes and a smile around his mouth he arrived at the home plate. Here by the Cartwrights knew that Mitch was in his element again. The next at bat was Derek Jones.

“After the marvellous homerun of Mitch Cartwright is now right fielder Derek Jones with number 24 at bat”, got through the speakers.

Little Joe pitched about 3 balls but Derek missed them all.

“Derek Jones is the first zero. Now at bat is catcher Matthew Walker”, men heard saying.

Adam and Little Joe thought that they could give him also a strikeout but Matthew hit a three base hit so that there was almost a run scored by the Cowboys. After Matthew Jim Walters arrived at the home plate. He thought to hit a homerun too but instead he got a strikeout. After Jim Nick Banks got the turn. He wanted to hit the ball far away but Little Joe threw the ball to first baseman Lee Johnson. Matthew quickly ran to the home plate but Lee Johnson threw the ball to Adam to make Matthew out at the home plate. At the moment that the young Walker came home Adam dropped the ball on purpose.

The whole game Mitch was outstanding until he came to stand opposite George Parker in the seventh inning. George was the relieving pitcher of the Indians and father of Barry Parker, the arch-enemy of Mitch. George pitched a too hard ball which hit the young Cartwright against his right arm.

Mitch threw down his bat and called out, “Time-out.”

Adam got up and looked with Ben the hit arm of Mitch. At the spot where the ball had come it already had become black and blue.

“Can you move your arm?”, asked Ben.

Mitch tried it but failed.

“I go to first base”, the boy said.

While Mitch walked to the first base Ben went to the dug-out and Adam to George.

“Where was that good for? I signalled a slider and you pitched a fast ball. You pitch to another catcher because I quit”, Adam said fierce.

“Cartwright, your son always pesters Barry. Now I have taken revenge”, George foamed.

Adam left the mount and walked to the dug-out. there came a new catcher in the place of Adam. Matthew was at bat and he hit the ball full in the middle between the left fielder and midfielder. Mitch took a sprint and scored so the third run of the game.

Mitch said in the dug-out, “I can't play no more.”

“Go and take a shower. I will call to the other dug-out and tell it to your father”, said Ben.

So said, so done.

After the washing party Adam and Mitch went by doctor Paul Martin to let the injured arm of Mitch being examined.

“Fortunately it isn't broken but heavily bruised. I will wrap it up in bandages and you must wear your arm in a sling for six weeks”, the heal master said.

He wrapped up the arm with bandages and Mitch got a sling.

Back in the dug-out Mitch told what the matter was with him.

“Mitch, as long as you are injured you keep score of our games. Seeing your right arm is bruised you still can write”, said Ben.

Mitch didn't mind.

By the incident with Adam and Mitch George got taken off the mount and fired as a starting pitcher. Although it was an excited game only 3 runs got noted for the Cowboys and zero for the Indians.