Phil Rossoff, seated next to Deegan, got up and moved to the other end of the bench.

The Anniston manager was coming over to the Riverside dugout. He was followed by four of his men. It began to look as if something was going to happen. Mike sat quietly watching the manager come nearer. Eddie Lee moved over to Mike Deegan's side. No one said a word.

The Anniston manager came right up to the dugout in front of Mike. His face was flushed.

``Deegan,'' the manager said, his voice pitched low, quivering. ``That was a rotten thing to do.''

``For God's sake,'' Mike said, waving the manager away. ``Stop it, will you? Tell your guys not to block the plate.''

``You didn't have to ram him.''

``That's what you say.''

The Anniston manager looked at Eddie Lee. It was a cold and calculated look. He turned and went back across the field to his dugout. He called in the pitcher who had been pitching, and a big, heavy, powerfully built right hander moved out to the mound for Anniston.

The game started again and in the eighth inning Mike Deegan came up to bat. Everyone in the ball park seemed to be standing and shouting.

The first ball the hefty pitcher threw came in for Mike's head. Deegan fell into the dirt, the ball going over him. He arose slowly and brushed himself off. He got back into the batter's box and on the next pitch dropped into the dirt again.

``Hit the bum!'' somebody yelled from the Anniston bench.