by Zane GreyCharacters:
Kenneth Ward, the pitching freshman.
Worry Arthurs, baseball coach.
Captain Dale, sophomore president.
Graves, Reddy Ray, Duncan, Weir, other friends.
The Story:
Kenneth Ward, forestry student at Wayne College, discovered that as a freshman he was considered dirt and had to fight his way to recognition. Sophomores picked up a fight with him when he sat on a front row belonging to sophomores, although freshies were supposed to stay in back seats. Ken and the freshmen beat the sophomores in fist fights.
Capt. Dale, sophomores president and baseball captain, vowed vengeance on Ken; caught him on the campus, but Ken held the sophomores at bay by hitting them with potatoes. His straight throws attracted Worry Arthurs, baseball coach, who took Ken to the brush team.
Ken showed his pitching excellence. When the regular team under Dale was disqualified because of college technicalities, Coach Arthurs brought in Ken and his scrub team and they showed their superiority. The coach built a strong team around pitcher Ken and they beat one college after another. Ken became a great student hero.
Comment:
This novel depicts student life in an American college,with its traditional hazing of freshmen, and shows the experiences of a new student, who must fight hard to win recognition. The incidents are interesting and reveals real doing of students in schoolwork and athletics. The novel teaches loyalty, college honor, and strong ties of friendship and cooperation.