Oh, yes, for the first time since the first week of the season, the Homers
are over .500 after beating the Co-ops 10 to 7 in our first extra-inning
game of the year.  The Homers' team record now stands at 7 wins and 6 losses
after our fourth consecutive victory.  Raul noted that we have yet to lose
in the second half of the season.  Ahead by only one run after batting first in
the top of the seventh, we hung on in the bottom of the inning and allowed only
one run alhtough they had the winning run on third base.  That gave us the 
opportunity to blow those young co-op butts out of the water in the eighth,
and we capitalized by scoring four.<p>

Who started the game?  I can't remember because the individuals on the team
have merged themselves into a single unit on the field; next year, our team 
name should be the BORG.  Well, the Homers were defensively anchored by the
three women:  Debbie at second, Lela at third, and Jerri at rover.  The
other positions were time-shared based on financial portfolios and general
studliness.  Raul and Richard split the pitching; Jeff, Rob, Alex, Don,
Jerry (m.), Brian, and Junior split the outfield positions and catcher; 
Richard, Chuck, and Mike split first and shortstop.  Lisa, Betsy (the new
secretary), Raymond, and Laurie provided moral suppport as well as dogsitting
services for the promiscuous young couple Chili con Cain.<p>

Stars of the game:  Mike proved himself to own the biggest stick of all by 
poking a grand slam.  No one else hit a home run for our team, not even Rob,
who had hit one in every other game he'd played with us.  Defensively, there 
weren't many spectacular plays as our collective physical presence intimidated 
them.  Don did make a couple of nice catches in left field after finally 
positioning himself on this side of the Ventura County line.<p>

Next Tuesday is the rematch with the Maulers on field H4, which is the one
just south of the restroom at the northwest corner of the Rose Bowl.  This
will be a good test of how much we've improved, or at least of how much bigger
our team has gotten.  Hey, Sandra, where have you been?  We haven't seen you
out there since week 1.  The bell also tolls for Nik (week 7), Scott (week 8),
and Fannie (week 3).  We need your bats, your gloves, and your voices for the
fifth-inning stretch next week since we are the home team.