From: KELVIN::OSMAN "Jeff Osman" 28-AUG-1996 15:30:04.26
The dog days of summer have hit the JPL Softball C League. The days are starting to get shorter; the days are getting hotter; the smog is starting to get heavier; and it seems to keep getting tougher to get enough people together to play a softball game. Fortunately the HOMERS spirit is still alive and well as the HOMERS once again overcame the absence of several key players (for the second game in a row due to some questionable team loyalties) to field a very good team that outplayed the Keystone Co-ops (plus a couple of random Vas-y-Bears) for the second time this season.
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Total
Keystone Co-ops 1 1 3 6 1 - - 12
Homers 3 3 5 3 x - - 14
(game halted after 5 due to darkness)
HOMERS turn-out was again very good. So good in fact, that we initially
traded both Sue and David to the Co-ops in order to get the game started.
Soon, however, some wandering Vas-y-Bears showed up and asked if they could
join our game. The HOMERS got Sue and David back, and decided that rather
than play against Jim Larsen for the third game in a row to invite him to
play as a member of the HOMERS as well. The batting order and defensive
line-up ended up as follows:
Karen P P C P - Scott SS OF P 3B - Jeff C 1B 1B - OF Holly 3B 3B SS - 3B Don OF OF - OF OF Robb OF SS - SS P Martha OF OF - OF OF Kevin OF - OF OF OF Evora 1B - 3B 1B 1B Beth 2B - OF C 2B Jim L. - C OF - - Sue - 2B 2B 2B C David - OF OF OF SS Alex (didn't play defense but went 1 for 1 at the plate!)There was no question as to the offensive highlight of the game this week. After six years of struggling to learn the "secret of power" Jeff finally joined the ranks of the HOMERS elite by hitting his first home run ever. It was a grounder right up the left field line that stunned both the 3rd base person and left fielder (not to mention the batter and a few other HOMERS). After Jeff recovered his breath from his long run, he quickly pointed out that he is now ahead of last year's Mr. Homer (and the keeper of the "secret of power"), Don Calkins, in this year's home run derby. Jeff then followed up his home run with a double in the third. (Actually it was two doubles, but the first one was called back by the Co- ops catcher who decided that the ball went foul. Unfortunately, she took so long to make that decision that HOMERS score keeper Robb Warren had already written in the double, in ink, in the HOMERS score book. Robb then informed Jeff that he would just have to hit another one since the score book couldn't be changed.)
I, of course, could go on, and on, and on, about the offensive star of the game, but some people think I should be fair and mention a few other names as well (Hey, I gave them a chance to write the HOMERS report!) Anyways, in the spirit of fairness there were some other HOMERS highlights. Everyone on the team hit well, especially Don and Holly who both went 3 for 3, and David who had a strong triple to get the HOMERS started in the decisive 4th inning. Beth, in only her second HOMERS game of the year, has regained her hitting stroke and went 2 for 2.
Defensively, the play of the game goes to Evora for a juggling catch at 1st to help stop the Co-ops rally in the 4th inning. Jeff once again gets honorable mention for digging out a low throw from Evora to get a charging runner coming into 1st base. (Proving once again that if you want to get mentioned in the HOMERS report all you have to do is volunteer to write the report!) Other defensive highlights include several could catches by the entire outfield (especially Don, Beth, and Kevin).
Several loyal HOMERS then headed to Crown City Brewery, far away from the distractions of hearing about the Sharks game at Round Table, for post game refreshments. Attending the festivities were: Karen, Scott, Kevin, Holly, Robb, Sue, and Jeff.
The final HOMERS game of the year is schedule for this Thursday, August 29th, against the Zephyrs on field H3. The Zephyrs are one of the few teams that beat us earlier on in the season, so this could be a chance for the HOMERS to reclaim some of their honor. Lets have a big HOMERS turnout for this game.
Sue also asked me to let any HOMERS who are going to be in town this weekend that she and Ron will be hosting another BBQ and pool get together at their house this Sunday around 1:00 pm. Contact Ron or Sue for more details.