Homers 1 5 0 1 0 0 7 14
LA Radars 4 2 0 2 2 2 3 15
From: jjacob@foxfire.jpl.nasa.gov (Joseph Jacob)
In a particularly uninspired offensive performance, the Homers lost a heart-breaker to the L.A. Radars, 14-15. However, the experienced Homers did show exceptional character and an admirable die-hard attitude by mounting a seventh inning offensive attack that turned a five run Radar lead into a two run edge in favor of the Homers in the top of the seventh. Sadly, the Homers' hopes for victory were soon dashed as the third Radar run crossed home plate to end the game. With this, their second loss of the season, the Homers record drops to a still impressive 11-2 mark. The Homers' 14 run performance was their worst offensive effort of the year. As this is the second game in a row in which we failed to score 20 runs, this has the makings of a major offensive slump. Perhaps a batting practice is in order?
But all great teams have great excuses when faced with adversity, and the Homers are no exception. If I remember right, some of the excuses heard were:
Defensive Line-up: Sue <----Field Manager-------> Rich B. 1b c 1b 3b -- 1b c Martha 2b of 2b -- -- -- -- Scott of of of -- of of ss Jeff c 3b of -- 1b c 3b Ron p of -- of p of of Adrienne 3b 1b -- 1b 3b 3b 1b Richard of ss -- p c of -- Tony ss -- p ss ss p -- David of -- c of of -- of Annette of -- 3b 2b of 2b of Joe -- of of of of -- of Robb -- p ss c -- ss p Mary -- 2b of of 2b of 2b Tim <------ scapegoat ------->Despite the loss, there were a few offensive highlights including homeruns by Rich B. (first batter of the game) and Richard. The offensive play of the game has to go to Mary who hit a resounding game-tying RBI double in the top of the 7th with two outs down. Talk about nerves of steel! Tony and Rich B. helped to set Mary up for her moment of greatness, each hitting triples that inning to aid in the comeback effort.
Defensive kudos go to Richard (c) and Jeff (1b), who combined to catch a Radar player unawares when he led a little too far off first base. The Radar player should have been ready for this as the two wily veterans had tried and botched the same play earlier. Disaster was averted by David who came in from right field and backed up the play perfectly. Other defensive highlights are the solid performance of Robb and Scott at shortstop, which helped to keep the Homers in the game until the end.
Two Homers win DOH! Player of the Week Awards: 1) Of course, Richard, for sending a pair of throws to first into the street, and for allowing two towering homeruns (truly unbelievable distance) in a row in his fourth inning performance at pitcher. Honorable mention goes to Joe and Ron in the outfield who watched the balls fly far over head in left and left center field, not playing nearly deep enough even though they knew Richard was pitching. 2) Ron for hitting not 3 homeruns as we have come to expect from him, but rather a single and 3 inning ending outs. Sorry, Ron, I may have excused this as we are all human, but your performance at dinner clinched it (see below)! :)
Dinner at Round Table was attended by Rich, Scott, Ron, Sue, Adrienne, Joe, Richard, Robb, Jeff, and Alex (Jeff's very tall 10 year old nephew, who was amazingly subdued at dinner, leaving me to wonder what warning Jeff gave him in the car on the way over to the restaurant :). This week, I would like to introduce a new series of awards for performance during the post-game dinner. Ron wins a combined Defensive/DOH! Player of the Post-Game for his dexterity in saving his beer from spilling ("Not even a drop!", he proudly proclaimed after the fact) when he nearly dropped his mug and simultaneously dumped an entire glass of root beer on a certain rookie Homers report writer's lap. Doh!
Next week's game is on Monday, August 17 on H2 versus the Crawdads. Let Richard or Jeff know if you can't make it.
Joe