15 Apr 1998: practice game

From: Jeffrey W Osman

It was a good day for practicing! The HOMERS first (and only) practice game of the season provided the following opportunities for practice:

batting practice
fielding practice
base running practice (you mean we don't automatically turn every single into a home run?)
base coaching practice (Go if you want to!)
scoring sheet practice (Oh yeah, I should have written down each position that people played!)
Line-up generation practice (we've got to teach those rookies the price of showing up late to a HOMERS game)
taunting the opposing team practice (threatening to throw a slow opposing player running to first out from left field)
Managerial delegation practice (whose job is it to write this HOMERS report anyway?)

Yes the HOMERS have started this new season right where they left off. The first victim of the year for the HOMERS was the formerly dreaded Voodoo Toad Fury who fell to the HOMERS 17-3 in a practice game.

           1   2   3   4   5   6   Total
TOADS      0   0   1   0   2   0     3
HOMERS     2   4   8   2   1   x    17

The HOMERS starting line-up and approximate playing positions were: Scott (OF/C/P for the Toads), Karen (P), Jeff (C/OF), Richard (OF/SS/P for the Toads), Robb (3B/OF/P for the Toads), Annette (2B/OF), Ron (OF/SS), Tony (1B/P for the Toads), Tim (SS/3B/OF), subtitute HOMERS player Ray (OF), and Sheila (OF/2B). A big HOMERS welcome also goes to HOMERS rookie Joe who learned if you don't show up early enough you get traded to the other team! Rich Bensh also showed for the HOMERS, but spectated due to an injury. HOMERS mascot Kona had to share the spotlight with new comer Casey.

HOMERS offense greatly benefited by a generous pitching (supplied by fellow HOMERS), generous opposing defense, and even more generous HOMERS scorekeeping. Richard, Ron, Tony, and Tim all practiced their home run struts during the game. Just about every other member of the HOMERS had at least one hit (Sorry Karen, but if you had stuck around a little longer I am sure you would have gotten a hit too!). The TOADS were mercy ruled from the third inning on!

The HOMERS defense was also very sharp for a practice game. We even gave the TOADS a extra out in the final inning and they could still only score a total of 3 runs! Defensive play of the game was made by Jeff (amazing isn't it?) who ran down a high fly ball to right field to kill a potential TOAD rally in the fifth inning. (Of course, Jeff also missed on a ball hit by Joe earlier in the game that resulted in a TOAD home run, but we won't talk about that.)

The HOMERS also practiced post game celebration at Round Table. In attendence for food practice were: Scott, Robb, Jeff, Annette, Ron, Rich, Richard, and Joe.

The HOMERS season starts for real next week. We still haven't seen the official schedule, but we have been told that our game will be Wednesday at 5:30 on either H2 or H3 at the Rose bowl. Watch for further information.

Jeff Osman

[rebuttal] Date: 16 Apr 1998 08:26:10 -0700

From: Karen M Chan

No, no, no, Jeffrey dear. You really do have to pay more attention... I was all ready to leave, but I was up next after Scott, so I took my at bat, and I DID get a hit (a grounder to a fumbling second baseman, if I recall). Then, I got out when YOU hit into a DP to end the inning... remember now??????

Karen :)