Homer: The Small-Town Baseball Odyssey

By Jeff Karzen

If Homer: The Smalltown Baseball Odyssey simply covered the inspirational story of the tiny Michigan high school that fashioned a national-record winning streak and captured multiple state titles, it could easily stand by itself. But Jeff Karzena's tale is about more than just prep baseball. Ita's an amazing story of how high-school athletes established a winning tradition and performed with grace and class a? despite the smalltown politics that almost led to the removal of a dedicated and admired coach. Homer: The Smalltown Baseball Odyssey starts in the fall of 2003, when a talented group of baseball players is on the verge of great achievements on the diamond. Off the field, their coach, Scott Salow, embarks on a campaign to save his job, as the local teachersa? union opposes a decision for Salow to retain the coaching position and serve as a middle-school principal. The ensuing political struggle threatens to derail the team. Along the way there are several main adult characters, including Salowa's brother Tom, the former head coach and a trusted adviser; Chuck Finch, whose son was one of the best players on the team and who also felt he should have been the head coach; and Brent Holcomb, the school superintendent who wanted Salow to continue as coach (and whose son was one of the teama's best players).

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0975270656
• ISBN13: 9780975270653
• Release Date: May 2008
• Publisher: August Publications
• Length: 224 Pages
• Weight: 0.55 lbs.
• Dimensions: 7.8" x 0.5" x 5.0"
• Age Range: 10 years and up