All The Small Things

As with most Major League Baseball fans on July 14, 2009, I tuned in to the Home Run derby. Now, I’m not the most informed when it comes to baseball, but it didn’t take a rookie like me to notice just how boring this year’s Home Run Derby had become. For starters, it was almost unfair to the rest of the Derby participants to have super slugger Albert Pujols as member of the competition. He leads the MLB in home runs with 32, eight more than the next closest players, Carlos Pena and two others, who hang on with 24 long balls. As the “action” continued on through the night, heavy hitters like Pujols and Philadelphia Phillies’ big man Ryan Howard were essentially having batting practice on national television, which led to their failure to advance to the finals. The finals match up was a match up for the ages; the Brewers’ Prince Fielder versus the Texas Rangers’ Nelson Cruz. Kicking off the final round, Nelson Cruz set the bar high with a whopping five, count ‘em five, home runs. With his work cut out for him, Fielder practically bunted six home runs on his way to the trophy and a thrilling finish of the 2009 Home Run Derby. Yawn.

At 5:15 Eastern Standard Time, a shooting occurred at the Capitol building located in Washington D.C. Following a routine traffic stop by the Capitol Police, the unidentified suspect flashed a weapon and refused to stop for the officers. The suspect then fled the traffic stop, leading the police on a chase through the city. According to police spokeswoman Kate James, the gunman exited the vehicle at the 100 Block of Massachusetts Avenue. With weapon in hand, the suspect opened fire on the pursuing authorities, leaving two police officers with only minor injuries. Authorities then returned fire and the gunman was subdued.

After the violence, the two officers and the suspect were rushed to Washington Hospital Center where the gunman was pronounced dead. The shooter has yet to be identified along with the two Capitol Police officers. As of now, the shooting is currently under investigation and authorities believe that there is no relation to the Sotomayor hearings or the Obama administration. 

Austin Lester will begin his senior year at Brookville High School and will continue in his third year of writing as well as head of layout for the school newspaper, The Beeline.  Along with the school newspaper, he also participates in varsity football and varsity basketball. Despite being kicked out of a band for obscure reasons, Austin plays the drums as a hobby. Following high school, Austin plans to attend a four-year college to major in communications and possibly work for a professional sports team in media relations or become a sports broadcaster.

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