Gil Thorp by Henry Barajas and Rachel Merrill for March 20, 2019

Right after I kick you where it hurts.

Mimi looks like Laura Ingraham in panel three.

A nice relaxing night cuddling on the couch and enjoying a couple of Gil’s famous highballs.

… you coach the softball team and you haven’t scheduled a scrimmage in YEARS? What the hell is wrong with you?

I have no idea where the catcher’s voice is coming from in p1. If it’s behind the plate, it’s one of the worst pitches I’ve ever seen. No wonder she can’t get used to it.

Meanwhile, out of the darkness, two single points of light emanate from the headlamps of two very tired children who slowly complete their journey toward their former home…

P1. The ball is trying it’s best to roll right out of this strip.

P2, Yay Mimi’s hair is blond again and all is right with the world!

P3, Good idea, Mimi, you had the whole basketball season off and now that the softball season is about to start you want to schedule a scrimmage? WTF?

Maybe Jamila is the one with the flexible finger from the previous panel, adding extra action on her screwball. Scrimmage, ha! Gil says. I haven’t even been to practice since pointing that concussed kid in the wrong direction. Anyway, I’m bushed after my four-win basketball season, trading lame barbs with Moon, and having to drink actual coffee. Is it Milford CC time yet?

As GilPa and Mimi enjoy their Arnold Palmers, Lynyrd Skynyrd’s “That Smell” plays on the Zenith Hi-Fi. Gil remains oblivious to the poo skid on his foot, compliments of Fang.

…that be his Zenith Allegro, sir!

Just a suggestion here… If your catcher can’t catch the pitch, why not try someone else at catcher?

I didn’t know that a screwball was a type of pitch used in softball but I guess that this is Milford, after all

Bring it home! Infielder Jamila’s sidearm offering creates a screwball delivery to the catcher.

I can’t figure out what those pictures are in panel 3. Kids maybe?

A scrimmage…is that what they call it these days?

In all reality , Forget about having a scrimmage tonight with Gil, just look at him Mimi , he’s stoned .The medical marjuna he uses for his arthritis must have kicked in.

Alternate Script: 1- (The pitcher’s fast ball rolls to the plate). 2- BATTER: Why do you need your catchers gear? We just stand here until Ball 4 rolls by. CATCHER: In case I fall asleep and hit the ground of course. 3- WOMAN: There are so many teams in professional baseball that they can’t field a decent team anymore. MAN: Don’t you badmouth America’s Pastime woman! Look! That one rolled across the plate! STEEEE-RIIIKEEEE!

As Bob Ueker says being a catcher for a knuckleballer is easy. You just run to the backstop and pick up the ball.

P-3: Quick on the uptake, Mimi figures out what would help the girls basketball team two weeks after the season ended.