Team Tryouts
Steve Dawson

1Tonight was the final evening of tryouts for the Hornets high school baseball team. Practice was finished, and the boys rested on the metal dugout bench listening to Coach Ippolito. He thanked everyone for coming out, playing hard, and making this year's tryouts the most challenging yet for the coaching staff, one filled with difficult decisions. "So many enthusiastic players," Coach Ippolito explained, "an overabundance of athletic talent."

2David Carwile surreptitiously glanced at the other candidates out of the corner of his eye, wondering which ones would make the team. Tryouts were simple: Some players would make the team, while others would be cut. David hoped that he would be one of the fortunate ones. As Coach Ippolito talked, David mentally evaluated his performance: In all three facets of the game—hitting, fielding, and pitching—he thought he had done well. "An impressive performance, if I do say so myself," David thought to himself. He fielded flawlessly, hit the ball exceptionally hard, and loudly popped the catcher’s mitt with his fastball.

Which line of dialogue would BEST develop the perspective of Coach Ippolito if you added it to the narrative?

A) "Wow," said Coach Ippolito, "That David kid sure is good. He hits and fields very well and he even throws a mean fastball."
B) "Okay team," said Coach Ippolito, "I expect you all to give your best effort during tryouts. It will be hard work, but it will be rewarding."
C) "Boy," Coach Ippolito wondered aloud, "How can I make the tough decision to cut some of these fantastic players? I worry that I'll make the wrong choice."
D) "I am very proud to be the coach of the baseball team and I will try my best to choose the best team I can during these tryouts," Coach Ippolito told the principal.