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Winners All: Speaking of donations, consider the HomeBase versus Home Depot softball game.

Last month’s battle of the home-improvement center giants in W.O. Hart Park in Orange raised $270,000 for the City of Hope, the renowned research hospital in Duarte.

Home Depot lost to its Fullerton-based archrival by a score of 27-7 by its own count, and 28-7 by HomeBase’s count. The discrepancy in scoring is because of a decision to let the presidents of the respective chains--Jim Halpin of HomeBase and Arthur Blank of Home Depot--serve as umpires.

“We had a great time, and the team played well,” Halpin said. “But there are no losers in this game, only winners. Our real goal is to help the City of Hope save lives.”