NO WINNER THIS WEEK!!

ACROSS

5. BANTER not batter. BANTER from the crowd or opposing players could interfere with the pitcher’s concentration, leading “to defeat.” It’s not facing a “tough” batter that defeats the “pitcher,” but how well the batter connects to his pitch.

6. TERSE not verse. It would be impossible to delete “words from” a verse “without affecting” the meter and, ultimately, the “overall content.” TERSE is apt.

7. SLAP not slam. The clue is more apt of a SLAP. The clue word “loud” is redundant with slam which is defined as closing something forcefully and noisily.

10. ROUGH not tough. A ROUGH “game” usually involves a lot of physical contact, which can be draining on the “players.” A non-contact activity such as chess could be considered a “tough game,” mentally, with “players” possibly showing frustration or relief, as opposed to weariness, at the end of a “game.”

12. NEWS not nets. NEWS, in general, often has “lots of public interest,” although a topic as specific as “fishing” might not have broad “public” appeal. Nets as a topic, however, doesn’t have “public interest” at all.

17. SPOT not soot. “Unsightly” is unnecessary in the clue when used to describe soot. But the SPOT might have been so small as to be insignificant, in which case, its being “unsightly” wouldn’t be an issue.

18. WIT not hit. The “actor” might have a shy or even withdrawn personality, in private, even though on camera he’s a big hit. “A great” WIT makes a good answer since it’s very likely such a person would be very “popular” at a “party.”

19. HUNTER not hunger. A “relentless” HUNTER could “drive an animal from its den,” but hunger would definitely do so.

DOWN

1. HASTY not nasty. Nasty is superfluous due to the clue’s reference to “comments that might have hurt others.” HASTY is a better answer.

2. STEAK not steam. The STEAK may not have been “hot,” but steam (i.e., vaporized water) only exists because of heat.

3. BRUISE not cruise. A BRUISE might well “cover a wide area.” However, one normally refers to a cruise ship traveling from destination to destination, covering a long distance, as opposed to “a wide area.”

4. MASTER not faster. MASTER makes an all-inclusive answer, since the faster “competitor” is one way of determining who has MASTERED the “event.”

8. AGED not abed. Often a person is merely abed in order to get some sleep and has no need for “TV” or a book. The clue’s context is true, however, “of those who are” AGED.

9. BUST not bush. A BUST would be shifted; whereas, a bush would be dug up and then replanted in “a new position.”

11. HEAD not heed. It’s not “the club” itself, but rather the club’s

“decrees” that she’ll “not” heed. HEAD is apt.

13. BITTER not fitter. Those who “race to make” their “connections” every day have to be fit enough to run at a fast speed, meaning fitter is already implied in the clue. BITTER is a better choice.

15. AID not air. The victim might need oxygen or access to air if the “wall” is limiting his ability to breathe, and accessing it is one form of AIDING him, making AID a comprehensive answer.