Deployed members play ball with host nation American school Published Feb. 10, 2011 By Senior Airman Veronica McMahon 379th Expeditionary Air Wing Public Affairs SOUTHWEST -- Deployed servicemembers from this desert air base played softball and baseball against students of the American School downtown in this host nation Jan. 29. The women formed a softball team and played against girls ages 10 to 14 and their mothers. The men formed a baseball team which faced students ages 13 to 17. "This is fantastic," said Scott Kersey, whose daughter and wife played in the game. "I think it's a great opportunity for them to actually play on the same team and to do something good for the service women who are here sacrificing for the country." The students said they were excited to have military members join them for their weekend sports. "I've never played softball until the beginning of this year," said Caite Canfield, an eighth grader at the school. "So I think this is an awesome experience to be here with the people from base." "This is the first time I have seen the team play against the military," said Sassy Crookshanks, team coach. "It's nice letting the team get a taste of America while they are here." The deployed servicemembers said they enjoyed the games as well. "It means a lot to get to see what they do in the school and get off base and see what it's about," said Airman 1st Class Jesse Janda, 379th Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron. "We got to play some baseball and mingle with locals and tell them why we are here." Members were downtown as part of a Jar Salah event. Jar Salah means 'good neighbor' in Arabic and is an organization here on base which strives to develop good public relations between members of the coalition community and the local population. Jar Salah offers support to local hospitals, schools and other groups in the host nation, said Master Sgt. Glenn Davis, a Jar Salah member. More sports days between the U.S. students and servicemembers are scheduled in the future.