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380AEW Article

Fire Department blazes field, takes softball championship in 27-22 victory over 380 ECES

  • Published
  • By Master Sgt. April Lapetoda
  • 380th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs
SOUTHWEST ASIA --  After weeks of play, only two softball teams were left standing: The defending base champions -- the 380th Expeditionary Civil Engineer Squadron with their impressive 8-1 record and the Fire Department with their 7-2 record.

The game was off to a quick start.

The 380 ECES team took the bat first, but the top of the inning came to a close quickly. The Fire Department team then stepped up to the plate and began to bat in run after run.

"The Fire (Department) ran the score up on us due to us missing some of the routine plays that we have made all season," said Kenneth Guinn, 380 ECES pitcher. "We had a very slow start scoring only three runs in the first three innings."

After a rough start, the 380 ECES began to pick up momentum.

"We were playing catch-up the entire game, so it definitely put some added pressure on our hitters," said Guinn. "My biggest challenge as a pitcher was being able to consistently throw strikes while being ready to field any hits up the middle, and trying to not throw the same pitch to the same player that (previously) ended up in a homerun."

Inning after inning, each team continued to score run after run. Singles, doubles, triples and homers all led to the ever-increasing score.

In the bottom of the seventh inning, the Fire Department proved to be too much for 380 ECES as they took the base championship from the defending champions with a final score of 27-22.

Instead of running off the field and celebrating with their team, the Fire Department joined with their 380 ECES brethren, both teams technically fall under the same unit, for the traditional high-five to each team member of the opposing team. But, they then also joined for a joint team huddle and some quick reflective words.

"In the beginning of the season both teams knew we were going to end up playing each other for the championship," said Mark Tross, who played in left field for the Fire Department. "During the game, we made plays when we absolutely had too. We stayed mentally tough and battled all the way to the finish. In the end, (380 ECES) dominated both divisions and took home the trophy."

The overall leader at the bat with three homeruns and six RBIs came from the 380 ECES coach and designated hitter, Derrick Victor.

Tross and William Hill led the Fire Department to victory with five hits each. Additionally, Tross hit for the cycle while knocking out two homeruns. Nicholas Schnoes also hit two balls out of the park, while Adam Hunt brought in seven RBIs.