Story and photos by Matt Decker
Leisure/Sports editor
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The first week of 2012 intramural softball season wrapped up Wednesday, with Fort Leonard Wood units competing in Conferences A, B and C.

For some units, the season opener was a chance to show off what they’d learned after several weeks of practice; for others, it was a chance to assess their strengths and weaknesses and make some early strategy adjustments as the season moves forward.

However, several teams had their batting and fielding mix right from the get go, including the U.S. Marine Corps Detachment, which won its Conference A opener with the Medical Department Activity, 17-8, June 25.

The Marine Det., which finished as the top military team in Conference A last season, already have their sights set on this year’s conference championship, according to their coach, Steve Baker.

“We don’t have any weaknesses,” Baker said when asked to evaluate his team.

“We’ve been practicing for about two months now. We’ve been playing in some tournaments to get ready,” Baker said. “It’s pretty much a brand new team. We have only three players back from last season.”

Last season’s undefeated Conference A champions, the Directorate of Public Works, also won big in their opener, defeating the 50th Engineer Company, 18-3.

In other Conference A games, Garrison Command defeated the 92nd Military Police Battalion, 7-6, and the Marine Det. Headquarters team picked up a forfeit victory.

Mike Scheetz, Marine Det., beats the tag at home plate to put his team up 4-0 ahead of MEDDAC in the first inning June 25 at Softball Complex B.

Conference B scores

In Conference B games played on June 26:

— The 554th Engineer Battalion defeated the Engineer Captains Career Course, 8-7;

— The 787th Military Police Battalion beat the 55th Mobile Augmentation Company, 11-10;

— The 35th Engineer Battalion defeated the 3rd Battalion, 10th Infantry Regiment, 9-4;

— The Engineer Equipment Instruction Company beat the Military Police Instruction Company, 15-0;

— The 515th Engineer Company picked up two forfeit wins.



Conference C scores

In Conference C games played Wednesday:

— The Army and Air Force Exchange Service defeated the 80th Training Center, 13-10;

— The Engineer K9 Company defeated Balfour Beatty, 13-8;

— The 364th Training Squadron, Air Force Detachment 1, beat the 763rd Ordnance Company, 23-8;

— Staff Judge Advocate defeated the Dental Activity, 11-8.

Teams had this week off due to the Independence Day holiday.

Games are scheduled to resume Monday, with Conference A games at 6, 7 and 8 p.m. Conference B games are played at the same times on Tuesdays, and Conference C games are played on Wednesdays. All games are played at Softball Complex B.

A total of 35 teams signed up to participate in the 2012 intramural softball season, including several new teams, according to Danny Howell, Family and Morale, Welfare and Recreation sports specialist.

“We do have some new teams,” Howell said. “We opened it back up to civilians and contractors to play this year. I think we have three contractor teams; the Reserve team is back, and one (Army and Air Force Exchange Service ) team, which played last year, but their season record didn’t count — this year it counts.”

Howell said that, for the most part, the rules covering this year’s season are the same as the past two seasons. One exception is the home-run limit, previously referred to as the 1-plus-1 rule, meaning if one team hit a home run, the opposing team could match that run, plus hit one more. Now teams can hit up to three home runs, or match three homers and hit one more per inning. Any home runs hit beyond the limit are still counted as an out.

“Our home run limit changed from 1-and-1-up to 3-and-1-up,” Howell said. “We’re allowing them to hit a few more home runs this year.”