Story and photos by Brittany Carlson
Assistant editor
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Perseverance and steady hitting proved the most valuable assets in the unit-level softball game between the 364th Training Squadron, Air Force Detachment 1, and the Engineer Basic Officer Leadership Course teams July 11.

EBOLC took a 3-2 lead in the first inning, and maintained a 4-4 tie in the third, relying on solid catching in the infield and several hits slammed into the outfield. However, several batters struck out in the last few innings, sacrificing the upper hand.

The Air Force Det. pulled ahead in the fourth inning with six runs against four, and ultimately won the match 10-4 in the fifth inning.

 “Our defense wasn’t too hot, but we started getting it together towards the end,” said Kenny Tussey, Air Force Det. team member.

“We collected ourselves when we gathered groundballs and took our time throwing, making the outs to win. Then we started rattling our bats. Our bats started coming alive and we started getting base hits,” Tussey said.

This marked the Air Force Detachment’s second victory in a row. However, beating the EBOLC team didn’t come easily, Tussey said. 

“Their infield surprised me. They stopped pretty much everything that came their way,” he said. 

The game was the EBOLC team’s first time on the diamond since they had to forfeit one game due to training, and team coach Hunter Wilson took the loss in stride.

“I think we stayed positive,” he said.

“For a lot of people, it’s their first time playing in 10 years. Everyone’s a little rusty,” he added.

He said despite the loss, the game was a great team builder, not only among the players, but other EBOLC students who came to support the team. 

“We had 15 other people show up from our class, and it was great to have them show up, even though they didn’t get to play, and they just cheered us on,” he said.

EBOLC assistant coach Thomas James is confident that the team will get a win under its belt, with a little more practice. “It’s been about two weeks since we had a formal practice, due to training. We’ll definitely get back on,” he said.

The game was part of the second week of unit-level intramural softball.

This season, there are 35 unit-level teams that play Monday through Wednesday evenings, as well as four all-women teams that play on Thursday nights, said Rob Steinmacher, recreation aid for Family and Morale, Welfare and Recreation.

“This is the most competitive (sport), and we have the best turnout for softball, too, out of all the (intramural) sports,” Steinmacher said.

The reason for the sport’s popularity is that “anybody can play — all ages,” he said, as long as players are older than 18. In addition to service members and civilians, direct Family members can also join in.

Teams will play between 10 and 11 games each during the regular season before competing in the Commander’s Cup softball tournament.

Later that same evening, the Air Force Det. defeated the 399th Army Band, 18-7.

In other Conference C games played July 11:

— Balfour Beatty defeated the Navy Detachment, 15-0;

— Staff Judge Advocate defeated the 80th Training Center, 12-1;

— The 399th Army Band beat the Engineer K9 Company, 16-13;

— Company B, 554th Engineer Battalion, defeated the 763rd Ordnance Company, 13-7;

— The Dental Activity beat the Army and Air Force Exchange Service, 8-7;

— AAFES defeated Balfour Beatty, 14-9;

— Company B, 554th Engr. Bn., defeated SJA, 8-5.

With their pair of victories, the Air Force Det. now sits atop the Conference B standings with a 3-0 record. They are followed by Company B, 554th Engr. Bn., SJA and AAFES, all at 2-1.

In Conference B games played July 10:

— The 55th Mobile Augmentation Company defeated the Engineer Equipment Instruction Company, 12-11;

— The 35th Engineer Battalion defeated the 554th Engineer Battalion, 10-2;

— The Military Police Instruction Company beat the 787th Military Police Battalion, 24-8;

— The 31st Engineer Battalion defeated the 795th Military Police Battalion, 12-3;

— The 3rd Battalion, 10th Infantry Regiment beat the Engineer Captain’s Career Course, 18-4.

Currently, the 35th Engr. Bn (2-0), the 515th Engineer Company (2-0) and 31st Engr. Bn. (1-0) are the only teams to remain undefeated in Conference B to share the lead in the standings.

In Conference A games played July 9:

— TSAY/Ferguson-Williams defeated the 92nd Military Police Battalion, 16-6;

— The 50th Engineer Company defeated the U.S. Marine Corps Detachment, 1-0;

— Garrison Command defeated the 58th Transportation Battalion, 23-16;

— Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Engineer Brigade, beat the Headquarters Marine Det. team, 1-0;

— The Directorate of Public Works beat the Medical Department Activity, 13-5;

— TFW beat MEDDAC, 25-8;

— Garrison Command beat HHC, 14th MP Bde., 1-0;

— 50th Engr. Co. defeated the Headquarters Marine Det. team, 1-0;

— Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 14th Military Police Brigade, picked up a forfeit win.

Finishing the week, Garrison Command, at 4-0, DPW and HHC, 1st Engr. Bde, both at 3-0, were at the top of the Conference A standings.