GUIDON staff
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The Staff Judge Advocate team defeated the Army and Air Force Exchange Service, 20-13, during a Conference C softball game July 18.

With SJA’s win, they preserved their third place spot in the standings, while AAFES fell from fourth to seventh place.

Robert Resnick, SJA coach, said although it’s early in the season, his team is off to a good start, and they are confident they can continue to put forth the effort to win.

“Softball is most definitely a team sport in all ways, and the most critical part of the season is the team itself,” Resnick said. “We have an outstanding group of people playing and supporting the team. That will be key to us.”

Resnick said he was proud of the way his team played against AAFES, because AAFES is a very capable team and played well.

“We fell behind early, as both teams struggled with some swirling winds on the infield, but we showed amazing heart by coming back strong in the last inning and scoring 12 runs to come from behind for the win,” Resnick said. “This team will never quit.”

Throughout Resnick’s career, he has believed that intramural sports were important and that they have contributed to accomplishing the mission in many ways.

“First and foremost, intramurals should be a big source of fun and camaraderie for the organization,” he said.  “Although hard work is critical to success, we also need to include recreational activities, Family activities, etc., to complement the work and take care of ourselves. The well-roundedness makes us stronger, better Soldiers — mentally and physically disciplined.”

AAFES started out strong in the first inning and scored four runs; however, SJA took the lead and surpassed them with seven points. Through the second and third inning, AAFES maintained a one- and then three-run lead against SJA, respectively. However, in the fourth inning, SJA scored 12 runs to take a 20-11 lead. During the last inning, AAFES scored two more runs, but the game finished 20-13.

AAFES coach Jeff Smith said his team has played well so far in the season, but felt they were out of character against SJA.

“We let the game get away from us, but other than that things have been going good,” Smith said. “They are quite good actually, verses how things were going last year at this time.”

As an all around athletic fan, Smith thinks being able to have the chance to play any sport is great, but softball gives him and his team the avenue to support the company he works for, to work as a team with his coworkers and friends and to get out “for the love of the game.”

Smith said his team has made remarkable progress over the past three intramural softball seasons, which started with team having no wins, to having three wins last season to starting the 2012 season off with almost no losses.

“Half of the team is new … half of the team is recurring players from last year and the season before,” Smith said. “I think the players that are already on the team add support to the newer, younger people that come on the team. They are used to what we do because they haven’t played with us before, so thanks to the guys who have been on the team; they are able to keep the new guys in line.”

In other Conference C games played July 18:

— The Engineer K9 Company beat the 364th Training Squadron, Air Force Det. 1, 1-0;

— The Engineer Basic Officer Leader Course defeated the 399th Army Band, 19-4;

— The U.S. Navy Detachment defeated the 763rd Ordnance Company, 19-10;

— Company B, 554th Engineer Battalion defeated the Dental Activity, 21-16;

— Balfour Beatty defeated the 80th Training Center, 18-11;

— The Engineer K9 Co. defeated the Navy Det., 9-8;

— DENTAC defeated the 80th TC, 14-4;

— The 763rd EOD picked up a forfeit win.

As of Friday, the Air Force Det. leads the Conf. C standings, followed by the Co. B, 554th Engr. Bn. team, SJA and the Engineer K9 Company — all with a 3-1 season record.

In Conference B games played July 17:

— The 787th Military Police Battalion defeated the Engineer Captains Career Course, 16-2;

— The 795th Military Police Battalion beat the 35th Engineer Battalion, 20-9;

— The Engineer Equipment Instruction Company defeated the 554th Engineer Battalion, 15-1;

— The 515th Engineer Company beat the 31st Engineer Battalion, 25-11;

— 3rd Battalion, 10th Infantry Regiment, defeated the Military Police Instruction Company, 5-4;

— The EEIC beat the 787th MP Bn., 15-5.

The EEIC team leads Conference B with a 4-0 record, followed by the 515th Engr. Co. at 3-0 and 3-10th Inf. Bn. and the 31st Engineer Battalion, both at 2-1.

In Conference A games July 16:

—The 58th Transportation Battalion beat Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 14th Military Police Battalion, 4-2;

— The Directorate of Public Works defeated the U.S. Marine Corps Detachment, 16-13;

— The Medical Department Activity defeated the 50th Engineer Company, 19-15;

— HHC, 1st Engineer Brigade, defeated the 92nd Military Police Battalion, 16-5;

— DPW beat the Headquarters Marines, 21-6;

— The Marine Det. beat TSAY/Ferguson-Williams, 15-13;

— 58th Trans. Bn. defeated the 92nd MP Bn., 15-3;

— HHC, 1st Engr. Bde. and Garrison Command picked up forfeit victories.

The HHC, 1st Engr. Bde. (4-0), Garrison Command (4-0) and DPW (5-0) are the current leaders of the Conference A standings.