Cops apprehend championship

Published Aug. 11, 2006
By Senior Airman John Gordinier
20th Fighter Wing Public Affairs

SHAW AIR FORCE BASE, S.C. -- The 20th Security Forces Squadron battled it out with the 20th Civil Engineer Squadron in a two-game softball championship Aug. 3 at the outdoor recreation sports complex.

The 20th CES was No. 1 going into the championship, meaning the No. 2 team, 20th SFS, had to win twice to claim victory.

In the first game, SFS won 4-3.

In the bottom of the sixth inning, SFS's Brett Minor stepped up to the plate with the score tied 1-1. On the second pitch, Minor smashed a long fly ball deep into center field, 15 feet from the fence. As he rounded third base and headed for home, the ball was thrown to the catcher for a close call. Minor slid into home just as the catcher caught the ball and was declared safe for an inside-the-park home run.

Joseph Parker followed with a drive down the third base line, but was out at first.

Craig Belden hit a line drive over the first baseman's head. Not stopping at first, he made an extremely close call slide into second. Safe. CES coach Keke McMickell walked over to the umpire to argue the call as CES fans screamed with anger and SFS fans cheered. The umpire left the call as it was, which proved costly to CES.

Bob Healy followed with a single sending Belden to third base. Christopher Armstrong hit a single and sent Belden home increasing the score 3-1.

At the top of the sixth, CES's Michael Larrimer answered back by sending Pat Daley home, 3-2.

In the seventh inning, both SFS and CES captured another run ending the first game 4-3.

SFS was extremely happy and the players were pumped up and ready to play the final game.

After a 20-minute break, the teams were back on the field to play the final game.

At the top of the first inning, SFS's Armstrong, Arthur Sawyer and Justin Kratzer all hit singles. Barry Smith then stepped up to the plate and hit a single as well, which sent Sawyer and Kratzer home making the score 2-0.

At the bottom of the first inning, CES answered back. After Joe Casey and Jack Hudson hit singles, Jason Weaver hit a fly ball. The ball was caught giving SFS one out, but Casey ran home afterwards increasing the score 2-1. Nicholas Leuer followed with a line drive between third and second base and sent Hudson home making the score tied 2-2.

In the second inning, SFS's Minor and Parker both hit singles. Afterward, Craig Belden stepped up to the plate and crushed a fly ball into deep left field for an inside-the-park home run making the score 5-2. SFS spectators cheered and a police siren wailed.

In the bottom of the seventh inning, CES came up to bat with the score 5-3 in favor of SFS. Rodney Manwarren stepped up and nailed a fly ball to center field just short of the fence and earned a triple. This huge play pumped the CES team up. Players were screaming, "We're not out of this game yet; we're still in this." Timothy Johnson followed with a line drive down center giving him a double and sending Manwarren home, 5-4. Daley followed with a line drive that was snagged by the SFS's second baseman. He then threw to third base getting Johnson out as well for a double play.

With two outs and the score 5-4, Trent Bourland stepped up and hit a ground ball. SFS's Smith dove and barely grabbed the ball. He then threw it to first base getting Bourland out on a very close call, ending the game and making the SFS softball champions.

After the game, police sirens and SFS spectator cheers filled the field while the teams shook hands and thanked each other for a good game. The SFS huddled together for some congratulatory remarks and put their hands together for a team chant -- "Go cops."