95th MDG earns back-to-back championships

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class William O'Brien
  • 95th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE, calif. --  The 95th Medical Group and the 31st Test and Evaluation Squadron faced off for Edwards 2009 slow pitch softball intramural championship at the Rosburg Fitness Center here Aug. 18. 

"This championship marks back-to-back championship seasons for us and that's an outstanding accomplishment," said Junicio Cacal, 95th MDG coach. "We hit great and we fielded great it was just a great win for us I'm proud of my team."

The 95th MDG came into the game undefeated during the playoffs. Their counterpart on the other hand, just minutes before finished their semi-finals victory over the 95th Security Forces Squadron.

"I wish (the championship game) was played the next night," said Travis Buckley, 31st TES coach. "But you can't take anything away from the (95th MDG) they have good bats and played great; they deserved to win this game."

Since the championship tournament is double-elimination, and the 95th MDG was undefeated in the tournament, and the 31st TES already had one lose; to win the 31st TES would have to beat the 95th MDG twice before the 95th MDG beat them once. Knowing this help the 95th MDG team play more relaxed said their coach.

"I told my team relax and have fun," said the 95th MDG coach. "We want to win but the pressure's on them. If we lose we have another chance if they lose its over. I Think knowing that helped my team to remain calm and focus on the game better."

In the first inning, the 31st TES kept the momentum they had created by beating the 95th Security Forces Squadron going, as they jumped out to a 4-2 lead.

They were able to keep that going into the 3rd inning, pulling away 10-2, but that momentum swung, along with the 95th MDG's bats, as that lead was cut down to 10-6.

In the fourth inning the 95th MDG continuted to take control of the game, taking their first lead and hold the 31st TES to one run for the second consecutive inning pulling ahead 13-11.

The 95th MDG continued flourishing in the game's final two innings, allowing only three runs and scoring eight of their own and extending their lead to 21-14.

The seventh inning marked the last chance for the 31st TES to make a comeback and force another game. To do so, they would have to score at least seven runs. Their first two batters proved unsuccessful in this endeavor, both getting outs. However, a home run by the following batter kept the slim possibility alive, but an out by the next batter sealed the victory for the incumbent champions.

Following the victory, the 95th MDG's coach expressed his praises for his team's accomplishments. 

"This championship marks back-to-back championship seasons for us and that's just outstanding," said coach Cacal. "We hit great and we fielded great it was just a great win for us I'm proud of my team."

Both coaches said they were proud of their team's play throughout the season. 

"We played with 100 percent effort every game," said coach Buckley. "We lost a few tough ones be we fought back and I'm proud of the whole team for making it this far."

"We had a great season, when players were injured; younger players stepped and played well," added coach Cacal. "Our team kept playing hard all season, and as Col. Taylor says, 'we're simply the best'."