Tyndall softball comes to an end

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Anthony J. Hyatt
  • 325th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
What started almost two and a half months ago and began with 20 teams from squadrons all over Tyndall, softball recently entered play-off mode and ended with a championship team.

Softball may seem like a boring or easy sport to some because of the slow pitch style, but when you add the fact that a hitter comes to the plate trying to hit the ball as hard as they can, you get a very dangerous sport.

Tyndall's intramural softball season began May 14 assembling 20 teams to play against one another.

Play-offs began July 23 and the championship game was played on July 26. The six teams with best records in the league advanced to the play-offs, which was a double-elimination tournament. The remaining six teams were AFNORTH, 325th AMXS 1, 325th AMXS 2, 325th CES, 325th CS and AFCESA.

AFNORTH received the number one seed in the play-offs with a record of 19-0. AMXS 1 received the number 2 seed with a record of 17-2. AMXS 2 received the third seed with a record of 15-4. AFCESA received the fourth seed with a record of 14-5. CES was the fifth seed with a record of 13-6 and COMM was the last seed finishing with a record of 13-6.

AFNORTH made way to the championship game beating AMXS 2 and AMXS 1 along the way. Despite losing their third round game, AMXS 1 regrouped and won the loser's bracket and made it back to the championship game to once again play AFNORTH.

"It would be a good feeling to complete the season and playoff with a flawless 22-0 record, but we can't get comfortable and relax against the talent of AMXS 1," said Staff Sgt. Jeff Munn, coach of the AFNORTH team. "During our last meeting in the semi-finals, AMXS1 came at us every inning with a string of hits. If we didn't answer back the outcome could have been different."

The scene was perfect with the two teams that finished the regular season with the best records in the championship game. The outcome was even better. In the end, AFNORTH beat AMXS 1 with a score of 22-21 to complete their perfect season with an overall 22-0 record.

Amateur Softball Association rules were applied except for a few exceptions.

First, there is a 10-run rule limit, meaning if the home team is winning by 10 runs after four and half innings or losing after five innings, the game is over. Also, a 20-run rule limit is in play, which would be applied after only three innings.

Second, there is a time limit per game. A new inning will not be played after one hour and 10 minutes unless the score is tied. If there is a tie, each team will start their half inning with a runner at second base (the runner would be the person who made the last out in the preceding inning).

With the unpredictable rain, games were rained out left and right.

"The fitness center staff all did an exceptional job of keeping the fields playable, rescheduling games because of rainouts and keeping all of the coaches informed," said Staff Sgt. Jason Brandy, 325th SVS coach. "They made it a successful fun program."

Some players are already looking forward to the next intramural softball season.

"OSS will win it all next year," said Timothy Hibbard, 325th OSS air traffic controller.

No matter the reason Airmen came out and joined their squadrons for softball; be it to burn some time, help build squadron morale, to display their athletic abilities or to just let some aggression out on the softball, everyone participated to have fun.