An official website of the United States government
Here's how you know
A .mil website belongs to an official U.S. Department of Defense organization in the United States.
A lock (lock ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .mil website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

Home : News : News
JBSA News
NEWS | Aug. 13, 2009

HQ AETC crushes 559th FTS in softball action

By Sean Bowlin 12th Flying training Wing Public Affairs

Spectators were treated to a display of timely hitting under cloudy skies and an  pleasant breeze at Rambler Field last night as they watched Headquarters, Air Education and Training Command (13-1) beat the 559th Fighter Training Squadron "Billy Goats" 17-4. 

The game started out slowly at first because it was tied 2-2 until the bottom of the third inning, until things heated up when AETC's Steve "Wheels" Smith singled to center field. He was followed by Eddie Sandoval, who walked to first. Then Ron Meadows walked. The bases were now loaded. 

Mike Landez then came up to bat and slammed a long drive to right field, bringing in Smith and Sandoval to home plate. Another player singled; and then Jon Sanders stepped up to the plate and homered to left field. The score was now 8-2 -- and AETC had the momentum, which wavered a little with two quick pop-outs by Randy Mayberry and Oscar Vigil. 

Terry Warren was now up at bat and he singled, moving an AETC man to second base. 

Then Smith came up to bat and slammed a ball to center field, singling. The bases were loaded again --and Sandoval came alive, hitting one to right field and scoring Mayberry, Warren and Smith. 

The next time Meadows came up again to bat and he singled, bringing in Sandoval; Landez hit, bringing Meadows home; and then the inning ended when Jeff Zukowski popped out. 

But AETC had done the damega by extending the score to 13-2 and the Billy Goats would be hard pressed to come back with a vengeance. 

That top of the fourth inning comeback never happened. The quickly-played half of the inning saw 559th players Boe Jensen get thrown out at first base, Jeff Seminaro single, another player single - and then two quick outs when Seminaro was thrown out on the way to second base and Rob Fauber popped out. 

Then HQ AETC came out swinging once again. 

Sanders came up to bat and blistered a hard hit ball into the glove of Jeff Seminaro, who bobbled the ball, allowing Sanders to reach first base; player-coach Bill Muse singled, moving Sanders to second; and Mayberry singled and saw Sanders get thrown out at second base. Billy Strohm then popped out to short stop and with a man each on first and third bases, Terry Warren popped out to end the inning. AETC was in control with a comfortable 13-2 lead.

The top of the fifth inning had the Billy Goats trying to mount a comeback with hits by Jarrett Edge and John Boch both of whom eventually scored but the lead AETC had mounted proved to be to much of a hurdle to climb as AETC ultimatly prevailed by a final score of 17-4. 

Muse said Landez had really come alive that night with his grand slams and he had a lot of help by teammates who also showed up ready to play. 

"We hit through the line-up tonight," player-coach Eddie Muse said. "Wheels Smith and Jon Sanders guarded the outfield line really well. Oscar Vigil at catcher was the quarterback, so to speak, of our defensive effort. He ran the infield--and Eddie Sandoval was on at every opportunity he got."