Lackland Air Force Base, Texas –
The Lackland Warhawks Men's Varsity Softball Team has experienced more trouble than usual while playing in the San Antonio Parks and Recreation Spring Softball League this year.
Meaning, they have lost a couple of games.
There was no sign of trouble from the Warhawks on April 17, as they crushed the Horsemen 24-4 at the Alva Jo Fischer Memorial Softball Complex.
"It was a good game," said Eric Culver, Warhawks coach.
Indeed, the Warhawks batted around and posted an 11-0 lead through the first inning, and from that point, Lackland had a stranglehold on the contest. For good measure, the Warhawks scored nine more runs during the third inning and four more during the fourth.
Altogether, Lackland racked their rivals with 32 hits through four innings. Every batter scored at least one run.
While batting in the eighth spot, second baseman Dale Back went 4-for-4 with a three-run homer, two doubles, three runs scored and six RBIs.
The rest of the offensive numbers for Lackland against the Horsemen were awesome, too.
Starting at the top of the batting order, Lackland shortstop Tracy Oliver went 4-for-4 with a double, three runs and one RBI. Pitcher Mike Jenkins went 4-for-4 with a double, two runs and four RBIs.
Right fielder Steve Reichert went 2-for-4 with a two-run homer during the third inning, and he scored once during the first. First baseman Scott Shirley went 4-for-4 with three runs and two RBIs. Center fielder Eric Schafer went 1-for-4 with one run and one RBI.
The bottom half of the Lackland lineup produced 10 runs on 13 hits.
Right fielder Kane Mueller went 1-for-4 with one run. Catcher Ted Ayon went 3-for-4 with a double, two runs and two RBIs. Left fielder Rich Burley went 3-for-4 with two doubles, three runs and two RBIs.
Also, third baseman Tom Roomsburg went 3-for-4 with a double, two runs and two RBIs. Culver entered the game as a catcher and went 3-for-3 with two runs.
The Horsemen scratched out nine hits. They scored once during the second inning on a solo homer by third baseman Dustin Cox. They got five hits and scored three times during the third.
Just the same, the Lackland defense kept a tight lid on their opponents.
Jenkins walked none while facing 19 batters.
With a runner on first base and no outs, Jenkins, Oliver and Shirley teamed up for a double play during the first inning. The inning ended after second baseman Dan Rivas sent a long ball to Burley, who made the catch in foul territory a couple of feet over the left field line.
While the Horsemen had runners on second base and first with one out during the second inning, Oliver stopped a grounder by right-center fielder John Dunn and flicked the ball backhanded to Roomsburg for the force out at third base. Roomsburg whipped the ball to Back for the force play at second.
Also for Lackland in the field, Mueller completed an over-the-shoulder catch on a ball hit by Horsemen left-center fielder Quintan Mason during the third inning.
The Horsemen went three-up and three-down during their final at-bat during the top of the fourth inning.
Now the Warhawks are 3-2 in the SAPAR Men's C Division. Their next game is April 24, 7:45 p.m., at the Alva Jo Fischer Memorial Softball Complex.