JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-LACKLAND, Texas –
Who figured miscommunication would turn out to be a blessing in disguise for the 688th Alteration and Installation Squadron intramural softball team?
Miscommunication between the 688th ALIS coach and 802nd Force Support Squadron intramural sports management somehow worked in favor of the 668th ALIS.
Call it divine intervention.
Coming off a dismal 4-10 record in 2011, the Competitive League-Division I team shocked the Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland softball community by reaching the base softball finals before losing to eventual champion 59th Radiology Squadron.
The 668th ALIS has made a dramatic improvement this year - albeit in a lower division.
The team is cruising toward the JBSA-Lackland softball playoffs this season with a 14-1 record in the Intermediate League-Division II. But the team was to remain in Division I, according to ALIS softball coach William Torres.
At this year's intramural softball coaches meeting with JBSA-Lackland intramural league manager Dwayne Reed, held prior to the season, 668th ALIS was mistakingly placed in Division II.
"Somehow, there was some miscommunication and we fell through the cracks, said Torres. "After I found out we were) in Division II, I went up to (Reed) and told him we should be in Division I."
"They wanted to be bumped up, but the league's were already balanced out and the schedules were finalized. There was nothing we could do," Reed said.
ALIS had no choice but to embrace its good fortune and try to go out and stay atop the Intermediate League standings. Now, the team finds itself as a top contender for the JBSA-Lackland softball crown.
"A lot of our players were upset that we weren't in Division I, but I told them to just play hard and use the regular season to get ready to play the better teams," said Torres.
Despite its dominance of Division II softball, there remain a few kinks in the ALIS armor.
Torres said ALIS got complacent after clinching a playoff spot a few weeks ago, losing its first game to the Air Force Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance Agency 17-8 June 20. That first loss was a wake-up call.
"There were times when we would play down our opponents and let them stick around," Torres said. "After we clinched, we took a step backwards and ended up losing.
"We've used that loss as motivation. We know we can't just step out on the field and roll over everybody. We have to execute and play," he said.
ALIS has a little over a week to prepare for the playoffs, which begin July 23.
Torres hopes that fine-tuning team chemistry and working out the kinks will help the team compete with the base's best, notably the 2011 JBSA-Lackland softball champion 59th Radiology team, which defeated ALIS in the base chamionship game last season.
"It took everybody by surprise (going into the finals) because we struggled in the regular season. I told everybody, If we have all our guys here we can make a run," Torres said. "When it comes to the playoffs, we always try to make a good run."