LACKLAND AIR FORCE BASE, Texas –
In the words of Tony Montana, "say hello" to your new 2011 Intramural Softball Champions, the 59th Radiology Squadron.
The 12-2 team capped off its amazing season, defeating 668th Alteration and Installation Squadron 9-1 in the finals July 14. The champs earned the No. 1 seed in the Joint Base San Antonio Intramural Softball tournament, which includes top teams from Lackland, Randolph and Fort Sam Houston.
Left fielder Chris Chisolm brought in two runs when he hit a homerun to left-center field in the third inning, giving Radiology an early 5-0 lead. He batted in right-center fielder Harry Viel and shortstop Steven Thompson.
Chisolm's homer began a chain of runs that would give the team its championship after placing third in last year's intramurals.
"It felt great," Chisolm said about hitting the homer. "With two people on, I took it out. That was three runs that pretty much sealed the deal."
Right fielder Mark Watson scored a homerun in the fourth to put the dagger in the ALIS team's championship hopes.
ALIS' right-center fielder Trevor Fitzpatrick scored the team's only run in the fifth inning. ALIS had an abysmal 4-10 record, it finished in sixth place in the Competitive League, qualifying for the intramural tournament. As an underdog with a losing record, it went on to defeat two teams with winning records in the 802nd Force Support Squadron, 11-3, and the 543rd Support Squadron, 6-5, before playing Radiology in the finals.
The champs made sure not to let their gloves down against them.
"We see every game for what it is," Chisolm said. "We don't take anyone lightly, you don't ever do that. You make someone an underdog and it'll come back to bite you."
Thompson said sound fundamental defense and everyone on the team hitting balls out of the park is what made this team click all season on its way to the championship and JBSA tournament.
"Play smart and play our kind of game," Thompson said. "We've been playing like that all year."
Radiology gets an automatic first-round bye. They will play the winner of No. 8 902nd Security Forces from Randolph and No. 9 ARSOUTH from Fort Sam Houston.
Thompson is confident the team is going to win the tourney.
"You can never sell your own team short," he said. "We are ready."