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JBSA News
NEWS | Aug. 8, 2008

Jenkins selected for AF softball camp

By Tony Perez 37th Training Wing Public Affairs

Mike Jenkins, 59th Medical Operations Group, has been selected to attend the Air Force Men's Softball Trial Camp. This will be the fifth time Jenkins attends the camp.

He is hoping to earn a roster spot to represent the Air Force in the 2008 Armed Forces Men's Softball Championship. The tournament will be from Sept. 14 to 19 at the Naval Air Station Pensacola, Fla.

Jenkins will be competing against players selected from Air Force assignments around the world starting Aug. 25. The trial camp will end on Sept. 13.

"It pretty cool," Jenkins said. "You get to meet a lot of people that are in different places around the world that you haven't been to and talk to guys that you have common interests with. We all come from different backgrounds and career fields. Some of us have known each other for years from playing ball together."

Jenkins made the team as a pitcher in 2005 and 2006. In 2006, he was selected to the All-Armed Forces Team, an all star team featuring the best players from the Army, Navy, Air Force and Marine softball teams.

Jenkins was also a member of the 2008 Lackland Intramural League softball championship team and plays for the Lackland varsity softball team. Jenkins believes that playing in those leagues has helped prepare him for the camp.

"Playing in those leagues allows me to fine tune some of my skills," Jenkins said. "For me, it's hitting back side, between first and second base."

During camp, the players will be broken up into two teams. All of the players will eat breakfast at 6 a.m. Then one team will practice at 9 a.m., while the other practices at 10:30 a.m. The teams will have another set of separate practices at 1 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. and then scrimmage each other in a doubleheader beginning at 7 p.m.

Once a team is selected, the final roster will face a similar practice schedule until the start of the Armed Forces Men's Softball Championship.

"Once we've got the team together, we usually start scrimmaging against state and national Champion softball teams, so we don't get tired of playing each other," Jenkins said.

According to Jenkins, the Army provides tough competition.

"It usually comes down to us and the Army vying for the title," Jenkins said.

Jenkins plans to take a care free attitude into training camp and believes that will improve his chances of making the team.

"I think a lot of it was just relaxing and having fun," Jenkins said. "I'm just going to do what got me here, instead of doing things that you aren't accustomed to doing."

Jenkins believes this will be his last opportunity to make the team.

"I'll be 37 and it takes a toll on the body and I need to start concentrating on some other things," he said
Jenkins added that Lackland's sports programs have helped ensure the base sends athletes to Armed Forces competitions.

"I've spoken to a lot folks at different bases who have said their sports programs have gone way down," Jenkins said. "We have always been very supported by the base. And without that it doesn't allow us to do better in these bigger arenas."