Lackland Air Force Base, Texas –
The 343rd Training Squadron tallied their sixth-straight win to remain undefeated earlier this week.
The 343rd TRS beat the 37th Mission Support Squadron 9-7 in seven innings as Division I intramural softball play continued May 22 at Diamond 3.
"We had to scratch inning by inning to beat a good team," said Clayton "C.J" Watson, TRS coach and pitcher.
Indeed, MSS was ahead 5-3 through the third inning of a hard-fought game that either side could have won.
Left fielder Roy Sanders singled and scored on a double by second baseman Ed Blake and shortstop Steve Reichert singled and scored after first baseman Norm Allen hit into a fielder's choice during the first. Reichert doubled to drive in Sanders and pitcher Othel Gardner in the third.
TRS scored once during the first, as left fielder Adam Riley led off with a triple and scored easily on a single by shortstop Nick Melenka. During the third, the 343rd added two more runs, as extra hitter Dan Santos singled and scored on an inside-the-park home run by Riley.
TRS added two runs and tied the score at five during the fourth frame. Left-center fielder Chad Welka singled and scored on a triple by right fielder Jarrod Phillips. A base hit by second baseman Will Brewer sent home Philips and produced the tying run.
MSS went scoreless during the top of the fifth inning.
The 343rd scored three runs to break the tie during the bottom of the fifth.
Santos stroked a leadoff single. Riley followed with another base hit, and an outfield error on the play allowed Santos to score and give TRS a 6-5 lead. Later in the fifth, TRS went up 8-5, as Riley scored on a sacrifice fly by first baseman Frank Santiago and Melenka singled on a ground out by Watson.
MSS went scoreless again during the top of the sixth.
TRS scored their ninth run during the bottom of the sixth, as Riley doubled to drive in Brewer.
MSS went into the seventh trailing TRS 9-5. With nobody on and two out, Gardner singled. Reichert singled. Blake delivered his second double to drive in Gardner and Reichert. The game ended after Riley made the catch on an outfield fly.
Altogether, TRS had 16 hits, while MSS had 12.
The 343rd TRS is now 6-0 at first place as they seek their second-straight base championship, as well as their third base title during the past four years.
"We plan to win it all again this year," Watson said. "We come to play and have fun. We know a lot of people are gunning for us."
Directly behind TRS is the 737th Training Group, which remains undefeated at 5-0. TRG (the 2003 base champs) had a bye this week.
TRS and TRG will face each other July 10, 7:50 p.m., at Diamond 3, the last Division I regular season game before the playoffs.
"We're looking for a good game," Watson said. "We know we'll have to bring our sticks to win."