JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-LACKLAND, Texas –
The weather is brisk April 19 at Mission Academy Fields and chants of encouragement can be heard from Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland Warhawks baseball players as they cheer on their teammates during a game against the San Antonio Reds.
There has not been much to be cheerful about this season. The Warhawks are 1-5 in San Antonio Men's Senior Baseball League competition; their 17-1 loss to the Reds was their worst defeat of the season. The losing record doesn't impact the players' team spirit. For outfielder Ralph Ivy, a military spouse, he is enjoying the opportunity to crank up the bat again after being out of the game for 20 years.
"Playing on the Warhawks gives me the opportunity to play some fast pitch baseball," he said. "My teammates are pretty good guys, and we have good camaraderie amongst each other."
Shortstop and Petty Officer 2nd Class Namon Richardson, Navy Information Operations Command, Texas, agreed with his teammate about the team's comradeship.
"We are one," he said about the team, which consists of active duty, reservists, and civilians. "As the season progresses, we have to continue to build trust and brotherhood amongst us."
With only six games under their belt, building that team chemistry is a process. As the season advances, he said that the players need to trust each other and head coach Ron Moore to reverse their fortunes, Richardson said.
The Warhawks have 14 games left to improve their season.
"I try to keep my head up high and remain upbeat," the shortstop explained. "One thing I tell the guys is that you can either lay down or battle. It is not too late to turn things around."
Moore loves the team's positive attitude.
"We have a good bunch of guys on this team," Moore said. "They love being around each other on and off the field. They all have great enthusiasm and energy even in defeat. It can be a difficult chore to keep your enthusiasm when losing, but I feel we can be competitive in every ball game."
The Warhawks' next game is at 11 a.m. Saturday in Blanco, Texas.