Fire Dept. defeats defending champs in double header

  • Published
  • By Airman Anthony Jennings
  • Team Eglin Public Affairs
EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. --  The Fire Department became the 2009 Intramural Softball Champions after defeating the defending champs, 1st Special Operations Maintenance Squadron, in a double header July 16. 

The Fire Dept. came into the game as the underdogs even though they went undefeated in the playoffs. The 1st SOMXS team was the defending champs even though they had one loss. They would have to beat the Fire Dept. twice in order to repeat as intramural champions. 

The Fire Dept. wasted no time taking control in the first inning scoring, five runs and holding the 1st SOMXS team scoreless. 

It was the bottom of the second inning when the 1st SOMXS team answered back, evening the score at five. 

The Fire Dept. was first to break the tie, scoring three consecutive runs in the top of the third, putting them up 8-5. 

The game became a tug-of-war with the championship on the line. 

The 1st SOMXS scored five runs in the fourth and another four in the fifth. The Fire Dept. scored two in the fourth and one in the fifth. They trailed until the top of the seventh when the Fire Department's left fielder, Jonathon Pfau, scored, tying the game at 14. 

"One thing about our team is we never get down on ourselves," said Fire Dept.'s Errick Schafer. "We stick to the fundamentals and focus on winning every inning. If you are able to win each inning, you put yourself in the position to win the game." 

Tensions were high in the bottom of the seventh with the score tied at 14. The Fire Dept. had to prevent the 1st SOMXS team from scoring to clench the championship title. 

1st SOMXS team's Jimmy Conning hit the ball deep to right field, earning him a triple. Next was Ron "Hitman" Hart, who hit a pop fly into deep center field which was enough for Conning to tag up and run home for the winning run. 

"Victory," said Conning after scoring the winning run. "I think I'm going to Disneyland." 

But the 1st SOMXS team would have to win again in order to repeat as intramural champions. 

For some members of the Fire Dept. team, going into the second game was reminiscent of a championship game two years ago. They were undefeated facing the 96th Medical Group and lost twice in another double header. 

"Déjà vu," said Fire Dept.'s Albert Hetrick. "All I kept thinking going into the second game was to keep playing hard and don't give up." 

The second game in the double header proved to be a battle against fatigue as the Fire Dept. lost Jonathon Pfau, who scored twice in the previous matchup. 

Scores were scattered throughout the first six innings. 

At the top of the final inning, the Fire Dept. led the 1st SOMXS, 8-5, and added three more runs, further cushioning their lead to 11-5. 

The lead was just too much for 1st SOMXS to overcome. They were only able to add two more runs. Fire Dept. won 11-7. 

"We have camaraderie and share a passion for being the best," commented Hetrick about the game. "In the end it's all about heart. We might not have all the skills in the world, but heart can get you through anything."