Med Group beats Comm, advances in softball playoff

  • Published
  • By Airman Anthony Jennings
  • Team Eglin Public Affairs
EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. --  The 96th Medical Group, will advance to the next round of softball intramural playoffs after winning a close game against the 96th Communication Squadron "Wire Dawgs" July 9. 

The Wire Dawgs started early after Dustin Lee, Justin "Wildcat" Smith and Barry Davies scored in the first inning. However, the Med Group answered back to take the lead with four scores of their own, ending the first inning 4-3. 

"We've been up and down all season," said Med Group coach Dante Harris of their 10-4 season. "We were able to string together important hits at crucial times." 

After holding the Wire Dawgs scoreless, the Med Group followed up with two more runs in the bottom of the second, making the score 6-3. 

The Wire Dawgs evened the score with three more runs in the top of the fourth. The game was deadlocked at 6-6 for the next two innings. 

"We played hard, but sloppy in the first half," said Wire Dawgs coach John Haraguchi. "Looking back now, I would've tightened up the defense and brought the outfield in a little because they weren't hitting deep." 

In the bottom of the sixth, MedGroup put runners in scoring position with singles by Frank Sherman and Jorge Perez.  With Zachary Higgins single to deep right field, the MedGroup scored from second giving them the lead 7-6.

"We kept playing and didn't let ourselves get down so we could hit the runs when we need them," said Harris. 

The Wire Dawgs weren't able to counter in the final inning, closing the game 7-6, Med Group. 

The Med Group played again against the 46th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron and won 10-5. The 1st Special Operations Maintenance Squadron overwhelmed the Air Force Laboratory, winning 26-14 in a scoring fest to end the evening. 

Playoffs continue July 13, with the championship scheduled for July 16.