436th CES makes AFMAO cry mercy

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Chuck Walker
  • 436th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
DOVER AIR FORCE BASE, Del. --  After more than a week of rain, both the 436th Civil Engineer Squadron and the Air Force Mortuary Affairs Office were able to kick off their intramural softball seasons.

The 436th CES took its first step toward winning the National League crown as it pounded out 15 hits as it mercy ruled AFMAO 16-5 in five innings June 20, 2013, at the softball field on Dover Air Force Base, Del.

Chad Diehl went 3-for-3 with an RBI and four runs scored, Kenny Wagner went 2-for-3 with a three-run homer and four RBI and Mark Martin was 2-for-3 with an inside-the-park homer and three RBI to lead the 436th CES to the opening game win.

"It was a good first game and it is always good to start the season off with a win," said Steven Peaper, 436th CES player-coach said. "Our play showed a little bit that it was the first game, but our offense woke up and we came together in the end."

AFMAO looked early on like it would make a game of it. The team got an RBI double from Robert Fekken and RBI singles from Anthony Hutton, Darius Highsmith and Thomas Mawson as they jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the top of the first.

Unfortunately for AFMAO that would be their lone lead and lone highlight of the game.

The 436th CES got a three-run homer from Wagner and RBIs from Martin and Michael Jobin as the 436th CES took a 5-4 lead in the bottom of the first inning and never looked back. David Warat rapped a two-RBI double in the bottom of the fifth inning to give the 436th CES the 10-run mercy rule victory.

Wagner said he didn't think his homer, which flew over the left-center field wall into the parking lot, was actually going to get out.

"Honestly, I didn't think it was a homer, I thought it was a line drive," Wagner said. "I thought we did well offensively. Our first game was cancelled and this was our first official game. We just need to keep improving."

For AFMAO it was simply a case of not enough offense. After its four-run barrage in the first inning, AFMAO only scored one more run the rest of the way and was only able to generate eight hits. Elmer Feliciano, AFMAO player-coach said he feels his team will get better as the season goes along.

"It's the start of the season, so we're still trying to get the rust out," Feliciano said. "We had a lot of players out due to missions, so we should get better at it. It's just a question of getting in synch."

Peaper said the victory will be something his team can build off of.

"Unfortunately, we haven't been able to do anything because of the rain," Peaper said. "So, this was good to get the first game out of the way. We were able to come together and pull it off."