436th SFS looks to repeat as base softball champions

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Chuck Walker
  • 436th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
DOVER AIR FORCE BASE, Del. --  Last year the 436th Security Forces Squadron softball team was able to take home the intramural championship.

This year, the 436th SFS will look to hold off a host of challengers in its quest to repeat as champions. The 436th Aerial Port Squadron, the 436th Maintenance Squadron, 736th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron and the 436th Civil Engineer Squadron, will all look to dethrone champs and take the title for themselves.

Rick Barker, 436th SFS player-assistant coach, said his team is looking forward to the start of the season as well as defending his team's title.

"We've had no big losses, we have a couple of folks deployed, but we pretty much have the same team as last year," Barker said. "We look pretty good. Traditionally we're right up there in terms of competing for the title. It should be no different this year."

One team that will be looking to knock off the 436th SFS is the 436th APS. After finishing last year in second place, Shaina O'Neal, 436th APS assistant coach, said her team is hungry for the title.

"We look pretty strong and we always look to end the season in the championship game, nothing less is expected," said O'Neal. "Playing against tough competition will only make us stronger. I'm glad we are in a tougher league; it means we'll be ready come playoff time. We're looking forward to the challenge."

Last year one team that competed all season was the 436th MXS. Benjamin Randall, 436th MXS player-coach said the goal for this season is a championship.

"Compared to the other teams in the league we're more of a small ball team," Randall said. "We basically have the same group of guys back from last season. We're more experienced and more confident and we expect to make it deep into the playoffs and achieve a championship."

With the 436th SFS, 436th APS, 436th MXS and the 736 AMXS are all in the American League, the winner of that league will be plenty toughened up by the time the playoffs roll around.

Randall said the American League will be home to many exciting matchups.

"Seeing that level of competition and us knocking each other off, that's going to make us all stronger," said Randall. "The best team will end up coming out on top."
The 436th CES will look to compete for the crown as the frontrunners out of the National League. Steven Kerr, 436th CES player-coach, said his team is definitely up to the challenge of competing for the title.

"We're looking forward to the season, we have a real strong team," Kerr said. "We're looking for this to be a good year for us. We have a strong defense that helps us to win games even when our bats aren't working. We should be ready when the playoffs start."