CES A unplugs CS in softball

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Chuck Walker
  • 436th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
DOVER AIR FORCE BASE, Del. --  After losing both of its games last week, the 436th Civil Engineers Squadron A team knew it needed to win in order to solidify a possible spot in the upcoming playoffs -mission accomplished.

Darren Ortiz, player-coach with 436th CES A, went 3-for-4 with an inside-the-park home run and three RBIs and Morgan Bell went 3-for-4 with a triple, a double and five RBIs to lead them to an 18-2 mercy rule win in five innings against the 436th Communications Squadron July 9, at Dover Air Force Base, Del.

"We lost our last two games and the last one we were up 6-0 and gave up 11 runs in one inning," Ortiz said. "We just wanted to come out and focus on winning so we could get that playoff spot."

After grabbing a 2-0 lead in the top of the first inning, the 436th CS watched as the 436th CES A team dominated from that point on.

The 436th CES A team scored eight runs in the second inning and four runs in the fourth to accentuate the blowout. The 436th CES A outhit the 436th CS 24-9 and took advantage of numerous errors in pushing its record to 5-3 on the season. The 436th CS dropped to 2-6.

Bell said hitting was key in the 436th CES A victory.

"I'm really happy to get the win," said Bell. "The last two games we did not play well and tonight we came together. All of us were hitting tonight and I felt as a team we all did well."

For the 436th CS this was definitely a game to forget.

Jack Handley, 436th CS player-coach, had nothing but praise for the victors and said his team needed to focus on fundamentals if they wanted to recover and turn their dismal season around.

"Errors ate us up," said Handley. "They played a good game and they hit the ball exactly where the holes in our defense were. We need to start hitting the cutoff man and swinging through the ball. Just concentrate on the fundamentals."

Ortiz said he could not be more proud of his team and wanted his team to maintain that hunger the rest of the season as it prepares for the playoffs for the first time in a long time.

"I want us to stay hungry," said Ortiz. "Our focus this season was to make the playoffs. Finally we are one of the contenders after years of struggling. I want us to want it more than any other team in the league."