Comm pounds 3rd AS 14-4

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Chuck Walker
  • 436th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
DOVER AIR FORCE BASE, Del. --  Mercy me.
This is a thought that could have been running through the minds of the 3rd Airlift Squadron softball team after its game with the 436th Communications Squadron.
Comm pounded out 19 hits including a three-run homer by Ryan Singer to mercy-rule 3rd AS 14-4 in five innings Tuesday in a National League game at the base softball field. In softball, the mercy rule is invoked when a team is trailing by 10 runs or more after five innings.
Singer went 3-for-3 with two doubles, a homer and four RBI, Joseph Riff went 3-for-3 with an RBI, while Eddie Vargas and second baseman/coach Josh Solomon each went 2-for-3 with two RBI to lead Comm to a 3-0 record to start the season.
"We're all hitting well and that's something to be proud of," Solomon said. "We try to make sure that someone in the lineup is hot with the bat. Chief Riff and Singer did it this game. Everybody is hitting. I really don't think we have any weak parts to the lineup right now."
After a sluggish first inning in which they gave up three runs, Comm bounced back to take control of the game.
Jason Gist hit an RBI triple in the bottom of the second inning to give Comm a lead it would never relinquish.
Leading 6-4 in the bottom of the fifth, Comm plated eight runs on a three-run triple by Beau Brouillette and the three-run dinger by Singer.
"It was a great game," Vargas said. "We had a rough first inning, but we bounced back and came through. We did it when it counted. It's always a different player that comes through for us. This game, Ryan (Singer) came through."
For Singer, it was his opportunity to shine for Comm, a team that has been hitting the ball well all season.
"You've just got to keep your eye on the ball, swing level and don't drop your back shoulder," said Singer of the keys to hitting the ball well in softball. "You also can't be too anxious to hit. You have to wait for it. "
3rd AS, meanwhile, will try and bounce back after taking a pounding from Comm.
"We need to correct our fielding errors and work on our hitting," 3rd AS first baseman/coach Nathan Coulter said. "We are just glad to be out here representing our squadron. Hopefully, we will do better next time."
After having both of its games rained out last week, Comm was glad their good hitting continued despite the unwanted break from action.
Comm was also happy to see its defense improving, something that has been a problem area in spite of its undefeated record.
"The entire team was just excited and everybody came out ready to play," said Solomon. "We really opened it up offensively in the first inning and that set the tone for our bats the rest of the game. Defense is really just a matter of us paying attention. This game we had a bad first inning, but we shook it off. In the past when we had a bad inning it took us a while to get our heads back in the game. So, that's definitely an improvement."