Intramural Softball

Jordan Hucks, 436th Security Forces Squadron left fielder, takes warm up swings with multiple bats while in the on-deck circle during an intramural softball game against the 436th Maintenance Squadron July 20, 2015, at the softball field on Dover Air Force Base, Del. The 436th SFS defeated the 436th MXS, 11-10, putting them one step closer to making the playoffs. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class William Johnson)

Intramural Softball

Brandon Shelton, 436th Security Force Squadron third baseman, fields a line drive during an intramural softball game against the 436th Maintenance Squadron July 20, 2015, at the softball field on Dover Air Force Base, Del. The 436th SFS are the defending softball champions and are looking to repeat with another championship run this season. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class William Johnson)

Intramural Softball

Rick Barker, 436th Security Force Squadron assistant coach, watches Patrick McGee, 436th SFS catcher, crank a softball during an intramural softball game against the 436th Maintenance Squadron July 20, 2015, at the softball field on Dover Air Force Base, Del. With their main coach absent, Barker led the 436th SFS to an 11-10 victory against the undefeated 436th MXS. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class William Johnson)

Intramural Softball

Brandon Shelton, 436th Security Forces Squadron third baseman, back, speaks to Creston Sherwood, 436th Maintenance Squadron catcher, front, in between innings of an intramural softball game July 20, 2015, at the softball field on Dover Air Force Base, Del. Shelton is known by his team members to be equally motivating to both his team and the opponents he faces. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class William Johnson)

Intramural Softball

Creston Sherwood, 436th Maintenance Squadron base coach/catcher, directs a 436th MXS runner to turn third base and run home during an intramural softball game against the 436th Security Forces Squadron July 20, 2015, at the softball field on Dover Air Force Base, Del. The 436th MXS were the last undefeated team in the American League but lost to the 436th SFS, 11-10. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class William Johnson)

Locking up a repeat: Momentum swings in favor of the 436th SFS

Published July 21, 2015
By By: Airman 1st Class William Johnson
436th Airlift Wing Public Affairs

DOVER AIR FORCE BASE, Del. -- This story is the third in a five-part series highlighting last year's intramural softball team's attempt to defend their title.

"Let's go guys, all we need is one! Let's get it done and get out of here with a win tonight."

That is what Rick Barker, 436th Security Forces Squadron assistant coach, yelled to his teammates as they hustled off the field and took their last at bat. But little did Rick know that it would be him batting in the final run to defeat the previously unbeaten, 10-0, 436th Maintenance Squadron in intramural softball July 20, 2015, here.

With two outs and runners on first and third, the game was riding on Barker's shoulders and anything less than a base hit would result in a loss. A veteran of the league and six-time softball champion, Barker is no stranger to pressure.

"I love being in those situations," said Barker. "I think I thrive under pressure and that's when I perform at my best."

A single swing and Barker connected shooting the ball into shallow right field and sending in the winning run. And just like that, a struggling 436th SFS team had just beaten the number one team in the American League and greatly improved their chances of making the playoffs.

"For us to even be in the conversation about playoffs, not only to ourselves but to other teams, we had to get this win tonight," said Barker.

It was a rough path to victory but batting at the bottom of the sixth inning put them back in what seemed to be another decisive loss. Without any solid hits, the 436th SFS was down 3-7 but the sticks came alive and they would close out the sixth on top, 10-7.

This was the second time this season the two teams met on the diamond and Chris Reding, 436th MXS player-coach, said they were a very different security forces team this time around.

"They definitely played a better ball game than last time," said Reding. "They had some good bats going there at the end and we just couldn't shut them down."

The young 436th SFS team has seemed to find their groove late in the season and it is in part thanks to Brandon Shelton, 436th SFS third baseman. A morale man, mentor and veteran player, Shelton is molding the new, younger players into old-school "FIVE-0" caliber players.

We have a lot of new guys that know how to play softball but are just unsure of their abilities," said Shelton. "So I come out here and stay loose and keep the guys happy and morale up. It's intramural softball and coming out and winning is fun, so let's have fun and make sure we win along the way."