MXS upsets top-ranked CES in intramural softball

Matthew Kidwell, 436th Maintenance Squadron right fielder, slides into second base during an intramural softball game July 23, 2014, at the field on Dover Air Force Base, Del. Robert Barnes, 436th Civil Engineer Squadron second baseman, was unable to grab the high toss from Michael Jobin, 436th CES shortstop, and Kidwell was called safe on the play. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class William Johnson)

MXS upsets top-ranked CES in intramural softball

Nathaniel Correll, 436th Maintenance Squadron shortstop, fields a ground ball during an intramural softball game July 23, 2014, at the softball field on Dover Air Force Base, Del. The 436th MXS beat the 436th Civil Engineer team 13-11 in the American League matchup. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class William Johnson)

MXS upsets top-ranked CES in intramural softball

Brook “El Diablo” Morris, 436th Civil Engineer Squadron left fielder, sprints down the first base line during an intramural softball game July 23, 2014, at the field on Dover Air Force Base, Del. The 436th Maintenance Squadron defeated the 436th CES 13-11. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class William Johnson)

MXS upsets top-ranked CES in intramural softball

Caleb McGlone, 436th Maintenance Squadron third baseman, rounds third base during an intramural softball game July 23, 2014, at the softball field on Dover Air Force Base, Del. McClone scored three runs in his team’s 13-11 victory against the 436th Maintenance Squadron. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class William Johnson)

MXS upsets top-ranked CES in intramural softball

Published July 28, 2014
By Airman 1st Class William Johnson
436th Airlift Wing Public Affairs

DOVER AIR FORCE BASE, Del. -- The 2014 intramural softball playoffs are right around the corner and teams are laying it all out on the field to secure their spot in the postseason tournament.

The 436th Maintenance Squadron defeated the number one ranked 436th Civil Engineer Squadron 13-11 in an American League intramural softball game July 23, 2014, at the field on Dover Air Force Base, Delaware.

The victory pushes the 436th MXS record to 9-3 on the season. The 436th CES now has a record of 10-2 after suffering their second loss of the week.

Vincent Alois, 436th MXS player-coach, said the American League is very competitive and you need to score at least 10 runs if you expect to win a game.

"We came out shorthanded tonight with only nine players against the first place team," said Alois. "But we hit the ball when we needed to and made some outstanding defensive plays which ultimately led us to the win."

The 436th MXS came out with an early lead after scoring one run in the first inning and four in the second inning. The defense played equally as well and only allowed the 436th CES one base hit in the first two innings of play.

However, the 436th CES played catch-up in the third inning. They scored six runs and put the brakes on the 436th MXS batting, holding them to no hits in bottom of the third.

The 436th CES came out with two more runs in the top of the fourth giving them a three run lead. That's when the 436th MXS sticks came alive and they scored three runs of their own and tied up the game 8-8 at the end of the fourth.

"Our defense is what worked best for us, we performed well for being one man down," said Nathaniel Correll, 436th MXS short stop. "Our outfield was on top of things and our infield stopped and kept everything in front of them and that's what you need to win."

The 436th MXS dominated the fifth inning by keeping their bats going, scoring five runs and holding the 436th CES to only one run. The two teams were scoreless in the sixth and the 436th CES, needing to score four runs to tie, were only able to log two runs in the seventh. The 436th MXS team was happy to leave the field with a 13-11 victory.

Steven Peaper, 436th CES player-coach, said costly errors and poor hitting led to the loss and he hopes his team can work through continuity issues with players to get back to their winning ways as the playoffs approach.

"All the teams in this league are very good and we played one of the best," said Peaper. "This is a hitting game and you have to out slug your opponent and we weren't able to do that tonight."

Alois said it was a confidence booster beating the number one team, but there are still some areas his team wants to work on to ensure they make it through playoffs and end up in the championship game.

"Overall, the team is playing outstanding," said Alois. "But we need to learn to hit the ball better and smarter with the caliber of teams we are playing against."