LITTLE ROCK AIR FORCE BASE, Ark. --
Intramural softball players competed in the 2017 Softball
All-Star Day games Aug. 3, 2017, at Little Rock Air Force Base.
The Home Run Derby and the All-Star game raised morale and
promoted friendly competition leading up to the championship game at the end of
the softball season.
“We’re halfway through the season already,” said Staff Sgt.
David Nearbin, 19th Force Support Squadron sports manager. “We haven’t hosted
an All-Star day in years so this is a great opportunity for the base to come
out and have a good time.”
The Home Run Derby was a free-for-all batting match for players
to claim the derby trophy.
Each competitor had 10 minutes and two rounds to hit as many
home runs as possible. Master Sgt. Alex Ford, 189th Maintenance Squadron
quality assurance inspector, came out victorious with a combined total of 11
home runs.
“I’ve been playing for 27 years,” Ford said. “It was just
good to be out there with a good group of people. It was all in good spirits
but it was also a well-planned and executed game.”
Following the Derby was the All-Star game where the
intramural softball coaches selected their best players to create two competing
teams: the American League team and the National League team.
The National League batted first, taking the lead in the
first inning. However, the American League answered with repeated hits of their
own.
After a close match and seven innings, the National League
won 14-9.
“It was pretty awesome,” said Staff Sgt. Steven Galioto,
National League team coach. “I’ve never been a part of a base who has an
all-star game. I think the outfield was the deciding factor for both teams because
we were both getting hits.”
Until next year, softball teams all-over Team Little Rock
will have the opportunity to participate and take home the Softball All-Star
trophy.