AMXS maintainers dismantled Medics Published Aug. 27, 2009 By Staff Sgt. Nestor Cruz 19th Airlift Wing Public Affairs LITTLE ROCK AIR FORCE BASE, Ark. -- The 19th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron dismantled the 19th Medical Group 22 - 11 and claimed what could be its first base intramural softball championship game Aug. 20. The maintainers sputtered at the start of the championship game, scoring only two runs in the first inning against the medics' four runs. The second inning belonged to the maintainers, who scored five runs and kept the medics off the scoreboard, ending the inning 7 - 4. Determined to avoid defeat, the medics knocked in five more runs in the third inning, surging ahead of the maintainers, who squeezed in a single run. Both teams ratcheted up their defensive game in the fourth inning, preventing each other from adding more runs to the scoreboard. The Medics led the Maintainers 9 - 8. The Maintainers bats shifted into overdrive going into the fifth inning, firing nine runs. Spectators were treated to more supercharged AMXS action as the Maintainers slammed five more runs before game time ran out. The valiant Medics managed to score another run, but fell short of catching up with their adversaries. Michael Warlick, 19th AMXS team coach and pitcher, said camaraderie helped propel the team to the championships. "The key to our success was that the core of our team had played at least four seasons together," said Coach Warlick. "In addition to that, we had a couple of key additions to the team from players who either [moved] in or just joined the Air Force." Keeping the team together despite real-world mission requirements has always been a challenge for the AMXS team. "It was good that we won [the tournament] this year because next year we are losing five players due to [permanent change of station moves], retirement or separation," Coach Warlick said. "We have always had a hard time fielding enough players to keep the team going, so next year will be a real challenge with losing so many players."