Pilot swings for the fences

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Christopher Gross
  • JBER PAO
JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska --  Capt. Christopher Langley, 517th Airlift Squadron C-17 Globemaster III pilot, lives to play the game of baseball. He'll have the chance to play on one of the military's finest teams June 12-21.

The Heroes of the Diamond, formally known as the U.S. Military All-Star team, will be making their first stop in Alaska since the team was founded in 1990, during their annual "Red, White and Blue Tour."

The tour will include games against the local Anchorage Bucs, Peninsula Oilers and Alaska Goldpanners. The HOD will also play in the 105th annual Midnight Sun Game against the Alaska Goldpanners. They've been playing in this game since 1960, facing a different opponent each time. The game is scheduled to start at 10:30 p.m. with the game typically finishing around 2 a.m. for summer solstice, June 21, at Growden Memorial Stadium in Fairbanks, Alaska. Since this game was initiated more than 100 years ago, there has never been any artificial lighting needed or used, because the sun doesn't set.

HOD is based in San Diego, Calif., and is made up of some of the military's finest baseball players. The team travels across the nation and to several different countries, at their own expense, playing against top local baseball teams. Military members in the communities visited are able to try out for the team and play with them during their stay.

That's exactly what Captain Langley did. He submitted his player biography to the team, and after being impressed with his background, the team added him, Langley said.

"He brings some leadership, which is great," said Mr. Terry Allvord, the team's general manager. "It seems like he's a pretty squared away officer. He's done a pretty good job with the supporting of all the logistics for us to come up (here)."

"You never know who's going to show up and what their story is," said Captain Langley. "I'm definitely excited."

The captain said he is thrilled to have this opportunity to play with some of the best military baseball players in the nation, even though the captain is unsure who he will be playing with.

He started looking into the HOD when he saw the team was would be making their way to Anchorage. Captain Langley's love for the game started at an early age while growing up in a town in southern Maryland.

"I started just like every little kid would with tee-ball. My dad coached and got me involved, and I just grew to love it and played as much as I could every fall and every summer," said Captain Langley.

The captain has played in a variety of leagues and levels, playing during his youth to high school, college, semi-pro and now for HOD.

Captain Langley played at the University of Maryland during his college years. After two years playing ball, he had to make a decision on where he was going to put his focus, baseball or ROTC.

He put all of his focus toward ROTC and earned his commission in 2005. Even with a full time job in the Air Force, Captain Langley still finds time to play baseball with the Elmendorf Eagles, the wing baseball team.

"I just love every aspect of (baseball)," said the captain. "It's got the team aspect, it's got the individual aspect, where you're not relying solely on your teammates. Sometimes it's up to you."

Captain Langley will be with the team during their 12-day tour through several parts of Alaska, and will be suiting up in the number 42 with Robinson on the back of his jersey, representing Jackie Robinson who spent some time in the Army. All the numbers and names on the back of the jerseys have historical significance.

For more information on the HOD, visit www.heroesofthediamond.com.