Bucs down Eagles 16-2

  • Published
  • By Airman Jack Sanders
  • 3rd Wing Public Affairs
ANCHORAGE, Alaska --  The Anchorage Bucs Baseball Club hosted the 2009 Military Appreciation Game against the Elmendorf Eagles June 9 at Mulcahy Stadium. 

The Bucs took the lead in the first inning and finished strong with a 16-2 score.

Anchorage's own collegiate baseball team played an Elmendorf's baseball team in honor of Military Appreciation Week. This is the first time the team has played an Elmendorf team, but this is not the first time they've played a game in honor of military appreciation.

"We (have had a military appreciation game) opening day every year, for the past 10 years," said Rachel Leask, Anchorage Bucs assistant manager.

"They always do a really good job with it and put on a great presentation," said Mark Joukoff, the Anchorage Bucs starting pitcher. "We look forward to it every year. I think it's going to be a fun game."

Some of the Eagles were excited to be able to play the Bucs. "It's a blast. It's the hardest game we're going to have on our schedule," said Airman Sean Shelton, 3rd Civil Engineer Squadron. Shelton is the right fielder for the Elmendorf Eagles.

The game began with a demonstration from Fort Richardson's 28th Military Police Detachment Canine unit. Military working dog Lux took down a suspicious character played by Army Sgt. Jordan Spurl, 28th Military Police detachment, who had possession of the game ball.

From there the Anchorage-based veteran motorcycle group Rolling Thunder speed onto the field and presented the Fallen Warrior Ceremony demonstration and sang a brief portion of "Amazing Grace."

After "Amazing Grace" was finished, the joint service color guard took the field and Staff Sgt. Edward Allen, U.S. Air Force Band of the Pacific, took front stage on the pitcher's mound to sing the national anthem for the game.

The game began shortly after that with the four first pitches thrown by Col. Thomas Bergeson, 3rd Wing commander; Bob Myles, Veterans of Foreign Wars state of Alaska senior vice commander; Army Specialist Nate Sherve, a wounded warrior; and Airman 1st Class Kristen Harmony, a new enlisted Air Force National Guardsman.

"I spoke with Josh Simmons of the Eagles after the game, and we are on board to do this again next year," said Leask.