3rd MUNS softball team edges past 3rd AMXS

  • Published
  • By David Bedard
  • JBER Public Affairs
JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska --  Airmen of the 3rd Munitions Squadron softball team defeated the squad from 3rd Aircraft Maintenance Squadron Aug. 21 at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson's Buckner Field, despite emerging from the tournament loser's bracket to face the post season's theretofore undefeated 3rd AMXS.

At the beginning of the playoffs, the 3rd MUNS team suffered a defeat in their first game at the hands of 3rd AMXS, making for a sinuous road back to contention for the championship.

Both teams successfully took on all comers to ensure a reunion in the two final games.
And it would require two games for 3rd MUNS to overhaul their 3rd Wing compatriots - because 3rd AMXS only had to win one, due to their winner's bracket advantage.

MUNS' goal seemed out of reach at the beginning of game 1 when AMXS pitcher Randy Norman held MUNS scoreless at the top of the first inning, and AMXS lead-off hitter, Dana Polch, hit a home run for his first at bat. Despite Polch's promising efforts, MUNS' pitcher, Joshua Mills, managed to hold AMXS scoreless for the rest of the inning.

At the top of the second inning, MUNS worked to load the bases with line drives and shots aimed at gaps in the outfield. MUNS' James Keen stepped up to bat and smacked a home run to right field for a grand slam, earning his team an early lead they wouldn't relinquish.
In the third inning, MUNS managed some insurance runs to get their tally to six points on the board.

However, AMXS' Polch hit a home run on the first pitch. Another team home run netted the team two more points, to bring AMXS within a point at the close of the inning.

In the fourth, after MUNS got a hitter on base, Christopher Wilson hit a home run to lift his team to eight points.

It was three up and three down for AMXS, with a vigilant MUNS outfield getting three outs on three catches.

Both teams hammered in one run each during the fifth inning, making the score 9-6.
MUNS scored two more runs at the top of the sixth, following a canny effort from the AMXS defense, including a possible home run shot caught at the right field fence. At bat, AMXS's Randy Norman drew the night's first walk, highlighting the pitchers' skills and the batters' willingness to reach for a hit. Still, AMXS was held scoreless to leave the inning at 11-6.

At the top of the seventh and final inning, AMXS allowed no base hits - keeping their hopes alive of closing out the championship in one game.

AMXS then managed to load up the bases. When a ball was caught at left field, the runner managed to tag up for a run.

With two outs on the board, Norman hit a home run for three points, lifting his squad to within one point of MUNS. It was too little, too late for AMXS, unfortunately, as a high shot caught in the outfield ended the game as a victory for MUNS, 11-10.

It looked good for AMXS in game 2, as they carried their first game's momentum into the championship decider, slugging away to quickly put 10 points on the board. MUNS held it together, however, and worked to get base hits and runs batted in, eventually lifting themselves to within a point of AMXS.

Going into the seventh inning, AMXS held a two-point advantage, but the MUNS side was able to bat in four runs and grab the championship with a 15-13 win over AMXS.

Few errors were committed during either game, forcing the teams to rely heavily on batting home runs, line drives or long bombs targeted to open green slots.

MUNS coach, Darryl Melancon, said he didn't change the team's strategy despite a loss to AMXS at the beginning of the tournament. He attributed the victory to the team's focus on outfield, batting and running fundamentals.

"I was very honored to have coached this team," Melancon said of the 3rd MUNS squad. "They got a wake up call losing to AMXS in the playoffs, and they put in the hard work, pulled together, and won the championship."