FORT SAM HOUSTON, Texas –
The Air Force Women’s and Army Men’s Softball teams cruised through the 2017 Armed Forces Softball Championship, both going undefeated to win gold in the tournament held at the Pershing Softball Fields at Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston, Texas held 19-23 September.
AIR FORCE GOLD
Air Force unseated the defending champion Army women winning all nine games, outscoring their opponents 139-55.
The pitching combination of Airman 1st Class Daniella Cortez of Langley AFB, Vir. And Airman 1st Class Megan Hinds of Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickham, Hawaii resulted in an earned-run-average of an amazing 6.62.
Army, Navy and Marine Corps finished in a three-way tie each with a record of 3-6, forcing an elimination round.
Navy won the coin toss and received the first round bye.
After losing twice to the Marine Corps in the round robin, Army recovered to win 12-6.
In the final game of the tournament, Navy downed Army 11-7 to win their second straight silver medal.
Navy started the tournament losing their first five games. With the heavy bat of PO3 Jordan Brown of the USS Abraham Lincoln, Navy won the next four of five games. Brown led the tournament in homeruns (4) and RBI’s (18).
Due to the tie-breaker elimination round, Army finished third and Marines placed fourth.
SIX STRAIGHT FOR ARMY
The All-Army Men outscored their opponents 278-183, winning their sixth-straight Armed Forces gold.
Staff Sgt. James Sessom of USAG Hawaii anchored Army at third base, pulling in 27 RBI’s and a .750 batting average a perfect fielding percentage. Sgt. 1st Class Clayton Shaw led the tournament with an ERA of 20.11, while batting .660 and 24 RBI’s.
Marine Corps Men captured the silver medal with a record of 5-4, their first medal since 2007. Head coach Sgt. Maj. Christopher Balcazar of MCRD Parris Island, S.C. returned at the helm of the Marines, who was also the head coach during their 2007 silver medal performance.
Marine Cpl. Joel Sanchez of MCB Camp Lejeune, N.C. led the Marines with 32 RBI’s and 12 HR’s.
Navy finished with a 3-6 record for third, followed by Air Force placing fourth with a 1-8 record.
At the end of the tournament, the U.S. Armed Forces Men and Women teams were selected, who will compete at the 2017 USA Softball Championship in Oklahoma City, OK from 29 September to 1 October.
Visit www.armedforcessports.defense.gov for complete results, statistics, video and photos.
Armed Forces Softball All-Tournament Women’s Team
Sgt Destini Brown, MCB Camp Pendleton, CA – USMC
LCpl Halley Bee, MCAS Beaufort, SC – USMC
SrA Hayley Nuno, Malmstrom AFB, MT - USAF
2d Lt Carmen Fowler, Nellis AFB, NV - USAF
A1C Kennedy Houser, JB San Antonio, TX - USAF
A1C Megan Hinds, JB Pearl Harbor-Hickam, HI – USAF
PO3 Jordan Brown, USS Abraham Lincoln – Navy
PO3 Alexis Anderson, NB Kitsap, WA – Navy
ENS Monica Shifflet, Boston, MA – Navy
SSG Erika Cintron, USAG Hawaii, HI – Army
SFC Janet Okoronkwo, Fort Hood, TX – Army
U.S Armed Forces Women’s Team
SrA Hayley Nuno, Malmstrom AFB, MT - USAF
2d Lt Carmen Fowler, Nellis AFB, NV - USAF
A1C Kennedy Houser, JB San Antonio, TX - USAF
PO3 Jordan Brown, USS Abraham Lincoln – Navy
PO3 Alexis Anderson, NB Kitsap, WA – Navy
ENS Monica Shifflet, Boston, MA – Navy
SSG Erika Cintron, USAG Hawaii, HI – Army
SFC Janet Okoronkwo, Fort Hood, TX – Army
TSgt Schameka White, Pope AFB, NC – USAF
SSgt Erica Schroeder, Eglin AFB, FL – USAF
SPC Corrssia Perry, Georgia ANG – Army
LCpl Sheridan Sutton, MCB Camp Butler, Japan – USMC
A1C Megan Hinds, JB Pearl Harbor-Hickam, HI – USAF
LCpl Quiozha Alexander, Camp Allen, VA – USMC
Cpl Lindsey Romagnino, MCB Camp Butler, Japan – USMC
Head Coach: SMSgt Danielle Hirvela, Minot AFB, ND – USAF
Assist. Coach: SrA Larry Bandy, Yokota AB, Japan – USAF
Armed Forces Softball All-Tournament Men’s Team
SSG James Sessom, USAG Hawaii, HI – Army
SSgt Michael Tobias, RS Riverside, CA – USMC
CPO Aaron Neeley, USS Eisenhower – Navy
Cpl Joel Sanchez, Camp Lejeune, NC – USMC
LCpl Marcos Flores, MCB Camp Pendleton, CA – USMC
SPC Carson Bray, Fort Bragg, NC – Army
SSG Leonardo Aviles, Fort Sill, OK – Army
SFC David Moore, Grafenwoehr, Germany – Army
SFC Clayton Shaw, Fort Hook, TX – Army
TSgt Johnathon Brock, Lakenheath, UK – USAF
1stSgt Rynne Brandt, MCB Camp Pendleton, CA – USMC
U.S Armed Forces Men’s Team
SSG James Sessom, USAG Hawaii, HI – Army
SSgt Michael Tobias, RS Riverside, CA – USMC
CPO Aaron Neeley, USS Eisenhower – Navy
Cpl Joel Sanchez, Camp Lejeune, NC – USMC
SPC Carson Bray, Fort Bragg, NC – Army
SSG Leonardo Aviles, Fort Sill, OK – Army
SFC David Moore, Grafenwoehr, Germany – Army
SGT Jedon Matthews, JB Lewis-McChord, WA – Army
CPT Chad Agustin, Overland Park, KS – Army
PO2 Lance Hutchins, USS Mobile Bay – Navy
CPO Charles-Keith Williams, USS La Jolla – Navy
SFC Dexter Avery, MacDill AFB, FL – Army
Capt Patrick Reibsame, Fort Story, VA – USMC
SSgt Joseph Rainey, MCAS Cherry Point, NC – USMC
MSG Benjamin Kahalehhoe, Schofield Barracks, HI – Army
LTC Ron Colombo, Fort Bragg, NC – Army
SGM Jim Cabrera, USAG Hawaii, HI – Army