Navy captures first women’s softball gold since 1985

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U.S. Navy wins gold for the first time since 1985, defeating Air Force 20-17 in the championship game. The 2021 Armed Forces Women’s Rugby Championship held at Fort Campbell, KY from 11-13 August. Service members from the Army, Navy (with Coast Guard personnel, and Air Force (with Space Force personnel) battle it out for gold. Visit www.ArmedForcesSports.defense.gov to learn more about the Armed Forces Sports program and the other sports offered. (Department of Defense Photo, Released)

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U.S. Navy Ensign Lauren Grun (Navy), Naval Station Norfolk, Va. crosses the plate during Navy's 20-17 win over Air Force during the 2021 Armed Forces Women’s Rugby Championship held at Fort Campbell, KY from 11-13 August. Service members from the Army, Navy (with Coast Guard personnel, and Air Force (with Space Force personnel) battle it out for gold. Visit www.ArmedForcesSports.defense.gov to learn more about the Armed Forces Sports program and the other sports offered. (Department of Defense Photo, Released)

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2021 Armed Forces Women's Softball Champions, U.S. Navy with the Fort Campbell Garrison Command, Col. Andrew Jordan. U.S. Navy captures their first gold medal since 1985, defeating Air Force 20-17 in the Championship Game. The 2021 Armed Forces Women’s Rugby Championship held at Fort Campbell, KY from 11-13 August. Service members from the Army, Navy (with Coast Guard personnel, and Air Force (with Space Force personnel) battle it out for gold. Visit www.ArmedForcesSports.defense.gov to learn more about the Armed Forces Sports program and the other sports offered. (Department of Defense Photo, Released)

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Air Force takes silver at the 2021 Armed Forces Women’s Rugby Championship held at Fort Campbell, KY from 11-13 August. Service members from the Army, Navy (with Coast Guard personnel, and Air Force (with Space Force personnel) battle it out for gold. Visit www.ArmedForcesSports.defense.gov to learn more about the Armed Forces Sports program and the other sports offered. (Department of Defense Photo, Released)

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Navy lines up during the awards ceremony of the 2021 Armed Forces Women’s Rugby Championship held at Fort Campbell, KY from 11-13 August. Service members from the Army, Navy (with Coast Guard personnel, and Air Force (with Space Force personnel) battle it out for gold. Visit www.ArmedForcesSports.defense.gov to learn more about the Armed Forces Sports program and the other sports offered. (Department of Defense Photo, Released)

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Air Force lines up during the awards ceremony of the 2021 Armed Forces Women’s Rugby Championship held at Fort Campbell, KY from 11-13 August. Service members from the Army, Navy (with Coast Guard personnel, and Air Force (with Space Force personnel) battle it out for gold. Visit www.ArmedForcesSports.defense.gov to learn more about the Armed Forces Sports program and the other sports offered. (Department of Defense Photo, Released)

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The 2021 Armed Forces Women’s Rugby Championship held at Fort Campbell, KY from 11-13 August. Service members from the Army, Navy (with Coast Guard personnel, and Air Force (with Space Force personnel) battle it out for gold. Visit www.ArmedForcesSports.defense.gov to learn more about the Armed Forces Sports program and the other sports offered. (Department of Defense Photo, Released)

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All-Tournament Team of the 2021 Armed Forces Women’s Rugby Championship held at Fort Campbell, KY from 11-13 August. Pictured along with Fort Campbell Garrison Commander Col. Andrew Jordan are: U.S. Army Capt. Alee Rashenskas (Army), Fort Carson, Colo. U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Megan Hines-Wade, Luke AFB, Ariz. U.S. Navy Ensign Lauren Grun (Navy), Naval Station Norfolk, Va. U.S. Army Sgt. Erica Damone (Army), Fort Jackson, S.C. U.S. Navy Seaman Patsy Erwin (Navy), Naval Station Mayport, Fla. U.S. Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Lauren Sweeten (Navy), Yokosuka, Japan U.S. Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Erin Clark (Navy), Fort Meade, Md. U.S. Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Val Proulx (Navy), Naval Station Norfolk, Va. U.S. Air Force 1st Lt. Victoria Valos (USAF), Edwards AFB, Calif. U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Hannah Smith (USAF), Incirlik AB, Turkey U.S. Army Sgt. Brittany Stein (Army), Fort Bliss, Texas Service members from the Army, Navy (with Coast Guard personnel, and Air Force (with Space Force personnel) battle it out for gold. Visit www.ArmedForcesSports.defense.gov to learn more about the Armed Forces Sports program and the other sports offered. (Department of Defense Photo, Released)

The U.S. Navy, powered by the bat of Seaman Patsy Erwin of Naval Station Mayport, Fla., ended their 36-year wait for Armed Forces Women’s Softball gold with a 20-17 win over three-peat defending champions Air Force on Friday at the South Sports Complex at Fort Campbell, Ky.

Erwin was named to the Armed Forces All-Tournament along with four teammates, after knocking four home runs out of the park.  

Navy opened the championship with a 10-5 win over host Army.  In the evening matchup against Air Force, Navy lost 37-27 to close day one with a 1-1 record. That would be their only loss of the tournament.

Air Force held off Army in the rubber match, winning 9-5 and placing them in prime position to earn their fourth straight Armed Forces title.  

Navy jumped out in front of Air Force registering 20 runs by the fifth inning to Air Force’s 11. Despite a 6-run seventh inning surge, Air Force was unable to overcome the point differential, giving Navy the win.  

Air Force finished with silver followed by the Army in third place.  Marine Corps did not participate in this year's championship.  

Service representatives selected the top eleven players to the Armed Forces Women’s All-Tournament Team.  They were:

U.S. Army Capt. Alee Rashenskas, Fort Carson, Colo.
U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Megan Hines-Wade, Luke AFB, Ariz.
U.S. Navy Ensign Lauren Grun, Naval Station Norfolk, Va.
U.S. Army Sgt. Erica Damone, Fort Jackson, S.C. 
U.S. Navy Seaman Patsy Erwin, Naval Station Mayport, Fla. 
U.S. Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Lauren Sweeten, Yokosuka, Japan
U.S. Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Erin Clark, Fort Meade, Md. 
U.S. Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Val Proulx, Naval Station Norfolk, Va. 
U.S. Air Force 1st Lt. Victoria Valos, Edwards AFB, Calif. 
U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Hannah Smith, Incirlik AB, Turkey
U.S. Army Sgt. Brittany Stein, Fort Bliss, Texas

Visit the Armed Forces Sports website at www.armedforcessports.com for more complete coverage of the Armed Forces Women’s Softball Championship and all sports offered.