TINKER AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. -- An early upset forced the top-seed VQ-7 RoughNecks to battle their way out of the losers bracket, but they left no doubt Aug. 8 about their status as the best team in the Rec League.
The Navy team drubbed NGC, Northrop Grumman Corporate, in the doubleheader finals, 14-3 and 11-2, to convincingly clinch the 2017 Rec League base championship.
Surprisingly, the RoughNecks’ strongest opponent in the four-team tournament was the bottom-seed Cow Tippers. Facing each other in the first round, the teams walked on the field with 10-1 and 3-9 records, respectively. The Tippers upset VQ-7 11-10.
The bump down to the losers bracket put the RoughNecks in a no-lose situation.
“We knew it was gonna be tough because we were gonna have to win out the rest of our games to win the tournament, but we came out strong and finished stronger as the day went on to end up winning three games for the championship,” first basemen Austin Flake said.
After picking off CGOC in the losers bracket, the RoughNecks faced the Cow Tippers again in another squeaker. But a two-run edge, 10-8, was enough to go to the final.
“The Cow Tippers were a solid team all around, put the ball in play when they got to the plate and made plays in the field,” Flake said. “I’d say we were pretty evenly matched. We just had a better day when it counted.”
The NGC team, 4-8, advanced undefeated to the championship. The RoughNecks were ready for them, roaring off to a 6-0 first-inning lead. Raman Lowerykeith and Mike Cline prodded four of the runs with back-to-back, two-run RBIs each.
In response, NGC’s offense posted one run in the bottom and only managed two more runs through the fourth inning. The RoughNecks continued to march around the bases, notably with a Nick Converse triple in the second inning and five runs in the third. Leighton Silvia and Nathan Derry each blasted doubles. The game was run-ruled at 14-3.
Both offenses deflated early in the final face-off. A 2-2 tie hung around for four innings until the RoughNecks rallied and scored five in the fifth. Converse zipped a grounder between first and second base for a double RBI, then stole home from second after a pop fly out. Their lead grew to 7-2.
VQ-7’s defense in the bottom of the fifth was fast and furious. NGC batters fell to three lightning-fast outs, including a double play. The impressive defensive feat buoyed the Sailors’ morale coming into the sixth. Six hits, including three RBIs and two doubles, fueled another power inning, ending 11-2.
The RoughNecks nailed their second run-rule victory after NGC couldn’t reach home in their next at-bat.
Flake said the Rec League was well-organized and he hopes more teams will participate next season.
“The umpires really seemed to enjoy being out there and did a great job calling the games,” he said.