HomeNewsArticle Display

72nd Med Group claims co-ed regular season championship

  • Published
  • By John E. Banks
  • Tinker Air Force Base Public Affairs
TINKER AIR FORCE BASE --  The coed league regular season softball champions were determined July 26 with the 72nd Medical Group posting a pair of run-rule victories over the 552nd Training Squadron.
   The 72nd MDG won the opener 22-3 and took the nightcap, 16-6.
   The first game of the doubleheader got off to a quick start with the 72nd MDG scoring early and often. Led by the left-fielder Vernon Smith and Loyal Sterling, the 72nd MDG jumped out to an early 4-0 lead in the first inning.
   The game turned on a 16-run onslaught by the 72nd MDG in the fourth inning highlighted by a quartet of two-run doubles by pitcher Joe Henry, shortstop Matt Snyder, Smith and Sterling.
   The game was called after four innings because of the mercy rule.
   At the start of the second game it appeared that the 552nd TRS was ready to erase the outcome of the first game. However, the heavy hitting and superb defense of the 72nd MDG was difficult to overcome.
   Snyder was able to make two diving plays at shortstop to keep the 552nd TRS off the board early.
   The 72nd MDG then methodically scored with consistent hitting by Henry, Snyder, Sterling and Smith. The game was called  after three innings.
   The win gave the regular season championship to the 72nd MDG with an 8-4 record, while the loss dropped the 552nd TRS to 2-10.