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72nd OSS wins 1, drops 1, vs. CMMXS

  • Published
  • By John Parker
  • Staff Writer
TINKER AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. --  The 72nd OSS Thunderhawks came from behind and finished decisively to claim a 19-11 win over the 551st Commodities Maintenance Support Squadron in the first game of a doubleheader July 7.

CMMXS blasted off to sizeable lead at first bat with a combination of seven singles and two doubles. CMMXS loaded the bases twice with no outs before taking the field with an 8-0 lead.

The Operations Support Squadron Thunderhawks sputtered with two pop outs before the offense fired up. Two runs off singles and doubles grew to five when coach Austin Hodge pounded the ball nearly to the fence and brought in three scores with an in-the-park home run. The inning ended 8-5.

The 551st's David White introduced his team's long game with a boomer that bounced off the fence. The Thunderhawks defense only allowed a double off of it. Three subsequent errors, though, helped CMMXS add three runs for an 11-5 lead.

CMMXS committed a major error of their own in the bottom of the second when Corey Vanwoerkom banged a line drive to centerfield that zipped past the centerfielder. Vanwoerkom sped around the bases for a home run.

A drumbeat of hits in the same second inning marked the turning point for the Thunderhawks. Batters drove in a parade of single runs to tie it up 11-11. The 72nd's Tom Saul capped off the resurgence with the game's only over-the-fence home run, tacking on two RBIs. The inning closed 14-11 Thunderhawks.

The 72nd appeared determined to keep the lead in the top of the third. They only allowed two singles before three quick outs.

The Thunderhawks remained fired up at bat. With two men on second and third, Austin Hodge belted a dinger inside the park to parlay three runs. The team forged ahead 19-11 heading into the fourth.

CMMXS fizzled with two pop fly outs, a single and a walk before the last out at second base. The umpire called the game on a one-hour time limit.

Hodge, with the 72nd OSS, said, "I think our bats got hot in the first and the third innings of the first game, and we were able to string together hit after hit. Our guys did a great job of staying locked in on defense for the majority of the game."

The 551st wasn't out for the day. They claimed revenge in the second game 20-6.

"We had a lot of uncharacteristic errors (in the first game)," CMMXS' captain Tommy Spicuzza said. "We got back to form in the second game."