HomeNewsArticle Display

NGC pulls off last-chance win over ACNS

  • Published
  • By John Parker
  • Staff Writer
TINKER AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. --  Facing a 15-15 tie and two outs in the last inning, Neil Steeno blasted a hit that allowed NGC teammate Jay Bryant to score from second base and win their June 7 game against 552 ACNS.

Northrop Grumman Corp., which includes AFSC/PZIO contracting employees, and the 552nd Air Control Networks Squadron battled neck and neck before the 16-15 outcome.

NGC captain Joseph Rippington said the close match made the game a lot more fun. 552nd ANCS' Joshua Carter said he was proud of his team, which had to play short of nine on the field due to a roster oversight.

"We played down two players and the opposing team just had a few really good players that could hit our gaps on the field," he said. "We had a lot of people getting on base, a lot of solid base hits, and had a lot of good hustle with our players getting around the bases."

552nd ACNS loaded the bases twice in the first inning, leading to the first four runs of the game. NGC followed up by juicing the bases on their own. Benjamin Farber boomed a long ball triple to centerfield, sending three runners home.  NGC won the first inning 5-4.

552nd ACNS scored two runs in the second inning off of an outfield error, took back the lead 6-5 and then shut out NGC in the bottom half. 

NGC returned the shutout favor to be the only team that scored in the third inning. The team had players on second and third when Birdie Lemons finessed a line drive between shortstop and second base that brought both runners home. Lemons scored later from second to give NGC an 8-6 lead.

After a scoreless fourth, ACNS roared in the fifth. They capitalized with six hits, two walks and loading the bases twice again to go on top 13-8.

NGC matched that pace with their turn at bat. The team regained the lead 14-13 with seven hits, including a triple.

In the sixth, 552nd ACNS batter Joseph Giametta evened the score with an infield homer. A second run put his team ahead 15-14.

552nd ACNS appeared to be heading toward a "W" after quickly engineering the game's only double play in the bottom of the sixth during NGC's last chance at the plate. NGC scored a run to tie before Steeno sealed the game.