FORT SILL, Okla. -- It took the bottom of the seventh inning, but the Commanders pulled out a victory over the Command Sergeants Major 12-11 during their annual softball game Aug. 24 at Cannoneer Complex.
The hill-and-dale battle saw four lead changes as the Commanders took home the winner's trophy for the third consecutive year.
"Teamwork and using the complete bench using everybody's talent was what won it," said Coach Col. Mike Simley, 30th Air Defense Artillery Brigade commander.
The Commanders held a 3-1 lead over the "Backbone" after the first inning. The lead increased to 5-4 after three innings. But the senior enlisted leaders never quit, scoring four runs in the fourth inning to take an 8-5 lead.
However, the Commanders regained the lead 11-10 after six innings.
The Command Sergeants Major retook the lead and looked like they might get the trophy after a two-year dry spell, but the Commanders pulled it out.
Command Sgt. Maj. John Hale, 168th Brigade Support Battalion, blasted two home runs one in the fifth inning and another in the seventh.
"They were pretty good shots, but I don't feel too good because we lost," he said.
Hale, who also played in last year's games, said the CSM had about three or four practices in preparation for the game.
Command Sgt. Maj. Dwight Morrisey, Fires Center of Excellence and Fort Sill CSM, said he was pleased with the way his teammates played.
"It was a good game for both teams, and it came down to whoever was going to bat last would win," said Morrisey.
The 9 a.m. Commanders vs. Command Sergeant Major game was a prelude to the Lawton-Fort Sill Co-Op Softball Tournament. The daylong tournament featured 16 teams made up of Soldiers and community business partners playing a double elimination format.
Co-Op game results
The 2-5th Field Artillery and NEC/Audio Tech beat the 2-2nd FA/Veterans Center 12-2 to win the Lawton-Fort Sill Co-op Softball tournament Aug. 24, in the 16-team, double elimination tournament at Cannoneer Complex. The complete results follow.
First round
2-2nd FA/Veterans Center 17, WTU 4
168th BSB 11, 214th FiB/CGI 5
1-30th FA/Cornerstone 12, MEDDAC/DENTAC 2
1-56th FA/Billingsley 8, BOLC5
2-5th FA & NEC/Audio Tech 10, Marines/Kiwanis 7
1-17th FA/City of Lawton 10, 75th FiB/Wilson Electric 2
2-5th FA/Billingsley 12, 2-6th ADA 4
434th FA Bde/Chick-Fil-A 12, 31st ADA Bde./BancFirst 8
Second round
214th FiB/CGI 11, WTU 1
BOLC 5, MEDDAC/DENTAC 2
75th FiB/Wilson Electric 10, Marines/Kiwanis 7
2-6th ADA 14, 31st ADA Bde./BancFirst 5
2-2nd FA/Veterans Center 10, 168th BSB 1
1-30th FA/Cornerstone 12, 1-56th FA/Billingsley 8
2-5th FA & NEC/Audio Tech 10, 1-17th FA/City of Lawton 6
2-5th FA/Billingsley 8, 434th FA Bde/Chick-Fil-A 7
3rd round
214th FiB/CGI 14, 434th FA Bde/Chick-Fil-A 1
1-17th FA/City of Lawton 9, BOLC 4
1-56th FA/Billingsley 12, 75th FiB/Wilson Electric 10
2-6th ADA 1, 168th BSB 0
1-30th FA/Cornerstone 10, 2-2nd FA/Veterans Center 8
2-5th FA & NEC/Audio Tech 13, 2-5th FA/Billingsley 0
Fourth round
214th FiB/CGI defeated 1-17th FA/City of Lawton
75th FiB/Wilson Electric 17, 2-6th ADA 16
2-2nd FA/Veterans Center 9, 1-17th FA/City of Lawton 8
2-2nd FA/Veterans Center 12, 75th FiB/Wilson Electric 2
75th FiB/Wilson Electric 11, 2-5th FA/Billingsley 10
Semifinals
2-5th FA & NEC/Audio Tech 12, 1-30th FA/Cornerstone 10
2-2nd FA/Veterans Center defeated 1-30th FA/Cornerstone
Championship game
2-5th FA and NEC/Audio Tech 12, 2-2nd FA/Veterans Center 2
Currently, the All Army Men's softball tryouts are under way at Fort Sill, with 25 players from Army units worldwide here competing for 15 spots. The All Armed Forces Men's and Women's softball tournaments will begin Sept. 15 at Cannoneer Complex. All games are free and open to the public.
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