CASEY GARRISON South Korea - Warriors of the 2nd Infantry Division celebrated America's freedom by setting a world record for playing 100 hours of softball in a five-day softball marathon on Stewart Field in USAG-Casey beginning June 30 and ending at 6 p.m. July 4.
The play consisted of two teams of 18 players and nonstop softball played through inclement weather, which saw rain, turbulent winds and lightning. More than 2,200 runs were scored tallying in a Tomahawk team win over the Warriors team of 1,160 to 1,104 in 451 consecutive innings. The previous record for continuous softball playing was 96 hours set in 2008 and printed in the Guinness Book of World Records.
The game on Soldier's Field was set up and conducted under the rules of Guinness World Book in England for an attempt to better the 2008 record and set the new world record at 100 hours. They broke the record at 2:03 p.m. at 96 hours and one minute, and set the new record of 100 hours at 6 p.m. July 4.
"I want to give special thanks to Family Morale, Welfare and Recreation for holding this event," said Maj. Gen. John W. Morgan III, 2ID commander. "I would also like to thank our umpire crew because this could not happen without their calling the game through more than 400 innings.
"You men personify the Warrior ethos and spirit of Soldiers who put on our uniform, particularly Warrior Soldiers of the 2ID. Once you put your mind to it, you committed yourself and showed your determination by elevating yourselves to the grounds of a new world record. You represent the best our U.S. Military has to offer, and as we celebrate our Independence Day today, it shows what happens when the American fighting Soldier is committed to a cause. Your cause for the last five days was softball, but your cause here for the last 59 years is keeping peace and prosperity in the Republic of Korea and reflecting on all our Soldiers keeping peace and democracy around the world. My compliments to all of you, for we have a debt of gratitude to each and every one of you for who it is and what it is you represent. Congratulations on a new Guinness Book of World Records. You are indeed Second to None."
The task of putting on the event was not lost on Casey garrison command, for the idea and support to make it happen came from within the Area I FMWR sports directorate.
"I thought of the idea to break the Guinness Book of World records for continuous softball playing last year, but it was a bit too late to stage the event," said Jim Williams, FMWR sports specialist. "This year we said we would do it on the 4th of July, so we started the process of putting it together about two months ago. We sent for the application from Guinness. After we finished the application, we asked Soldiers from around Warrior Country to volunteer and participate. We were allowed as many as 20 players on each team by the regulations stated in the application package; we recruited 17 for one team and 18 for the other."
Guinness World Records in England included a rulebook in the application package, which outlined the limitations and processes required to achieve the world record.
"The rules are: a five-minute break every hour, which can accumulate to 30 minutes over six hours," Williams said. They state we must play through rain and lightning, because if we stopped for any reason we would be disqualified. Players were not allowed to leave the area, so they slept in a tent."
The process for claiming a new world record from Guinness is not easy. The garrison sports directors had to keep the play going and keep logistical things such as food and water, video documentation, and softball officials involved as witnesses as well as umpires to call the game. The officials notarize the facts of the event, which are included in the claim packet sent to Guinness.
"We have all the documentation, so we will double check it and send the packet in," Williams said. "We do not know how long it will take to get it verified, probably about six weeks."
Other attractions during the day included performances from a costume characters band, a battle of the bands, magic show, clown show, and food and beverages provided by FMWR clubs. After the award presentation to the softball marathon players and all involved, the celebration continued with a performance by Deana Carter. The evening concluded with a performance by the 2ID band, which included a salute to the Nation and a fireworks display accompanied by a performance of Tchaikovsky's 1812 Overture.
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