FORT RUCKER, Ala. -- "Skool" was in session June 24 and the intramural softball team 10 Guys One Cup from D Company, 1st Battalion, 145th Aviation Regiment, didn't make the grade.
The team lost to Old Skool from B Company, 1st Battalion, 13th Aviation Regiment, 19-10, during this year's final regular season game. Playoffs are tentatively scheduled to begin July 7.
Things looked good for 10 Guys in the game's early innings as solid defense from first baseman Dave Grove and second baseman Matt Colsia held Old Skool to zero runs for three innings. Strong fielding from the 10 Guys outfield also kept potential playmakers grounded.
By the end of the third inning, 10 Guys managed two runs to take the lead 2-0. Old Skool bats didn't let that stand and managed to answer both of 10 Guys' runs plus five more to take a 7-2 lead.
Bad judgment and errors kept the 10 Guys' roster from putting any more runs on the scoreboard for the next two innings. Old Skool's rally continued and, thanks to some power-hitting from third baseman Bud Moore and first baseman Jay Thome, the team extended its lead to 1 1-2 by the end of the sixth inning.
Ten Guys weren't quite out of the game in the top of the seventh inning when a small rally began led by left fielder and head coach Danny Taylor who managed a double. Old Skool's defense looked tired and the 10 Guys lineup took full advantage lessening the lead a bit to 11-5.
Old Skool coach and second baseman James Parris didn't let the runs slide as he stepped up first for his team in the bottom of the seventh and blasted a homerun over the centerfield fence.
This rallied the Old Skool troops who proceeded to extend the lead with one base hit after another. By the top of the eighth inning, 10 Guys had watched its hopes of a comeback fade into the night with the score 19-5.
Ten Guys pinch hitter Mike Weber managed a triple in the eighth inning which led to a short rally for his team.
Five additional runs weren't enough to get things going for 10 Guys as Old Skool managed to shut them down in two additional at-bats.
Old Skool assistant coach Thome attributed the win to teamwork and a drive to move the team forward in the upcoming playoffs.
"Everybody played really well," he said. "We got pumped up before the game and just started thinking about how well we did last year. That's what helped us do so well here."
Taylor said his team fell apart defensively but played offense effectively. He described the imbalance as the team's "Achilles' Heel" for the entire season. Still, he thinks his team will do well in the playoffs and said he looks forward to a possible rematch with Old Skool. The win puts Old Skool in sixth place and 10 Guys in 12th.
Ten Guys faces U.S. Army Aeromedical Center's team in the opening playoff game July 7 at 6:30 p.m., and Old Skool plays Master Batters at 7:30 p.m.
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