"It's not how you start, it's how you finish."
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FORT POLK, La. - Those words paint a telling portrait of the Fort Polk Gators, the softball team representing the Soldiers and civilians of this Central Louisiana Army post.
After beginning the season with a lackluster 4 win, 12 loss record, the local crushers reeled off 10 straight wins to capture two tournaments, including the United States Specialty Sports Association's Military World Tournament title Aug. 20-22.
"This team could have quit the way we started," said coach and first baseman Paul Whitfield. "But they never gave up and they really came together in the end."
Whitfield said that in many tournaments, military teams are looked at with disdain and placed in difficult tournament brackets in the hopes they will be defeated early.
"We overcame that and hung tough," Whitfield said. "We've got a lot of experience, we know each other and we know the game."
A quick look at the roster reveals the experience Whitfield alluded to. Included among the 13 team members are a command sergeant major, three sergeants first class, two staff sergeants and two civilians who spent more years than they want to admit on the diamond. In fact, between left fielder Mitchell Smith, a Department of the Army civilian with U.S. Army Garrison, and left centerfielder Timothy Woods, command sergeant major for Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment, 88th Brigade Support Battalion, 1st Maneuver Enhancement Brigade, there is more than 90 years experience.
"When you love the game as much as I do, you just can't give it up," Woods said. "I'm very competitive and as long as I have that competitive fire, I'll play."
At the USSSA tournament in Panama City, Fla., Whitfield said the Gators steamrolled their opponents, winning by an average of 10 runs a game.
"We started out beating a Coast Guard team 28-4 and never looked back," Whitfield said. "Our tightest game was a 9-5 win over Naval Air Station Whiting Field."
The 17 teams in the military tournament were divided into two brackets for round robin play. The bracket winners then played for the championship. The Gators defeated a team from Atlanta, Ga., in the finals 12-5.
Leading the way were Sgt. Thomas Morgan who claimed the tournament most valuable player title, and Sergeant 1st Class Jose Salas, who was named outstanding defensive player. Also named to the all-tourney team were Wood, Sergeant 1st Class Ross Frey, civilian Kendrick Johnson and Staff Sergeant Wayne Terlaje. Whitfield was named all tournament manager. Other players on the team include: Sgt. Gerardo Contreras, Headquarters and Headquarters Battery, 5th Battalion, 25th Field Artillery Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division; Staff Sgt. Kevin Fink, 94th Brigade Support Battalion, 1st MEB; Pfc. John Hass, Bravo Company, 94th BSB, 1st MEB; Sgt. Devin Monroe, 2nd Battalion, 30th Infantry Regiment, 4th BCT, 10th Mtn Div; and Spc. Edward West, 603rd Transportation Company, 88th BSB, 1st MEB.
Morgan, assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 5th Bn, 25th FA, actually began his run at MVP during a tournament in Houston Aug. 13-15 by collecting 23 hits in 24 bats. He followed that up with a 10-for-14 performance in the worlds.
"I have these guys to thank for the award," Morgan said. "If it weren't for this squad, with the way my personal life has been lately, I wouldn't be as happy as I am now. They've taught me a lot about softball and life."
For Salas, Joint Readiness Training Center Operations Group, his defensive play at third base is characterized by one word - pride.
"Defense is what wins games, especially the close ones," he said. "I take satisfaction in knowing that I've done the best I can with my glove."
Woods summed up the feelings of his teammates when he spoke about the relationships players develop that last long after the season is over.
"It's all about the camaraderie," he said. "You play at different installations throughout your military career and you find you run into guys you've played with before at other locations. At the world tournament, I ran into a dozen guys I have played with or against during my time in the Army. I was able to reunite with my old softball buddies; it was a reunion."
The Gators close out their season Saturday and Sunday with a tournament in Pineville. After that, Whitfield said it will be time to get to work on next year's team.
"We're losing some guys to deployment, so we've got to pick up a few guys," he said. "I'm sure we'll be good again next year, but it's going to be hard to top this group;
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