FORT RUCKER, Ala. (May 17, 2012) -- Summer is bringing more than the heat onto Fort Rucker as softball season gets into full swing.
The Bad News Bears took on the Copperheads May 14, dominating their opponents after the game was called at the end of the fourth inning with a score of 24-3.
The Bad News Bears took an early lead knocking out 11 runs in the first inning alone, which allowed them to build the lead they needed to secure a victory in Monday's game.
"Winning these games is always great," said Jeremy Stephan, coach for the Bad News Bears. "You can't ask for anything better than that."
"It's great to win," said Russ Smedley, pitcher for the Bad News Bears, "and at my age, I'm just lucky to be here," he added jokingly.
Smedley said he's been playing the game for 54 years and a lot of the motivation to play comes from getting out and being able to play with his teammates.
"I'm 60 and I still have the fever to play," he said. "I've been motived my entire life to play this game and I come out every spring to play. I can still swing that bat and throw the strikes."
Stephan said his reason for playing is to break the cycle from his everyday work schedule.
"It's just fun and helps to break the monotony of the day," he said. "It's great to get out and play with the guys and just compete -- that's what it's all about."
The games aren't just for the players to enjoy, as Family member Christina Baldwin came out to support her husband, Martin Baldwin a player for the Bad News Bears. She watched the game from the stands with her daughter, Mary Ann, who yelled "go daddy" as her father took the field.
"I like to come out to the games to watch my husband and let my daughter play out here while he's playing [softball]," she said. "It's nice to be able to get my daughter and myself out of the house once in a while."
The intramural season continues throughout the summer with more than 20 teams competing. The season will culminate with the playoffs in July where the best teams will compete for the title of post champions -- a title the Bad News Bears will be striving to achieve, according to the coach.
"We absolutely expect to contend for championship," he said. "We're going to try to have fun and stay lose throughout the season to get everyone into the game. We're just going to do what we do best, and that's play ball."
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