FORT DRUM, N.Y. - This year's Mountainfest celebration started June 17 with a postwide division run and a day full of unit team sporting events all over Fort Drum.

Hundreds of Soldiers of all ranks participated in a cross-country run and tournaments in combatives, flag football, soccer, softball, beach volleyball and basketball. The day ended with the crowd favorite commanders versus sergeants major softball game.

Last year, the 1st Brigade Combat Team won the coveted Commander's Cup Trophy, and Warrior Soldiers came out to defend their title but also to just have fun.

"The competition was fun," said Staff Sgt. Colin Santacroce, of B Company, 1st Battalion, 32nd Infantry Regiment, 1st BCT, 10th Mountain Division (LI), who played softball. "It's important to have days where the uniforms aren't on and everyone gets to compete."

Point totals were tallied for the top three in each event and double-point values for the cross-country event. First-place teams earned three points, second gained two and third place received one point.

During the cross-country 10K, 10th Combat Aviation Brigade took first place, 2nd Brigade Combat Team took second and 1st BCT took third. Combatives competition was held at Monti Gym, where 10th CAB took first as 1st BCT and Sustainment Brigade followed. The 10th CAB took first in flag football as well, and the airmen of 20th Air Support Operations Squadron and 1st BCT finished behind them.

The 1st BCT took top honors in the soccer tournament with 10th CAB and Headquarters and Headquarters Battalion, 10th Mountain Division (LI), finishing behind.

The softball tournament finished late in the afternoon, as 1st BCT beat out the Sustainment Brigade and HHBN. In beach volleyball at Remington Pond, first place went to 1st BCT, as they beat out 20th ASOS and 10th CAB. The basketball tourney at Magrath Gym saw 2nd BCT beat out 10th CAB and HHBN.

Even though both 10th CAB and 1st BCT had three first-place wins, the 10th CAB beat the competition with a total of 18 to 14 due to their first place during the cross-country run.

The Fort Drum Family and Morale, Welfare and Recreation Office staff, who organized the sports day, ended the day with a barbecue as the commanders and sergeants major took to Staff Sgt. Truman Cool Memorial Ball Fields. Different from other competitions, the losing team's captain ends up with the trophy: a toilet seat with plaques of past winners.

"I don't want to wear that thing. … It's a toilet seat," said Command Sgt. Maj. R. Ray Lewis, 10th Mountain Division (LI) senior enlisted adviser. "I also don't want to hear about it all year (if we lose)."

Although the game was all in fun, the spectators wouldn't have known it due to the level of intensity. Maj. Justin Swanson, of 2nd Battalion, 10th Aviation Regiment, 10th Combat Aviation Brigade, launched a rocket over the centerfield fence in the second inning that added insult to injury. By the third inning, the commanders were leading 19-0.

In the next inning, with two outs, the sergeants major rallied for three runs, but it wasn't enough as the commanders claimed a 21-3 win.

Maj. Gen. Jeffrey L. Bannister, 10th Mountain Division (LI) and Fort Drum commander, who pitched for the commanders, pulled Lewis and the other sergeants major to the center of the infield and ceremoniously placed the toilet seat around Lewis' neck.

"It felt good to help the commanders retain the (win)," Swanson said.