FORT SILL, Okla. -- The All-Marines Men's Softball Team was the second team to show up at Cannoneer Complex, but they're still behind the power curve.
"The Marine Corps almost didn't have a team because we didn't have funding, but they found us some funding at the last second," said Head Coach Tony Hawkins. "Instead of having our camp at Camp LeJeune (N.C.), the people that were selected went straight to Fort Sill."
Fifteen Marines, eight veteran softball players and seven rookies, showed up Sept. 4 and went straight to work. The second night here they had a game against a local team where their teamwork was put to the test.
"We struggled initially out of the gate last night. We got behind 11-1 in the first inning. In the second and the third innings tightened up defensively, the errors stopped happening, the other team didn't score at all. In the second and the third and we started to wake up and found our rhythm," said assistant coach Chief Warrant Officer 4 Pat Marshall, 2nd Assault Amphibian Battalion.
Waking up was literally an issue for outfielder Staff Sgt. Anthony Hawkins, who arrived from Okinawa, Japan. It's his first time on the team and he's determined to make his mark.
"We didn't actually have a tryout per say, but we are all kind of trying out right now because making the team isn't good enough you also want to start," said Hawkins.
Marshall said in the short turnaround the team has before the Armed Forces Tournament, the challenge is not only going over fundamentals, but also finding the right spot for each player.
He said each Marine is confident in their ability to play in any position, but he wants to find their strength.
"Talk is cheap go out on the field and we'll try you out on the infield and try you out on the outfield."
A returning All-Marines player, Sgt. Casey Horton, Marine Aircraft Logistics Squadron, said even though they have a short time to mesh as a team, he is confident in their chances against the other services.
"We were down 11-1 in the first, we could've easily folded up and took the loss, but we fought back and ended up winning. I think that was a big step for our first game playing together. It shows that we have a fight in us."
A veteran on the team, Master Gunnery Sgt. Cherylton McRae, Combat Logistical Regiment 27, is enjoying the ride. He's played at this level for the past 20 years, and is retiring from the Marine Corps after 30 years.
"After next week there's no coming back next year and playing with these guys. I'm going to take it one step at a time, each game at a time and enjoy the last nine games at this level of my career and move on from there."
He said the first time he played in the Armed Forces Tournament was 1987.
"I was young, full of energy and ready to play ball. Most of the guys were older and they taught me a lot about the game back then. I just took it for what it's worth and just kept on trying to develop myself each year," said McRae.
He said his secret to longevity in competitive sports is to stay healthy and always stay on top of the game. Something he is passing on to the younger players before he leaves.
"The Army was gracious enough to host us so we had a place to practice. That was a blessing and helpful for us as we try to get out here in a week's time to compete in the Armed Forces . I'm just thankful that our athletic director, Jim Medley, found a way that we could even have a team."
Social Sharing