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Their journey began May 7 at the youth fields off Goss Road.
This was the first practice for the Redstone softball team, three-time defending champion of the annual Community Softball Game which is among the events for the Armed Forces Celebration, June 8-15. Team Redstone will try to recapture the Target Destroyed Trophy by beating the North Alabama Rockets on June 12 at 5:30 p.m. at Toyota Field in Madison.
Redstone won 23-10 last year as retired Sgt. 1st Class Chris Tilley went 3-for-4 with a three-run homer, a solo shot and three runs scored. His three-run dinger in the bottom of the sixth hit the left field fence at Toyota Field on the fly.
Members of the opposing Rockets, the community leaders’ team, reverently call him “Thor.” Tilley is ready to drop the hammer again this year.
“We’re going to win like we always do,” he said.
The Redstone coaches include retired Master Sgt. Marius “Doc” Dockery, the pitcher, of the Aviation Mission Systems and Architecture Project Office; retired Marine Master Sgt. Ty Butler; and Garrison Command Sgt. Maj. Dylan Lemasters.
“Third time’s a charm,” Dockery said. “Fourth time’s a dynasty.”
“Redstone will not be defeated,” Butler said. “Madison County/City can standby to be four-peated. We will prevail.”
“It’s not rocket surgery,” Lemasters said. “We came to win.”
The returning first baseman is Larry Cothren, division chief for aircraft survivability equipment at the Redstone Test Center. “This is usually a fun event,” he said.
Vee Gonzales, catcher, is back for her second year. She is public affairs officer for the Rapid Capabilities and Critical Technologies Office. Adam Creel, chief engineer of the hypersonic launcher at RCCTO, is a first-year player.
“I think it’s going to be different and challenging this year as defending champions,” Gonzales said. “But I think we have a great crew and some new people that will step to that challenge.”
Representing NASA is Robert Champion, project manager for exploration upper stage in the Artemis program at Marshall Space Flight Center. This is his second year with the team.
“After last year, I got all the confidence in the world. We’re gonna wipe the floor with them,” Champion said laughing, “Got a great team.”
Garrison Commander Col. Brian Cozine is also back for his second year.
“We’re out here to play again and let people know that Team Redstone is a Federal Center of Excellence,” Cozine said. “So, it’s not just an Army team. This is a true Team Redstone team, but we’re here and happy to support the fans. And we look forward to seeing you all out here.”
Back for his fourth year with the team is Maj. Eugene Muniz, assistant product manager for the Missile Defense Agency. He had two hits in last year’s game.
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