FORT GEORGE G. MEADE, Md. (June 2, 2011) -- Navy Information Operations Command Maryland's veteran player D.J. Denato maintains that the key to slow-pitch softball is defense. So it's no surprise the strong fielding of NIOC was his team's main weapon in the recent matchup against First Army Division East.
NIOC defeated First Army in five innings, 12-1, on May 24 at Rosie's Field.
After a week off due to rain cancellations, the top two Division III intramural teams, posting 2-0 records, were ready for a face-off.
Players from First Army were anxious to get back onto the field after the long break, said team member John Sillbaugh. As last year's runner-up in the playoffs, the team's goal is to take the next step to become champions.
"We've been pretty solid all around; we've been hitting a little better than last year," Sillbaugh said. "We're looking for our shot at the title this year."
NIOC built momentum during the first week of the season, defeating Cyber Command and the 29th Intelligence Squadron by holding both teams to single-digit runs. NIOC team member Garrett Schoonver points to the well-rounded squad as reasoning for the team's early season success.
"We've been hitting pretty strong, getting a lot of runs in and then coasting through the rest of the game with good defense," he said. "As long as we keep to what we do best, it should be a good game."
Denato, who leads the NIOC team, said defense is fundamental to the team's strategy.
"I believe defense comes first," he said. "If you shut them down one, two, three and make no errors, then they don't have the chance to score. Then you can come out and score a bunch of runs."
That is exactly what NIOC did to knock First Army off the top of the standings. First Army was unable to score in the first inning, while Edward Banks, Mark Quijada and Denato paced NIOC to a five-run lead in its half of the first inning. Doubles by Banks and Quijada brought in two runs each, while Denato's single added another run.
NIOC added four more runs in the second inning. A single by Banks delivered two runs, and an in-the-park home run by Denato increased the lead to 9-0. NIOC added another run in the third inning for a 10-0 lead.
In the fourth inning, First Army scored a run off Scott Weathersby's single. However, a fourth inning single by Denato and a sacrifice fly ball by Schoonver scored two runs, advancing NIOC's lead to 12-1.
With First Army down 12-1, the "mercy rule" -- or the slightly less polite term "slaughter rule" -- was put into play to bring the game to a merciful end. The game ended in the middle of the fifth with a score of 12-1.
Banks was the lead NIOC scorer with four RBIs, while Denato registered three RBIs and a home run.
Last year, NIOC finished in the top four during the Division III regular season. A few players have returned, but there are also many new faces on the roster.
Denato said his team is working through the kinks of the regular season and figuring out the correct positions, but said he hopes to head into the playoffs with "full steam."
"This team has the potential to be a lot better than last year's team," Denato said. "We feel good, but we have a long way to go."
Social Sharing