Photo By Gunnery Sgt. Dengrier Baez | Iwakuni's third baseman, Justin R. Rodriguez, slides just in time to avoid being...... read more read more
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OKINAWA, Japan - Five Marine and one Navy team competed in the Far East Regional Softball Tournament on Field 1, Camp Foster, Aug. 10-14.
The six teams participating were aptly named: Marine Corps Base Camp Butler, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, 3rd Marine Division, 3rd Marine Logistic Group, Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni and United States Naval Hospital, Okinawa.
"The yearly tournament is one of the biggest on the island," said Cory Carter, sports specialist and lead event coordinator for Marine Corps Community Services. "Players from six commands go head-to-head to win the trophy and the title of Far East champions."
The Iwakuni team made its appearance with a line up full of young players. Although the mainland team had a lot of new talent in the team, the youngest team in the competition was 3rd Marine Division.
"It's my first time playing in a competition like this," said Terry McGee, outfielder for the 3rd Marine Division. "A lot of young guys are playing and this is a good way to keep the morale up."
This competition is about determining which team is the best out here, and which players are the best, Carter said.
Besides command bragging rights, which is a plus for the player, there's another motive for the competition, said Carter.
Out of all the players, six will be picked by a scout to play in the All-Marine Softball Team, he added.
Tryouts will be held at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, N.C., for those players who are selected, Carter said.
There were teams with potential to take it all, he added.
The Iwakuni team came in winning every game for the two rounds, owing their success to an excellent coach, Carter said.
Comprised of more experienced players, the 1st MAW team was the team to watch out for, shutting out MCB with a score of 19-0.
"We didn't come with any expectations," said Donald A. Baker, outfielder for the Iwakuni team. "Whether we win or lose, it's a learning experience."
Factors like the humidity, terrain and wind threw the Iwakuni players out of their comfort zone, Baker said.
Although it was a change in climate for the young players, there was a level of excitement among them, he added.
"This is the first year we didn't let the players use their own bats," Carter said. "We thought the change was going to be a problem, but it was not. The players actually like these bats better."
There's even a big rivalry, somewhat similar to that of the Yankees and the Red Sox, between the 1st MAW and MCB, Carter said.
Everyone seems to gun for these two teams every year, he added.
"They want to label themselves as the best," Carter said. "It's all about bragging rights, period."
It was a battle of the titans, as the Iwakuni and 1st MAW teams faced off in the championship game that almost ended in an "if necessary" game with a score of 5-3 in favor of 1st MAW.
The now two-time champion had five players of seven selected for the All-Marine Softball Team. Tournament Most Valuable Player, Joshua O'Brien, 1st MAW, is one of those players going to Cherry Point.
Six-time All-Marine Tim Vannoy, 1st MAW, got a gold medal after five silver-medal finishes in previous regional tournaments.
Also, 3rd Marine Logistics Group's Rolando Wallace, was added to the six players already selected to the All-Marine tryouts.
The 1st MAW's record was 8-0 in the tournament.
| Date Taken: | 08.14.2009 |
| Date Posted: | 08.26.2009 02:25 |
| Story ID: | 37961 |
| Location: | OKINAWA, OKINAWA, JP |
| Web Views: | 245 |
| Downloads: | 125 |
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