Photo By Jared Eastman | Sgt. Antonio Henderson, with Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Advise and...... read more read more
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BAGHDAD—On a blistering hot Iraq day, most soldiers would find some excuse to remain indoors, citing the risk of heat exhaustion. But for two softball teams comprised of soldiers with 1st Advise and Assist Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division, United States Division – Center, the heat of the desert couldn’t compare to the rivalry between them and the love of the game.
The Bombers, from Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st AAB, beat the Team Falcon, from Brigade Special Troops Battalion, 1st AAB, by one run, 23-22, in the last inning of the game.
“Winning is great, but whether you win or lose you take something out of it,” said Spc. Clint Glass, from the Bombers.
It was a bittersweet contest as this softball game was the last these teams will play on Contingency Operating Station Falcon. United States Division - Center is scheduled to turn the base over to Iraqi Security Forces in October, marking another milestone in building a more secure, stable and sovereign Iraq.
“We are sad this is the last game of the year here on Falcon,” said Staff Sgt. Kenneth Simmons, with Team Falcon. “We appreciate the guys that did come out and support us: most of the fans have been here all year. We’ve had five tournaments this year and it’s been a good season.”
The tournaments are run by Morale, Welfare and Recreation, and served as a taste of home for the Soldiers at COS Falcon.
“Sports give you a chance to relax and have fun and not really stress about the job,” Glass said, “You just kind of feel like you’re back home for a little bit. Even though this was the last tournament we can still pull together and come out here to support MWR.”
In a game filled with a lot of playful ribbing and good-natured insults, the Bombers fell below Team Falcon by 7-5 in the first inning.
“We had good sportsmanship between us and the other team,” said Sgt. Antonio Henderson, coach for the Bombers, “They are kind of our rival team. We tease one another a bit; it’s part of the game.”
At the end of the second inning, Team Falcon increased its lead to 11-7. However, in the third, the Bombers scored three runs and managed to shut out Team Falcon’s offense, bringing the score back to 11-10.
“Even though we went through some hard times, my team was resilient,” Henderson said. “When we were down, we came all the way back. I love that about my team.”
Resiliency is a word that would best describe the next two innings. The Bombers strung together several singles and doubles to increase the score to 14-10 at the bottom of the fifth.
“The game went well,” Simmons said, “We came up a little short, our teams have been battling all year and it finally came out to the last game of the season and they took it.”
Both teams had big hits in the sixth, and by the end of the inning, the Bombers held just an 18-17 lead. Then, at the top of the seventh, the Bombers scored five more runs. The good-natured jabs ran thick across the dusty field; comments could be heard about players having holes in their gloves or whether their ill-fated swing was because of dust in their eyes.
“There’s really no difference in the teams or the camaraderie out here and in garrison, however, they have grass (back home),” Glass said.
Team Falcon gave the Bombers a run for their money, sending ball after ball into the outfield as they strived to catch up, but even with their well-placed hits they came up short, leaving the score at 23-22, Bombers. Although Team Falcon managed four homeruns to the Bombers’ two, it wasn’t enough.
However, even though the season at COS Falcon has ended, soldiers on both teams have their eyes set on the next tier of their softball ‘career’ at their follow-on base after leaving COS Falcon.
“We will be playing softball at (our next base),” said Glass, “And I will play softball until the day I leave.”
| Date Taken: | 08.27.2010 |
| Date Posted: | 08.27.2010 14:38 |
| Story ID: | 55267 |
| Location: | BAGHDAD, IQ |
| Web Views: | 56 |
| Downloads: | 6 |
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