Casey, Yardbuster go distance at softball tournament

Photo By Sgt. Erik Brooks | Gerald Sharber, athletic director, Marine Corps Community Services Semper Fit Camp Foster addresses the crowd before the skills competition June 29. The skills competition kicked off the six-day Firecracker Softball Tournament.  

OKINAWA, JAPAN

07.08.2011

Story by Lance Cpl. Erik Brooks 

III Marine Expeditionary Force   

OKINAWA, Japan - Service members joined together to challenge each other during the Firecracker Softball Tournament at Camp Foster June 29 through July 4.

The six-day event consisted of 23 teams whose players hail from Okinawa, Korea and mainland Japan.

“It’s a fun way for people to get out there and take a break from work,” said Theodore R. Shadley, sports coordinator at Gunners Fitness Center on Camp Foster.

The tournament kicked off June 29 with a skills competition consisting of a three-man relay race, a base running competition and a home run derby.

Russ Mitcham of team Casey won the skills competition by blowing out his competition in the home run derby with six crushing home runs. Kim Johnson-Olion was the victor in the women’s home run derby.

The games began June 30 with an opening ceremony featuring keynote speaker Sgt. Maj. Patrick L. Kimble, sergeant major, Marine Corps Base Camp Butler, and performances from the III Marine Expeditionary Force Band.

Following the opening ceremony the teams played until 11:00 p.m. and resumed July 1 at 6 p.m. Then, the teams played continuously from July 1-3.

“One of the challenges of the tournament was reminding players of a 3 a.m. game,” said Shadley. “Players go home after a 10 p.m. game and don’t wake up.”

The teams battled each other in an elimination round where the top four teams from each bracket continued on to battle for the title of the Firecracker Softball Tournament champions.

Advancing to the second round, a double-elimination round, was Yardbusters and Okinawa Dragons from the women’s bracket, and men’s teams included American Legion and Casey.

The Yardbusters defeated the Dragons in the championship game 6-5. Kristy Robinson hit the game-winning run in the bottom of the sixth to break the 5-5 tie making the Yardbusters the female champions of the tournament.

American Legion and Casey played six games to battle their way out of the double-elimination round. The teams were then set to meet for the championship game July 4.

American legion blew out Casey 15-7, however, as a result of Legion having lost one game in the double elimination round the teams had to play a second game.

In the second game, Casey jumped out early with a two-run home run from Brandon Sonnenburg. From there on it was a defensive game with runs scattered between innings. Casey prevailed and earned the title of the Firecracker Tournament Champions beating the defending champions, American Legion, 9-2.

• Date Taken: 07.08.2011
• Date Posted: 07.07.2011 20:11
• Story ID: 73408
• Location: OKINAWA, JP