IWAKUNI, Japan - ATC dominated the IYAOYAS 16-6 in an intramural softball game at the main softball field here Saturday, July 9. The game was part of the 2011 intramural softball tournament which ended Tuesday.
ATC, living up to the old saying, “the best defense is a good offense,” took the lead early in the game with a series of deep fly balls and grand slams amassing a total of 14 runs in the first inning.
This was the first time all season ATC has gotten that many runners home in the first inning.
The IYAOYAS were not able to rebound until the bottom of the third inning. A series of bad pitches over the plate helped ATC in their bid to take the win. The pitches helped to set up situations where ATC was often walked, resulting in bases loaded and fly balls deep to the outfield. The IYAOYAS players also had problems communicating with one another with pop-ups.
Adam Sanders, ATC right centerfielder, had four runners batted in with a grand slam to center field, quickly driving up the score to 6-0 for the IYAOYAS.
“It was good to make a grand slam today,” said Sanders. “I was glad to help out.”
After the grand slam, ATC continued to pour on the hits. Paul Torres, ATC center fielder, hit a fly ball deep to center field, bringing Joel Berberena, ATC outfielder, home. Torres and Scott Hayman, ATC catcher, were then brought home by way of a fly ball from Christopher Jones, ATC pitcher, making the score 8-0.
ATC added six more runs home before finally being forced off the field when Berberena hit a line drive to second base, being tagged out at first. At the bottom of the first, the first two IYAOYAS batters were quickly ruled out by way of fly balls. If not for Matt Lowry,
IYAOYAS pitcher/first baseman, making a homer, ATC would’ve pitched a shutout in the first inning. The first inning ended with a score of 14-1.
The second inning had the IYAOYAS tack on two more runs. With one out, Sam Gravet, ATC third baseman, and Torres were brought home by Jones with a fly ball deep to center field, making the score 16-1.
“We just came to play today,” said Jones. “Scoring those 14 runs in the first inning helped us out.”
The second inning caped ATC scoring for the night as the IYAOYAS started to get their defense to work together.
At the top of the third, ATC was quickly taken off the field by way of a series of quick reactions to fly balls in the outfield.
With John Bass, IYAOYAS pitcher, on second, Lowry on first and two outs, Kenny Snook, IYAOYAS shortstop, hit a homer deep to center field making the score 16-4 at the bottom of the third. That would not be the IYAOYAS only homer for the afternoon. The next play, Robert Griffin, IYAOYAS second baseman, hit a homer to right field, making the score now 16-5. The IYAOYAS would get one more runner home during the game. Johnny Altieri, IYAOYAS left fielder, was on second with William Stevens, IYAOYAS pitcher, on first.
Shannon Boyer, IYAOYAS second baseman, hit a line drive between first and second. Altieri made it to home. Stevens made it to second. Bob Jernigan, IYAOYAS centerfielder hit a line drive to second and was tagged out at first before Boyer could get home ending the inning.
The next inning saw neither team score any more runs. ATC went on to finish the game comfortably in the lead with 16-6.
“It felt good to come out here and beat the number three seeded team,” said Jones. “A few days before we beat the number one seeded team.”
Though the team won, they allowed the IYAOYAS to attempt a comeback with five unanswered runs in the third inning.
“We played deeper than normal and were sacrificing a lot,” Jones added.
The two teams will continue to roll on in the tournament.
The next round of the tournament was played Monday. The tournament ended Tuesday.