Sharks win Goodfellow softball championship

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Luis Loza Gutierrez
  • Public Affairs
GOODFELLOW AIR FORCE BASE, Texas --  The 316th Training Squadrons A-team base softball team, the Sharks, became this year's base softball champions by defeating the Junk Yard Dogs of the 17th Mission Support Group in two games July 20 at Softball Field 1.

Head Coach/starting pitcher Stephen Kalnbach said the 316 A-team had a great year, finishing the regular season with an 11-0 record. The only real close game during the regular season was against the MSG. It seemed only fitting that the two teams would meet for the championship.

The Sharks ended up with the visiting team position after the first coin toss, which can sometimes be a big disadvantage for a team when the scores are close, and in this case it was.

During the first game neither team was able to break away, but the Sharks were able to hold on for a 9-8 win.

"The second game started with us losing the coin toss again. We jumped off with four runs in the first inning and were able to end the first three innings with double plays to keep them from mounting a rally," said Coach Kalnbach.

"The MSG was a formidable opponent. They just kept chipping away at our lead," he added.

At the end of six innings the score was tied at 9. The Sharks were able to score one run in the seventh and final inning.

The Sharks were then able to shut down the Junk Yard Dogs in the bottom of the seventh to take the 10-9 victory.

Looking back on the season Coach Kalnbach said he knew that the title would not come easy.

"We entered the playoffs without our left fielder, third baseman, and shortstop. The guys that filled in did a great job but sometime the chemistry isn't there when you make changes," said Coach Kalnbach.

"Getting our short stop back (for the playoffs) allowed us to put our best outfielder (Ryan Norton) back into his position thus returning two positions to normal. The games turned into what a base championship should be," the Skipper added.

"This was also special because several players said this was the first championship they have won. One even expressed that this is the first championship they had ever won in any sport," said Coach Kalnbach.

The loss to the Sharks fell extra hard on the shoulders of the Junk Yard Dogs not just because they were close games.

With the softball championship title, the MSG would have become the first organization on Goodfellow Air Force Base to win the top three sports on base, capturing what sports fans call a triple crown.

"We were not aware that the MSG had won the other two main sports (flag football and basketball)," said Coach Kalnbach.

"That is probably a good thing because of the pressure it might have put on us."
Less than two weeks have passed since the Sharks became champs yet, Coach Kalnbach is already looking at the challenges next season might bring.

The Sharks will be losing one player for next year including the three they lost during the season.

"We are hoping to fill those positions and pick up right where we left off this season," said Coach Kalnbach.