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***image1***The Lady Rams did it again. They are the Army and Air Force Community Level Softball and the U.S. Air Forces in Europe Large Units Softball champions for the second year in a row.
The USAFE tournament championship game was held Sept. 2 at Aviano Air Base, Italy.
The Lady Rams beat Lakenheath’s Lady Eagles in the championship game, 9-5.
The Army and Air Force tournament, known as the Final Four, was held last weekend also at Aviano.
The Lady Rams first met Heidelberg’s Lady Generals in the tournament. This first match-up saw the Lady Rams squeak by the Lady Generals, 7-6.
“We barely won that game, and they could’ve tied it up,” said Lady Rams Coach Keith Baber. “It was the bottom of the seventh and they had the tying run on second base with one out.
“Before it was all said and done, there were two outs, bases loaded with the tying run at third, but they just couldn’t do it,” he said.
These two teams have met before on the field. The Lady Rams play in the Army community level softball season, and they ended the season with no losses. However, in the four tournaments of the season, the Lady Rams and the Lady Generals spilt, with two wins each.
The Lady Rams then shut-out the Lakenheath Lady Eagles, 5 to 0. The Lady Eagles had to settle for third place.
The Lady Rams and the Lady Generals met again at the championship game. This time, it was not close from start to finish. The Lady Rams swept past the Lady Generals, 14-5.
The Lady Rams quickly got the lead, 10 to 0 by the third inning. The Lady Rams were up by 11 runs in the fifth inning.
“Our defense was solid,” said Baber. “It carried us through the USAFE tournament and to the Final Four tournament.
“I’m very proud of this team and their accomplishments this year,” he said.
The following Lady Rams were selected for All Tournament: Nessa Burnett, Sherrie Mabry, Ann Rhoades and Mary Schmidt.
***image2***The Spangdahlem Sabres are the 2004 Army and Air Force Softball Champions for the men’s division. The Aviano Dragons grabbed second, and Stuttgart’s Stallions placed third.
(Courtesy of the 415th Base Support Battalion and the 31st Fighter Wing public affairs offices.)
