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***image1***As Major League baseball season begins to wind down, the action on the diamond was starting up Labor Day weekend at the Camp Darby European Softball Championship.
The Ramstein Rams men’s and women’s varsity softball teams, as well as two other Kaiserslautern area men’s teams – Smashmouth and Morning Wood – were among the 14 teams from across Europe who traveled to Darby to see who would take the title of champion.
After several days of round-robin play, it was the Lady Rams and the Lakenheath Lady Eagles who battled for first at the end of the double elimination tournament.
According to head umpire Thomas Villegas, the highlight of the women’s finals was when Ramstein put up six runs in the first inning of the final game.
“Both teams played their hearts out, but the first inning really set the pace for the rest of the game,” said Mr. Villegas. “Ramstein defeated Lakenheath 14 to 4.”
But for Lady Ram’s Coach Salomon Vieyra, taking the champ-ionship was nothing out of the ordinary because his team has been cleaning up all year.
“This year, we finished with an impressive record of 44-7 and won 14 of the 15 tournaments we competed in,” he said. “Finishing the year winning the first European Softball Championships is just the perfect way to end the season.”
Not only did the team take the championship, but several of the Lady Rams won MVP and all-tournament nods.
“Leading the way for the Lady Rams were Tournament MVP and Homerun Derby Champion Jennifer Taylor (shortstop) and Defense MVP Corinna Vieyra (third base),” he said. “Our all tournament selections were Andrea Byrd, Megan Schafer, Kelly McKay and Erika Villiard.”
And it wasn’t just the ladies who turned heads during the tournament. Finishing in second place, the Ramstein men’s team went up against Spangdahlem in a hard-fought championship.
“The first five of the six Ramstein batters hit homeruns in the first inning and then at the end of second inning, Ramstein was leading 11-0,” said Mr. Villegas.
But at the top of the third inning, Ramstein didn’t score and Spang-dahlem eventually came back to take the game, 24-14.
Like the ladies, several of the Ramstein men took home individual awards for their performance over the weekend. Winning the Offensive MVP award from Ramstein was Shane Byrd, and all tournament selections included Jason Acre, Mark Noll and Gary LaFon.
Finishing third in the men’s division was another KMC team, Smashmouth, who lost to Ramstein after battling their way out of the loser’s bracket. Smashmouth players Darren Moody and Kelvin Davis were named to the all-tournament team.
“Our guys really came together as a team this weekend,” said Smashmouth Coach Steve Pecht. “We gave Ramstein a good run but fell just short. Finishing third in the European Championships was a great way to end our season.”
And while the winning teams enjoyed their individual victories, the overall success of the tournament was something that everyone could celebrate.
“Softball players love to play softball, they like the competition, rivalries and esprit de corps that comes from building teams,” said Ramstein Mens’ Coach Jason Acre, who, along with Gary LaFon, spearheaded the idea behind the tournament to bolster the varsity sports program. “The European Softball Championships exceeded our initial goal and the tournament was a smashing success thanks to support from USAG Livorno sports directors Jimmy Roddy and Todd Smith.”
While the European Championships marked the end of the season for most military softball players, there will be a “SuperDraft” softball tournament at Ramstein Oct. 4 and 5 on the Southside Softball Fields. The cost is $10 a player, $12 if you want a T-shirt. Players will be put into a pool and handpicked by team captains. All those interested in playing should e-mail or call Patrick Acre, 480-6735, or Gary LaFon, 480-2738, with your preferred position and T-shirt size.
(435th Air Base Wing Public Affairs contributed to this article)
