101st Air and Space Operations Group player Joshua Wiggs slams what became an over-the-fence home run during the Tyndall Intramural Softball Championship game against the 325th Maintenance Squadron team August 5. Later in the game, when MXS had bases loaded with one out, Wiggs was instrumental in orchestrating a double play, eliminating any further threat of the opponent scoring. (Photo by A1C Sergio Gamboa)

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101st Air and Space Operations Group player Karrie Warren throws the ball infield for a play during the Tyndall Intramural Softball Championship game August 5. (Photo by Capt. Jared Scott)

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Players from the 101st Air and Space Operations Group team gather around the trophy that represents their fifth consecutive Tyndall Intramural Softball Championship. Back row from left: Michael Haynes; Glenn Webb; Karrie Warren; Brian Lafond; Joshua Wiggs; Darren Guitard; Jerome Howard; Melvin Martin; Richard Phillips; Front row from left: Shaun Lindner; James Britton; Michael Horton; Kevin Peoples; Robert Arthur; Michael Riley; Missing from photo: Emile Neron-Bilodeau; Brandon Danford; Kevin Atterbury; Matthew Cook; Gelonzo Davis and John Fushich (Photo by A1C Sergio Gamboa)

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101st AOG softball team takes home base intramural championship for fifth straight year

Published Aug. 8, 2014
By Mary McHale
AFNORTH Public Affairs

TYNDALL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. -- Overcoming a first-inning 4-0 deficit, the 101st Air and Space Operations Group softball team defeated the 325th Maintenance Squadron team 10-9 to take home the Tyndall Intramural Softball Championship trophy for the fifth straight year.

With the 101st AOG going into the top of the seventh and final inning with a 9-4 lead, the maintainers battled back, scoring five runs, to even it up 9-9. Then, as MXS threatened with one out and bases loaded, Joshua Wiggs stopped them in their tracks with a spectacularly-executed double play, quashing any further opponent scoring.

"The double play that ended the game was just a matter of me being in the right place at the right time," Wiggs said. "It was a great game between two good teams who came to play and left it all on the field. It was a total team effort on our part, our pitching, timely hits and those who came off the bench and made plays in the field. It was a fun year and I would like to thank the gym staff for everything they do."

As they entered the bottom of the seventh still tied, it was Melvin Martin who stepped to the plate for the game-winning hit that drove Kevin Peoples from second base to home for the victory.

"After MXS tied the game in the top of the seventh and final inning, I felt if we didn't win the game in our last at bat, we likely would not win," Martin said. "Sports are about momentum and they had wrestled it away from us. With one of our fastest players on second base, I yelled, 'this is it, you have to score!' I fired up the crowd for support, connected on a well-placed pitch and drove it up the middle as Peoples did what he knew he had to do. They say success is at the intersection of preparedness and opportunity and I was just fortunate enough to be the one called and ready."

101st AOG player Darren Guitard agreed with Wiggs and Martin on the pace of the game.

"It was an exciting game with both teams playing hard all the way through," he said. "I think the final score more than attests to that."