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336th TRG puts the smack down on OG

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Larry W. Carpenter Jr.
  • 92nd ARW Public Affairs
FAIRCHILD AIR FORCE BASE, Wash. --  The 336th Training Group came ready to play, and beat the 92nd Operations Group 17-12 at the Intramural Base Softball Championship July 27.

This is no surprise to the reigning 336th TRG; the team has won four consecutive base championships.

In the beginning it looked like it was going to be a rout as Survival jumped out to a 4-1 lead after the first, but that's when the OG settled down and made a game out of it.

"Leading the game at the end of the first was the key moment in the game," said Senior Airman Daniel Wiggins, 22nd Training Squadron. "At that point, our team was able to just get out there and play the other team. It was our game to lose."

Leading off in the second, 1st Lt. Brandon 'Stoner' Cieola, 93rd Air Refueling Squadron, closed the gap to 4-2 with a blast over the center-field fence. Later in the inning, with two men on, Capt. Brendan Voitik, 92nd Operations Support Squadron, smashed the ball deep, clearing the fence for a three-run shot and a 5-4 OG lead going into the bottom of the second inning.

The 336th TRG would score two in the bottom of the second, retaking the lead going into the third inning.

The OG jumped back in front after Senior Airman Anthony Montani, 92nd OSS, sent the ball deep, for a two-run moon shot over the left-field fence. It was the third homer in two innings for the OG, giving them the edge 7-6 over Survival.

It looked like the OG was going to have a big inning, starting off with four consecutive hits, but left two men stranded on base after three consecutive outs to end the inning.

Survival decided to join the home run party in the bottom of the third when Senior Airman Matthew Maynard, 22nd Training Squadron, juiced the ball over the left-center field fence with a man on first. Survival added another run on a single by Airman 1st Class Darren Fackler, 22nd TRS that scored Staff Sgt. James Young, 22nd TRS, Survival regained the lead 9-7.

The OG would score three runs in the top of the fourth, with Airman 'Fatty' Montani, the OG captain driving in a run and Senior Airman Brandon Johnson, 93rd Air Refueling Squadron driving in two.

Tech. Sgt. Albin Lutes, 336th Training Support Squadron, led off the bottom of the fourth with a triple that was crushed over the right fielder's head and was later driven in on a sacrifice fly.

Survival scored two in the bottom half of the inning. Airman Maynard, who ended the game 4 for 4 with a home run, a double and two singles, scored from second on an overthrown ball. A double from Senior Airman Carl Smith drove in the man from first which brought the score to12-10 Survival.

OG tried to close the gap in the sixth but could only score two runs. One run came in on a sacrifice fly, scoring the man from third, and the second was a single from Senior Airman Brandon Johnson, 93rd ARS, that drove in a man on second. With the top of the sixth complete, Survival still led 13-12.

The 336th tacked on some insurance runs in the bottom of the sixth. An overthrown ball to second base would empty the bases, scoring three, and a scarify fly would drive in Sergeant Young. Survival poured it on, putting the game out of reach for the OG.

The OG went three up and three down in the seventh making the 336th TRG the base champions.

"I thought the game went well, considering that the 336th TRG team has won the last four championships," said Airman Montani.

To get to the championship game, the OG had to go through the 92nd Logistics Readiness Squadron and the 92nd Security Forces Squadron, the number-one team during the regular season with a record of 24-2. On the other hand, the 336 TRG had a little less challenging journey to the championship: they had to play the 92nd Operations Support Squadron and then the 92nd Communications Squadron to get to the big game.

The 336 TRG is looking forward to defending their title for the fourth straight time next season.

"I believe the whole group looks forward to next season.... we have developed a culture of winning on the 336th TRG team," said Airman Wiggins, 336th TRG team captain.