Homeruns support everyone

  • Published
  • By Cassie Brown
  • 60th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs
TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. --  Ten teams, two days, double elimination.

In the end, Team Travis was the winner.

The Air Force Sergeants Association Chapter 1320 sponsored a preseason softball tournament Saturday to raise money for continued support of Team Travis' Airmen and local organizations including Fisher House, the Red Cross, and the Boy and Girl Scouts. 

With a total of ten teams, refreshment stand and a homerun derby contest, the AFSA raised a total of $946.40.

By following the format of round robin, in which every team played at least four games before being eliminated, each team had multiple opportunities to participate in Team Travis comradery.

Gale-force winds and what felt like a wind chill of 10 degrees started off the tournament Friday night. Although Saturday dawned bright and sunny, there was still quite a bit of wind and chilly temperatures for mid-May.

However, the weather conditions did not stop the 60th Medical Group, nicknamed The Scrubs, and the 60th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron Knights from advancing to the final game.

The Knights started out strong taking a ten-point lead by the third inning. But in an exciting ending, The Scrubs rallied with a grand slam and four more homeruns to come back and ultimately win the game.

For their outstanding performance, The Scrubs won a trophy and of course the ultimate prize: bragging rights.

In addition to the tournament, the AFSA held a homerun derby in which more than 25 people participated. In a final homerun playoff, Senior Airman Andrew Ham, 573rd Global Support Squadron, won the final prize of $200.

"This is a great way to 'showoff' Travis' outstanding Airmen to the entire Air Force," said Tech. Sgt. Brad Jones, 60th Medical Operations Squadron and member of the AFSA.

In addition, to support base and local charitable events, the AFSA presents the John Levitow Award for each Airmen Leadership School graduation and they rally on Capitol Hill for pay raises and better medical benefits upon retirement.

In the end, the AFSA brought various squadrons together to support all Airmen's needs.