Softball team takes fourth in Las Vegas

  • Published
  • By Nick DeCicco
  • 60th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs
TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. --  An adult varsity softball team comprised of members of the Travis community took fourth place in a two-day tournament held Saturday and Sunday at Big League Dreams Sports Parks in Las Vegas.

Travis' Aftershock went 3-3 overall during All World Sports' Military Las Vegas Worlds tournament, squaring off against a field of 11 opposing teams also made of military members.

Playing against other teams made of military members boosted the players' Travis pride, said Tech. Sgt. Will Mitchell, an Aftershock infielder who lives at Travis and works for the 348th Recruiting Squadron at Hill Air Force Base, Utah.

"It's more personal in these military tournaments," he said. "We like to represent our bases."

The first day began with three games against others squads in the 12-team pool. Aftershock first faced off against a team from Luke Air Force Base, Ariz., beating them 24-23.

In its second game, Aftershock squashed a team of military members from Alabama, Bama Heat, 14-3.

For the third and final game of pool play, the SoCal Misfits, a team of players from Vanderberg Air Force Base, Calif., and Edwards Air Force Base, Calif., topped Aftershock 21-20.

Pool play determined seeding for a double-elimination bracket to determine a champion. Fortuitously, in the first game, Aftershock drew a rematch with SoCal Misfits, this team defeating them in another close game.

Next, Aftershock faced the Scrapalators, a team Aftershock coach Mario Rios said sported a roster composed of members from multiple branches of the Air Force. The Scrapalators knocked off Aftershock, dropping them into a rematch with Bama Heat, to which Aftershock also lost to end its weekend.

Throughout the weekend, players battled chilly temperatures, dipping into the mid-30s for the early morning and evening games, Mitchell said.

The team took second place earlier this year in tournaments held in Sacramento and Reno, Rios said.

Rios, also a utility player specializing in pitching for Aftershock, said the team will hold tryouts in March.