AMMO upends AMS for third straight title

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Brian Jones
  • 39th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
INCIRLIK AIR BASE, Turkey --  The 39th Maintenance Squadron Munitions Flight came from behind to defeat the 728th Air Mobility Squadron, 11-10, to claim their third straight intramural softball crown Aug. 1. AMS came out of the loser's bracket and beat AMMO 11-6 in the first game of the championship setting up the finale.

The championship series was a repeat performance off last year's final. The script for both seasons was the same.

"It felt like déjà vu. The same thing happened last year with AMS beating us the first game and us rallying back to win the second game," said AMMO's Jake Sutton. "The first game we just couldn't find our groove. Luckily it all came together for us in the second game."

AMMO scored three runs in the top of the seventh to turn a 9-8 deficit into an 11-9 lead. The decisive blow was delivered by Sutton who slammed a bases loaded double plating Donovan Leap and Joseph Hess. AMS made it interesting in the bottom half when Phillip Murant doubled and scored cutting AMMO's cushion to one, but when Tavis Hundley flew out to right center, AMMO could celebrate their three-peat.

"Since last year's softball season our manning dropped 70 percent, so everyone started telling us that we were going to go from first place to last place," said Sutton. "To win three base championships in a row feels awesome. Can anyone say dynasty?"

AMS scored three runs in the bottom of the fifth seemingly taking control of the back-and-forth contest, 9-6. Chris Pierce, Thomas Kidder, Murrant, Hundley and Josh Tippy provided the offense for AMS in the inning.

"I feel the best two teams were playing and that's how it should be," said Sutton. "I tip my hat to those AMS folks. They are a class act and a darn tough opponent."

"I am amazed at how hard we fought adversity tonight. We forced a second game by beating AMMO in the first game and nearly won the championship," said AMS' Anthony Butts. "Our tenacity throughout this tournament was incredible as we held on to win several games in the last inning."

Both teams benefited from the boisterous, sometimes raucous, support of their fans.

"I honestly feel that without our loyal fans coming out here night in and night out we couldn't have pulled off this amazing feat," said Sutton. "They are our MVPs."

"I know that despite getting banged up and bruised, all of our players gave their best effort," said Butts. "We certainly provided the fans with an exciting series; it's just too bad we couldn't come out on top. Our hats are off to the champions."