THUMPERS GAIN REVENGE - WIN BASE SOFTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP.

  • Published
  • By Lt. Col ralph Hawkins
  • 513th Air Control Group
TINKER AIR FORCE BASE, Oklahoma --  The 513th ACG Thumpers last game in 2008 was a 9 to 7 loss to 552 MXS in the base championship. 

A dropped ball deep in the outfield late in the game by a Thumper player spelled doom for the upstart Reserve squad, and gave MXS yet another base title - one of many. 

It also gave the Reserve team a goal for 2009 - the base championship. The road was a rocky one to begin the season, as the 513th dropped two games to the 3rd CCG in the First Annual Ironman softball tournament on June 13th. Later in the season, the Thumpers arch rivals - the 507th ARW Okies - defeated them in one of two games during their regular season double-header. 

Things looked bleak for a return trip to the title game. But the Thumpers began to roll. 

Despite the loss of Todd Jackson to an elbow injury in May, and an aircraft breaking down in Tacoma Washington with five players (three starters) aboard during the playoffs, the team fought and scraped their way through the playoffs. The 513th exacted revenge in the semi final game against the 3rd CCG - a team that by then had incurred injuries and player losses. 

The stage was set for a rematch with the 552 MXS team that coasted through the season and playoffs on the strength of the long ball. The Thumpers won the coin toss, and took the field. MXS coach Mark Upchurch put one out of the stadium with one aboard, to give the 552nd an early 2-0 lead, but it was not the offensive output "Church" had hoped for. The 513th came to bat, and through a series of singles, doubles, MXS miscues and extra bases on over-throws, the Thumpers took a 12 to 2 lead before they received their first out - second baseman Dan Gibb being gunned down at the plate.

 "I should have slid" said Gibb, "but I'm not one to get dirty." Maintainer veterans Steve Voice and Tony Sutton continued to battle, despite the onslaught. The 552nd used two pitchers in two innings, including starter Don "Duke" Billeck and Upchurch - normally the teams' first baseman. 

Two more outs and four more runs later, the 513th held a 16 to 2 lead going into the top of the second. The team had batted through the lineup twice in an amazing first inning. MXS bats began to heat up, and the hits were getting closer and closer to the fence - a 552nd calling card - the home run. The batters were chomping at the bit to take a big cut, as the wind was blowing out - in their favor. 

Thumper pitcher Lloyd Palmer threw an excellent game - enticing Maintenance to swing at pitches they normally wouldn't have. But another MXS homer helped push three more runs across, cutting the 513th lead to 16 to 5, going into the bottom of the second inning. Highlights included a Tommy Clark three-run triple, and Thumper coach Joe Browns' two-run double. Todd Jackson, in his first game back from elbow surgery nearly four months earlier, put one over the fence in his next at-bat, sparking a seven run inning for the Thumpers, and a 23 to 5 lead going into the all-important third inning. 

Maintenance was held scoreless in the top of the third inning, and the umpire ended the game via the 15 run rule. The game was over, and an Air Force Reserve team had its' first base softball championship in the 37 year history of modern Reserve presence on Tinker AFB. 

The Thumper with the most at stake was Jim "Gas" Gasaway, who left active duty and a long-time starting spot on the 552nd Maintenance team two years ago, for a new job in the Reserves. "Gas" was devastated at the 2008 outcome, and was a huge part in the return to the 2009 championship. 

The 552nd limited the damage by Gasaway in the title game, but others picked up the slack, including Paul Steger, Rob Doty, Greg Lewis, Ryan Velarde and Randy Schell. Waiting in the wings were veterans Shawn Kilbourne and Ralph "Hawk" Hawkins - the losing pitcher from the 2008 title game. 

Not able to attend the championship game due to flying commitments was starting third baseman Erick Reynoso-Gonzalez, and utility player Jason Strayer. "We set out to get to the base title game last year" said coach Brown. "This year we set out to win it - and we did." "I'm proud of the team" said 513th ACG Commander Colonel John Trnka. "I'm looking forward to visiting the 552nd campus and doing a little bragging in front of their senior leadership." 

At the conclusion of the game, Brown pointed to his winning pitcher Lloyd Palmer, and told him "you can't retire." He then pointed at Hawkins and said "but you can." 

The team will look much different in 2010, with two starters PCS'ing - Velarde and Reynoso-Gonzalez, and the possible retirement of several other players. "We hope keep it going" said Gasaway. MXS hopes they do as well, but only time will tell.