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Show Hilltop September 16, 1999 off by Steven R. Ford Hilltop Times cause. staff Last year's first sergeants vs. It's time again to lace up the athletic manders game produced a blowout for enlisted team scored 20 runs and limited their opponents to just nine. "That doesn't surprise me," said first year commanders' coach, Lt. Col. Brad Reiner t, "but we're going to pull a rabbit out of the hat. We expect a competitive team." get underway at 2 p.rm on Sept. 24, The enlisted teams will square off against their officer counterparts in this annual battle for diamond supremacy and bragging rights with proceeds going to Operation Warmheart. "It gives us an opportunity to go with the colonels in a relaxed environment of competition," said Command CMSgt Michael Pattarozzi. "It's fun competition, healthy, and it's always good to be on winning side." Last summer, the senior officers continued their annual softball dominance one-on-o- Hill. "Pride's at stake here," Reinert said margin, winning by a scorching 20-The Chiefs had actually jumped out to a 0 lead in the first inning before the wheels just fell off. They managed just three more runs the rest of the game, due in part to strong pitching from Richard Roellig and a strong field defense. "We're going to beat them," Col. Danny Gardner said of this year's matchup. "The reason why is because we have a pretty good, energetic group of colonels out here who are ready to show what we can 12-ru- Operation Warmheart Committee who will likely start at first base for the commanders, was used to his commanders being very competitive. At Boiling, Reinert's teams routinely split such competitions with the first sergeants, a tradition he hopes to bring with him to over the senior enlisted personnel, n 8. 5-- do." of the game, "combat pride, warriorpride. We want to go out and show the Shirts what we can do." But the commanders may have to put in some overtime against a confident team of enlisted folk who are just coming off a 35-1- 5 thrashing of the Airman Leadership School. "We're feeling pretty confident.going into this game," said shirts' coach SMSgt Allen Niksich, "It's a big thing. It's a good thing for pride and morale. It gives us a little bragging rights' Reinert wanted to send a warning to The Chiefs are coming in off a victory earlier this year in volleyball and are expecting to extend their winning streak. Last year's StarsEagles team swept the competitions, winning the volleyball match in two of three sets and stunning the Chiefs. But the Chiefs turned it around and regained their volleyball crown, crushing the senior officers in two straight sets. Now they're looking to equal the senior officers' feat of lastyear and sweep the yearly competitions. "I exnect to be on the winning side this time," Pattarozzi said. "They cleaned our d clocks last year, but we re looking to this game." 'Tell them we are ready," Gardner said, v"The team is coming together. We're ready for them." Both sides say that the competition is but Gardner admits that one no puts together a competitive team in order to lose. "Whether we win or lose isn't important, to be honest," Gardner said. "It's just that we're out there mingling with the senior NCO's and getting to know tor-war- . good-nature- d, the First Shirts to come ready to play because the commanders were ready. "Just bring it on and bring your Geri-tol,- " Niksich shot back. "Our goal is to rule again." win by the The game benefits Operation Warm-hearand each member of the losing will be donating $5 to the fund. team So more is on the line than just bragging rights. This is like a legal wager for a good cause, and when someone gets hit in the wallet, not just the heart, the game takes on a whole new meaning. 10-ru- n t, "Operation Warmheart is an outstanding program that gives back to the enlisted to help them make it through some financially tough times," said Gardner, who began his career as an enlisted airman. "It also gives our young airmen the opportunity to get out and do some things they might not otherwise be able to do because of the financial repercussion." The games are open to all base personnel and will be held at the Rex fields east of the Hess Fitness Center. For more information, contact Margie Stutz at Ext. each other better, and it's for a good Operation Warmheart's mission is to assist military families throughout the year when times get tough financially Ourtargetgroupisyoungenlisted families with children who need tance when the car breaks down, a family emergency exists, or an extended temporary duty assignment places a family in a financial hardship. Through recommendations from supervisors to the first sergeants, the committee made up of the Hill AFB can write First Sergeants Council an immediate check so the family can purchase food and use their funds to take care of their emergency or hardship situation. While our target group is younger families, we have also assisted many families of junior and senior NCO grades. Our major project each year is to provide holiday assistance to families in the form of turkeys and checks for Thanksgiving holiday meals; and gift certificates to the base exchange for the Christmas holiday. We also plan to conduct an organized AngelTree program just for kids this year. These pro- grams greatly assist and bring the spirit of the holidays to our military families. Each year, Operation Warmheart raises and expends about $8,000 to $10,000 to assistyoung families on Hill AFB. Operation Warmheart has no the sole source of funding budget is funding through fundraisers conducted by the first sergeants, donations from Hill squadrons and booster clubs and from local community busi- nesses that share in our concern to help our own. Recently, the First Sergeant Council donated $500 that was raised during the Hill AFB Air Show. Several individuals from squadrons throughout the base donated time during the recent commissary case lot sale, raising over $1,100 for Operation Warmheart. The most enjoyable fundraising events each year are volleyball and softball games thatfeature the base senior leadfacing the: StarsEagles ership sive plays. by Chris McGee "We've had the long ball going," said Air Force Air Armament Center Public Affairs head coach Jack Hayes. "Our team is based on ball. The defense was ' An old sports adage says offense defense along with the long EGLIN AFB,:Fla, , really good all week." entertains but defense wins games. Extra hitter Mike Friedman and shortstop. Rod The Air Force mean's softball team employed both led the Air Force offensive attack. Friedas they claimed the gold medal in the Armed Forces Darhower drove in 27, at man batted .692, bashed 11 homeruns and Men's Softball Championship Aug. 28 runs, and Darhower hit .676 with five homeruns .rEglin AFB, Fla. and Navy and 18 runs batted in. Competing against the Army, Marine forThe Marine Corps team finished with a .505 batmen's teams in a three-dato fin- ting average and scored 123 runs in the tournament. mat, the Air Force won seven of nine games clinic in its openput on a power-hittin- g ish with the best record of the four teams in the. The team as e finish marked the third ing game it beat the Army tournament. The "It was nice to jump out early," said Marine consecutive Armed Forces softball title for the Air and Corps coach Mike Turney. "We keep hitting Force give up." The Marine Corps' claimed the silver medal with don't Thomas Carlo led the Marine Corps Outfielder finished a 4 record, while the Army and Navy both with a .710 batting average. 3 6 teams in Despite its 6 record, the Army led all team In winning the title, the Air Force relied on bat.533 a with second finished home runs and offensive punch and consistent defense. The team The record, scored. Army's and 136 runs led the services with a .540 batting average and 159 ting average indicated offensive numbers, its second despite impressive runs scored while belting 45 home runs the importance of strong defense, according to Army and turning in sparkling defen to the Army's 53 25-Au- g. ? - y, three-games-per-d- ay 41-3- first-plac- 5-- 3-- benefit base Chiefs Group and Squadron by SMSgt. Allen Niksich, AtBollingAFB,WashingtonD.C.,Rein-ert- , ne BI Warmheart helps families throughout the year com- the shirts. Like the StarsEagles, the shoes and get in the trenches as the annual Chiefs vs. StarsEagles and first sergeants vs. squadron commanders softball games . lb S 1. Com- manders versus First Sergeants. These prideful 'Geritol League' sporting events raise hundreds of dollars for Opera- tion Warmheart, as well as provide entertainment for spectators and much needed exercise for participants (no humans have been injured in these contests... not real bad anyway). Admis- ' sion is free and we encourage everyone to come out and witness the superb skills, agility and athleticism of your base leadership. This year's softball challenge will be held Sept. 24 with the First Sergeants playing Squadron Commanders at 2 p.m. and the StarsEagles challenging the Chiefs at 3 p.m. Last year, the first sergeants took command of their bosses, while the StarsEagles showed the Chiefs 'just who wears the brass in the family,' starting what has become a grudging rivalry. It should prove to be very interesting on the 'battlefield' this year. Regardless of the outcome of either game, the one certain winner will be Operation Warmheart. There will be hot dogs and soda available for a Warm-headonation and all the 'Play of The Day' type hits and catches you can stand. Future events will include rt three-on-thr- ee volleyball and basketball tournaments, racquetball tournaments and fun runswalks as we approach the fall season. We welcome all units and private orga- nizations to donate to Operation Warm-hear- t, regardless of the amount you donate. We have received donations from small bake sales to major car washes and softball tournaments and contributors have always seen a return of the funds in assistance to families in their units throughout the year. Through Operation Warmheart, we can fulfill one of our core values of 'service before self and make a difference in our community. For more information about Operation Warmheart, talk to your unit first sergeant or call Ext. Taking care of people... that's what it's all about! third baseman Elmer Mason. "You have to score runs," said Mason. "It's an offensive game, but you still have to make the routine defensive plays to keep from giving up needless runs to the other team." Outfielder Matthew Hill led the Army with a .742 batting average and six home runs. Mason hit .667 with six home runs and 20 RBIs. The Navy recorded a team batting average of .497 with 31 home runs and 110 runs scored. Navy head coach Teo Cuellar complimented the tournament organizers and participants. "This is a class act," said Cuellar. "Everyone here played hard and showed good sportsmanship." The Air Force placed five players on the ' team, including Darhower, Friedman, pitcher Robert King, catcher Jason Parker and outfielder Dale Black. Mason and Hill represented the Army on the team, while Carlo and outfielder Gary Chaney represented the Marine Corps team. First baseman Rolland Alcoran and second baseman Brian Neal, both of the Navy team, rounded out the team. |