ROOTERS NEWS SERVICE

(Norfolk, Virginia)  J9 continues to dominate the softball field at
the annual U.S. Joint Forces Command "Sports Day", clinching their
third consecutive title and fourth in five years by dispatching the
J3/J4 team 5-2 in the final.  In the race for the Commander's Cup,
J9 came in second place overall to J7.

J9 enjoyed a first-round "bye" for softball, allowing several key 
players from the softball squad to cover other sports -- like Col
Herman "Blue" Baker, Chief of ESD's Blue Cell, who played four
sports (raquetball, basketball, Tug-o-War *and* softball) for J9.  
And JCD's Tim "Spike" Bacon and his three fellow spikers gave J6 
a challenge on the volleyball court -- even though they were 
outnumbered by 50%.

The defense of J9's softball title began at 10:20am on Field #1
against J6 after a first-round defeat in Tug-of-War (to the same
J6 squad that bested J9 in Volleyball).  J6 struck quickly with 
three of their first four batters crossing the plate.  Those three
runs in the top of the first were the only runs J6 would get....

J9 wasted no time in reclaiming the lead.  EED's Joe "Ping" O'Toole
led off with a single, followed by hits from IT1 Brian "Tron" West 
(a J6er assigned full-time at J9), JPP's LtCol Mark "Brain" Werth,
ESD/Blue Cell's Col Herman "Blue" Baker, DCOG's LCDR Rob "Wims"
Osterhoudt and JCD's Tim "Spike" Bacon.  After a scoreless second
inning, J9 extended their lead to 10-3 with more hits from "Brain"
Werth, "Wims" Osterhoudt and "Spike" Bacon -- plus an RBI single
from EED's Ronak Patel.  After four innings of play, the ten-run
"mercy rule" was invoked: final score J9 13, J6 3.

In the championship game, J3/J4 and J9 endured a defensive battle
that yielded just two runs per team after three full innings of
play.  In the fourth inning, deadlocked 2-2, J3/J4 loaded the 
bases with a lone out but was unable to score.  J9 returned the 
favor, loading the bases with one out -- but J9 capitalized on
the opportunity with an RBI-Fielder's Choice by "Ping" O'Toole,
and successive RBI singles from "Tron" West and "Brain" Werth.
Final score: J9 5, J3/J4 2 -- and J9 completes the third-straight
win "turkey"!

 Other notables stats and figures in the J9 lineup:
- All 12 J9 players got a hit, and ten scored at least one run
- 8 of our 12 players batted in at least one run
- "Spike" Bacon and "Brain" Werth led the team with four RBIs each.
- And "Spike" led the team with a 1.000 batting average
(4-for-4 on the day) and a slugging percentage of 1.500!


 CONGRATULATIONS J9!

 For full details and stats, visit http://www.deichman.net/softball/j9/

<25-Aug-04>