Chiefs take back trophy with softball win

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Patrice Clarke
  • 8th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
KUNSAN AIR BASE, Republic of Korea --  As the dust settled after the high noon encounter, it was the Chiefs who remained standing after they beat the Eagles 13 - 1 in the annual Chiefs vs. Eagles softball game July 4.

The Chief's (which also consist of Wolf Pack first sergeants), led by Chief Master Sgt. Joseph "Wolf Chief" Riff, 8th Fighter Wing command chief,  went into the game with a lot to prove. The previous contest between the two teams had the Eagles coming out the victor, but that wasn't the case during this game.

The Chiefs came out to win in the first inning when their first five at bats made it across home plate. At the end of the first inning the Chief's had a commanding lead, 7 to 0.

It was the Eagles who stepped up the defense in the second inning only allowing one base hit and quickly getting the next three Chiefs out.

But back to back scores by chief master sergeants Robert Downing and Rory Wicks quickly gave the Chiefs a 9 to 0 lead in the third.

It wasn't until a lead off score by an Eagle that finally put the Eagles on the board in the sixth. The one score wasn't enough for the Eagles to pull off a win.

"We had two objectives coming into this game," said Col. Jerry "Wolf" Harris, 8th Fighter Wing commander and Eagles pitcher. "One was to have a great time and celebrate some great camaraderie and the second was for no one to get hurt. I really think we achieved that."

The Eagles had one other objective, commented Colonel Harris. "Our Eagles objective was to win the game and get the trophy one more time."

One aspect that both the Chiefs and Eagles commented about was the game officiating.

"The officials for this game were outstanding," said Colonel Harris.

"I know it must be intimidating to come out here and call a game full of commanders, first sergeants and chiefs but they did a great job," said Chief Riff. "We had a great time out here today. We came out here to play some softball and have some fun."

Look out for the next match between these two teams, Colonel Harris predicts it will be sooner than next July.

"It's okay they won," said Colonel Harris, "we give them one quarter with the trophy that's all."