8th MXS defeats 8th SFS 16-5, crowned champs

A member of the 8th Maintenance Squadron Dragons writes the teams name on the field after the intramural softball championship game at Kunsan Air Base, Republic of Korea, Aug. 17, 2015. The MXS finished off a great season with a 10-1 record and its second championship in a row. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Divine Cox/Released)

8th MXS defeats 8th SFS 16-5, crowned champs

Staff Sgt. Adam Bartels, 8th Maintenance Squadron corrosion control, throws a pitch during the intramural softball championship game at Kunsan Air Base, Republic of Korea, Aug. 17, 2015. The game’s final score ended with the MXS dragons defeating the 8th Security Forces Squadron 16 to 5. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Divine Cox/Released)

8th MXS defeats 8th SFS 16-5, crowned champs

Senior Airman Alexander Oelfke, 8th Security Forces Squadron member, runs passed third base during the intramural softball championship game at Kunsan Air Base, Republic of Korea, Aug. 17, 2015. The game’s final score ended with the MXS dragons defeating the 8th Security Forces Squadron 16 to 5. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Divine Cox/Released)

8th MXS defeats 8th SFS 16-5, crowned champs

Staff Sgt. Adam Bartels, 8th Maintenance Squadron corrosion control, hits the ball during the intramural softball championship game at Kunsan Air Base, Republic of Korea, Aug. 17, 2015. The game’s final score ended with the MXS dragons defeating the 8th Security Forces Squadron 16 to 5. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Divine Cox/Released)

8th MXS defeats 8th SFS 16-5, crowned champs

Published Aug. 17, 2015
By Senior Airman Divine Cox
8th Fighter Wing Public Affairs

KUNSAN AIR BASE, Republic of Korea-- -- The 8th Maintenance Squadron Dragons swung away as they defeated the 8th Security Forces Squadron 16-5 and were crowned the intramural softball champions, Aug. 17.

The Defenders came out of the gate swinging behind the bat of Senior Airman Alexander Oelfke, 8th SFS, who hit a triple, earning his team three runs in the first inning.

The dragons responded with great defense and their own offensive push putting six runs on the scoreboard to take a 6-4 lead going into the third inning.

"Going into the game, we knew that SFS was a very fundamentally sound and athletic team," said Staff Sgt. Adam McMichen, 8th Force Support Squadron flight kitchen manager. "We knew that it was going to be a difficult game and it was going to come down to playing good defense."

MXS played strong defense only allowing one point in the third and one point in the fourth inning. The Dragons added three runs to extend their lead, making the score 9-4.

Continuing their strong defensive play, the dragons caught two pop flies and ended the top of the third inning by fielding a grounder.

McMichen knocked a two-run homerun out of the park as the Dragons built a six-run lead going into the fourth inning.

The defenders continued to struggle offensively as they were only able to put up one run in the fourth inning and trailed MXS by five runs at the start of the fifth inning.

"After putting up those runs in the first, I felt we had a chance," said Oelfke. "You have to score to win, and hitting the ball is something we lacked after the first inning."

MXS brought in seven runs in the bottom of the fifth ending the game early. Senior Airman Steve Harvey, 8th MXS, ended the game crossing the plate giving the dragons a 16-5 victory.

"To win the intramural championship is an amazing accomplishment," said Harvey. "We work extremely well together, and we won this game because we played as a team."