302nd team beats ASOS in silver league trophy game

Published Sept. 17, 2010
By Walt Johnson
CSMNG staff

PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. -- The 302nd Airlift Wing and 52nd Airlift Squadron team defeated the 13th Air Support Operations Squadron 20-10 to earn the 2010 Peterson Silver League Softball Championship, Aug. 31 at the Peterson softball complex.

The team did it the way it has played all year long, staying patient, staying together and always battling according to Solomon Martinez, the team's coach. Martinez said the team understood the challenge it faced coming into the game and answered the challenge just the way he expected his team to respond.

"We had to win three games last week (Aug. 24) and three tonight to get here. We knew the key was going to be staying together as a team, focusing as a team and playing hard. This was a team that never quit and never gave up. That is what I have to like about these guys," Martinez said.

This was going to have to be the formula to win the title because the Airlifters were facing an outstanding 13th ASOS team. The 13th ASOS came into the title round needing to win one of the two games, and with its potent offense and outstanding defense, the odds were definitely in its favor to win one of the contests. But softball is a funny game. The usually outstanding offense was only a shell of itself as 13th ASOS could not string together hits to take advantage of scoring opportunities. Even when the team did hit the ball well, the ball found the glove of their opponents.

The Airmen did not have a problem on offense or defense in either game. Time after time the Airlifters got timely hits or sparkling defensive plays to keep the 13th ASOS at bay. Martinez said the team's philosophy and its lively bats were key to winning the title.

"We hit the ball well tonight as we have all year, but the difference tonight is we usually will have one bad inning where the other guys score a few runs on us and tonight we did not have that inning. We have a philosophy that we can overcome anything as long as we stick together and hit the ball and that is what we did tonight and what we did all year long," Martinez said.

Martinez said even though his team was going to have to play at a high level for two games he wasn't concerned at all that it would not have enough in the tank to win the games because this is something that his team wanted badly. He said winning the title was the team's goal from the start of the season. He said he knew his team was focused on winning when one of his players got hurt during the game and refused to come out of the game. He said this victory was a testament to how the team goes about its business on and off the sports field.

"Our unit works together as a team when we are at work also. We consider ourselves a family no matter if it's at work or if it's on the athletic field," Martinez said. "This was just what I expected in that I thought they would give us two tough games and that is what they did. They are a very good team that hits the ball well and they have some excellent players. We just got more timely hits tonight."

silver league championship game