Team Georgia Earns Softball Crown

Third base coach, LtCol (Ret) John Labuda gives the stop sign to base runner TSgt Bryan Craddock of AMSX during the ANG Softball Tourney. (Air National Guard Photo)

Spectators at the 41st Air National Guard National Softball Tournament in Knoxville, Tenn. witnessed Team Georgia’s domination Aug. 16-20.

Team Georgia swept the men’s open, co-ed and over 35 divisions in the annual tournament, giving them the sweep.

“The men’s #1 team continued our recent dominance of the tournament’s largest division,” said Senior Master Sgt. Bill Haffner, 116th Logistics Readiness Squadron, readiness flight superintendent.

They ran through the bracket to bring home their fourth championship since 2001, crushing New Jersey in the championship game 41-16.

The co-ed team made their way through the tournament, beating the defending champion Arkansas ANG 21-17 for their first ever title in the division.

Team Georgia defeated defending Over 35 division champion Texas ANG in two of three games to take their second championship in four years. They stomped them 21-6 in the final game. 

The men’s open division #2 team placed 7th despite an early win over defending champion Texas. They lost to 2nd place New Jersey.

The men’s #3 men’s open team worked their way through the consolation bracket to meet the #2 Georgia Team in the first ever Georgia vs. Georgia match-up. Team 2 won the game.

            The key to being the best is training and commitment.

            “This year, along with games and tourneys, I started running 4 to 5 miles, 5 days a week to help my conditioning,” said Master Sgt. Russell Hearst, pitcher, men’s team. 

The team went to Tennessee to do two things.

“They went out there to have fun and bring back a championship trophy and that’s exactly what they did,” said 1st Lt. Carrie Gardner, rookie catcher.