Marine Corps Base Hawaii -- Red and gray jerseys filled Riseley Field, April 29, 2013, as 1st Battalion, 12th Marine Regiment claimed victory in an intramural baseball game, 6-3, from the Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 24.
Mike Barnes, 1st Bn., 12th Marines center fielder, said he loves the game. He was very confident they would win the game since they previously beat MALS-24. His confidence shined when he scored one of the team’s six runs.
Both teams were self-assured in their skills, but there were a few bad throws and slip-ups. However, all players demonstrated good teamwork and sportsmanship. A few balls went astray and over the fence, but it didn’t stop either team from stealing bases.
Neither team allowed players easy access to home plate, and the pitchers held their ground. When MALS-24 crept up to third base, 1st Bn., 12th Marines tried not to allow them to steal home.
A few MALS-24 players broke the barrier and made their way to the home plate, but 1st Bn., 12th Marines kept their cool. Both teams were determined to come out on top and were resilient when recovering from strikes, outs and bad pitches.
The players showed sportsmanship on the field and said they were happy to be playing a game they love. Players from both teams agreed the main reason they play is to have a good time, and winning is just a plus.
“I play for the love of the game,” said Andrew Little, coach and center outfield for MALS-24, who has been playing baseball for more than 20 years. “I love the camaraderie of the sport, and the thrill of playing.”
Daniel Anderson, the shortstop for 1st Bn., 12th Marines, said he grew up around baseball and loves it. He said it’s enjoyable to both play and watch.
Toward the middle of the game, more players stole first, sliding to second, sprinting to third and hoping to fly home.
Only a few actually made it all the way. As the bases were taken over by 1st Bn., 12th Marines, MALS-24 tried to keep them off home plate but couldn’t handle the challenge.
Dustin Zimmerman, second baseman for 1st Bn., 12th Marines, said they use the intramural league as extra practice for another league they play for in the local community. Zimmerman said it’s not all about winning. He said it’s also about getting better and having fun.
As the game grew closer to the finish, MALS-24 knew they had to get a few more runs if they wanted to blast their opponents out of the game. But 1st Bn., 12th Marines didn’t leave much room for them to get past third base. The final outcome was a 6-3 victory 1st Bn., 12th Marines.
“I’m happy we won, but it’s not just about that,” Zimmerman said. “We had a good time, and I think we played very well.”