Marine Corps Base Hawaii -- The Marine Corps Base Hawaii Provost Marshal’s Office intramural softball team, “Armed and Dangerous,” clinched a close 10-9 victory over the Marine Corps Air Station Kaneohe Bay team, “Flashpoint,” at Annex Field, Monday.
Through a strong defense and solid offense, PMO showed deadly force from the beginning of the game, scoring seven runs by the second inning and not letting MCAS score until almost halfway through the battle.
Benjamin Clark, the MCAS right fielder, said his team started off slow.
“We got started with the game dry and flat,” Clark said. “But we came back finishing strong, just not strong enough.”
PMO made quick movements, catching line drives and pop-ups with ease throughout the game. MCAS struggled to keep PMO from scoring due to dropping fly balls after miscommunication as to who would make the catch.
MCAS scored their first run after a sacrifice fly, but wasn’t able to secure any more runs due to PMO’s stellar defensive performance.
When MCAS returned to the field after their first run scored, PMO scored back-to-back runs with base hits, bringing the score to 9-1. After a scramble for first base, PMO retained the lead and scored another run, making it 10-1.
Adam Massong, coach and left fielder for PMO, said his team got off to a good start with base hits, but made mental mistakes toward the end of the game.
MCAS made a major comeback with PMO now dropping the ball during confusion. MCAS monopolized and scored, 10-2. After MCAS had the bases loaded, PMO made another dropped ball mistake and MCAS brought the score to 10-7.
At the top of the sixth inning, PMO was at bat and MCAS kept them from scoring the rest of the game.
Flashpoint had the last at bat. The PMO team’s pitcher walked the first batter, putting a MCAS runner on first. The MCAS team advanced a runner to second bases after a line drive to the outfield, putting runners on first and second plates.
After another line drive, MCAS brought the score to 10-8. The PMO team dropped another pop fly after miscommunication, and MCAS scored the final run, bringing the final score to 10-9.
Massong said despite MCAS’s comeback, his team never underestimated their opponents.
“We just got tired toward the end and started making little mistakes,” Massong said. “We need to learn to communicate better. If we talk to each other more, the problem will be fixed.”
Clark said he believes MCAS is a good team.
“We need to be energized from the get-go,” he said. “Our bats got hot hitting well, and if we get that motivation out of the gates, we can beat anyone, any day.”