Lady Eagles take home USAFE title

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Torri K. Larson
  • 48th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
ROYAL AIR FORCE LAKENHEATH, England --  The Lakenheath Lady Eagles smashed the Aviano Lady Dragons 10-3 in the USAFE Softball Tournament championship game Aug. 16. 

In the first three innings, the Lady Eagles lead an offensive charge with five runs scored and held the Lady Dragons to no score. 

At the top of the fourth, the Lady Dragons got an in-field homerun due to a Lady Eagles' error. That didn't sit too well with Lakenheath and they came back to score three runs in the bottom of the fourth. 

They held Aviano for another two innings and the score stood 10-1 at the top of the seventh. Aviano was down, but not out and managed to score two more runs before their three outs. It wasn't enough to come back, though, and Lakenheath took the championship with a score of 10-3. 

"We came into the championship last seed," said Chris McIntire, Lakenheath Lady Eagles coach. "We knew what we had to do." 

One of the biggest playmakers of the game was shortstop Megan Johnson, who made several double plays and sent at least ten Lady Dragons back to the dugout. 

"I try to take it one play at a time," she said. "As shortstop I touch the ball quite often so there are numerous chances to make mistakes. As a cleanup hitter, one of my jobs is to hit the crap out of the ball and get everyone home." 

Both the coach and players of the Lady Eagles attribute the win to good teamwork. 

"We pulled it together and came out on top," said Coach McIntire. "We went undefeated in the championship and we've got the trophy and the game balls to prove we deserve it."
The Lady Eagles will travel to Germany Aug. 21 to play in the Army/Air Force Softball Championship. Hopes are high and tensions are tight. 

"We talk all the time, communication is key when playing a team sport. We always try to stay positive, support each other and talk on the field when we think someone's getting down," Johnson said.