Kickball not only for kids

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class C.J. Hatch
  • 56th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
LUKE AIR FORCE BASE, Ariz. --  Straight from elementary school to the fields at Luke, kickball is alive and kicking. 

The intramural double elimination kickball tournament was held Feb. 19 through 22 by the 56th Services Squadron Fitness Center. 

"We had this tournament just to have fun," said Trever Tucker, fitness center sports director. "There is a two-week period between regular intramural sports that we fill with fun tournaments like kickball." 

Teams from six squadrons showed up for the tournament ready for action Feb. 19. The first games of the night pitted 56th Fighter Wing Public Affairs against 56th Maintenance Operations Squadron Maintenance Training Flight while the 56th Logistics Readiness Squadron faced 56th Maintenance Operations Squadron. 

Public Affairs and LRS overcame their opponents and moved to the next bracket. 

Right after winning their first game, LRS went head-to-head with the 56th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, but LRS having just played a game lost to the power of the fresh AMXS team. 

Public Affairs on the other hand continued its winning streak by crushing the 56th Medical Group team into a mercy loss in the fifth inning. 

The next night the four losing teams competed to see who had a chance to face the champions and possibly steal the championship. 

In the beginning of the night MOS/MTF overcame LRS to move closer to the prize. At the same time the MDG was busy winning their game against MOS. After their respective wins MOS/MTF and MDG faced each other while PA faced AMXS. 

At the end of the night AMXS stood atop PA and MDG eliminated MOS/MTF by handing them their second loss. 

As the last night began PA faced a challenge. If they won against MDG they would play AMXS again. If PA won that game it would be AMXS first loss, making both teams play each other yet again, but it was not to be. 

Public Affairs began the night facing MDG. With the crushing they received in the first game MDG tried to administer the same medicine back to PA without success. 

Public Affairs won by two runs and prepared to face AMXS by getting in a little practice. 

At game time AMXS was down players and almost had to forfeit. In the last minute before the game three AMXS team members showed, and what would have been an easy win for PA became a loss. 

Quickly into the game both teams demonstrated the desire to win and played their best, PA scoring three runs and AMXS scoring two. In the third inning PA fell behind by one run and were not able to regain the lead. In the end AMXS had won 14-12 and took home not only a first place trophy, but the right to be called the best kickball team at Luke.