A-4 emerges victorious in 11th ADA Bde. softball playoff finals

 

Sgt. William Bolderson

11th ADA Bde. Public Affairs

Marking the end of the 11th Air Defense Artillery Brigade softball tournament, Soldiers of A Battery, 4th Regiment (Terminal High Altitude Area Defense), emerged victorious Aug. 20 upon defeating Headquarters and Headquarters Battery, 3rd Battalion, 43rd Air Defense Artillery.

This was HHB’s second game against A-4 THAAD since the battery’s Aug. 17 defeat. With their hopes of making a comeback having already proven successful, they dominated their way back to the finals from the loser’s bracket.

Both teams performed to the best of their abilities, ending with no runs batted in during the first two innings. A-4 gained the lead in the third inning with unsuspecting low base hits toward left field. They gained a strong lead in the sixth inning, taking advantage of loaded bases.

With A-4’s strong infield and outfield, HHB was unable to score any runs until the seventh inning. The last attempt to catch up to their competitors fell short, with HHB only scoring one run. The game ended 7-1, with A-4 earning first place in the brigade’s 2009 playoffs. 

The winners took to the field for a victory huddle and thanked their opponents for a good game. Command Sgt. Maj. Jimmie Nelson, the 11th ADA Bde. command sergeant major, presented trophies to the competitors.

“We’re taking this [first-place trophy] on the run tomorrow,” said Benjamin Mayhew of the A-4 team.

Both teams had successfully earned their way to the top of the ladder. Next, A-4 heads to the post playoffs as the number-one seed in representing the “Imperial” Brigade, while HHB will go as the second seed.