MARINE CORPS AIR GROUND COMBAT CENTER TWENTYNINE PALMS, Calif. -- With members of the Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center’s men’s softball team in attendance, Commanding General Richard C. Zilmer received the United States Slow-Pitch Softball Association Military Worlds Softball championship trophy Oct. 6.
The Combat Center team won the tournament, which was held Aug. 20-22 in Garland, Texas. Thirteen teams representing the United States Armed Forces competed in the tournament, with the base team being the only Marine Corps representative.
Although the team breezed through the tournament with a 5-0 record and beat Travis Air Force Base with a score of 6-3 in the championship game, each game was a hard fought battle.
“All five games were nail-biters. Each game came down to the last inning,” said Jesse Silvas, 3rd base, who through his outstanding hitting won honors as offensive player of the tournament.
“I was a spark to the team. If I was hitting, then everyone was hitting as well,” he said. “It’s an honor to be the offensive player of the tournament, but if I didn’t have the backing of the team, I wouldn’t have played as well.”
Also earning top honors was shortstop Alejandro Salazar, who through his exceptional play was chosen as the most valuable player of the tournament.
“It’s an honor to win the MVP of the tournament trophy at this level of competition, but our team gave a great effort. The rest of the team did a hell of a job,” said Salazar.
Randy Husted coached the team through clutch situations because of timely hitting in key situations and momentum on defense carrying over to success on offense, said Silvas.
Next up for Combat Center men’s softball is the International Softball Association’s Open World Tournament in Las Vegas in November.