News Search

Teams battle for USAFE softball title

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Nathanael Callon
  • 52nd Fighter Wing Public Affairs
SPANGDAHLEM AIR BASE, Germany --  Seven teams from across Europe arrived to compete for the U.S. Air Forces in Europe Small Units Softball Championship title here Thursday.

Teams from Royal Air Force Croughton, England; Ramstein Air Base, Germany; NATO Air Base Geilenkirchen, Germany; Ghedi Air Base, Italy; and Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany; are set to contend for the title Aug. 4 - 6.

"Coming from a small base where there's more sheep than men, it's awesome to be able to come here a play some ball," said RAF Croughton Coach Joe Elmore.

The teams will play a single round-robin tournament, where each team gets to play everyone, and a double-elimination tournament will decide the champion.

"It's always fun seeing people that you know from other bases and also playing against teams that you've played before," said 726th Air Mobility Squadron Coach Nick Sbano, who is stationed at Spangdahlem.

Tournaments like these bring a variety of talents and experience to the diamond, Sbano added.

"It brings the best from each base, and you learn a lot from the different players out there," Sbano said.

On Saturday, one team will take home the title, but the ultimate goal of the weekend is to have fun and play some ball, said USAFE Fitness and Sports Program Manager Mike Deckard.

"This tournament is more than just a title or bragging rights; teams bring their family and friends here as well," Deckard said. "In the end it comes down to providing a fun time for Airmen and their families."