AF wins back-to-back titles at Armed Forces men's softball tourney

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Steve Grever
  • Air Force Personnel, Services and Manpower Public Affairs
RANDOLPH AIR FORCE BASE, Texas --  The Air Force men's softball team won its second consecutive Armed Forces Softball Championship title after out-slugging Army at Naval Air Station Pensacola, Fla. ,19-10 on Sept. 23. The women's team clinched the silver medal by beating Navy 12-1.
 
The Air Force won its sixth gold medal in nine years and posted a 7-2 record throughout the five-day tournament. Air Force Softball Coach Steve Shortland said this year's team exhibited good team chemistry that helped them gel together to bring a second Armed Forces title to the service in two years.

"Although all my teams are special, this team was definitely one of my favorites," said Coach Shortland. "The chemistry amongst them was amazing, and they developed a team first mentality right from the start. As a coach, you can certainly set up programs to pick the best players from your training camp. But chemistry, well, you just have keep your fingers crossed and hope it happens with the ones you select. This truly was an outstanding group of young men and the Air Force should be proud of how they represented."

Master Sgt. Michael Jenkins, Staff Sgt. Leonard Myers, Senior Airman Michael Melton and Airman 1st Class Todd Duncan were selected to the Armed Forces All-Tournament team. Coach Shortland, Master Sgt. Dexter High, Master Sgt. Chris Markey, Tech. Sgt. Rich Burley, Tech. Sgt. Robert Chastain, Sergeant Myers and Airman Duncan representing the Air Force on the All Armed Forces Team which competed at the 2010 Amateur Softball Association National Championship Oct. 1-3 in Oklahoma City, Okla.

This year's All-Air Force men's softball team featured the following members:
  • Head Coach: Mr. Steve Shortland, retired master sergeant from Randolph Air Force Base, Texas
  • Assistant Coach: Senior Master Sgt. Daniel Simpson from Hurlburt Field, Fla.
  • Trainer: Tech. Sgt. Toby Urenda from Eglin AFB, Fla.
  • Project Officer: Staff Sgt. Chris Crochet from Eglin AFB, Fla.
  • Staff Sgt. Chris Bast from Kunsan Air Base, Korea
  • Tech. Sgt. Rich Burley from Lackland AFB, Texas
  • Senior Airman John Chance from Hurlburt Field, Fla.
  • Master Sgt. Michael Charvat from Kadena AB, Japan
  • Tech. Sgt. Robert Chastain from Aviano AB, Italy
  • Tech. Sgt. Kevin Cumbie from Mountain Home AFB, Idaho
  • Airman 1st Class Todd Duncan from Shaw AFB, S.C.
  • Master Sgt. Dexter High from Nellis AFB, Nev.
  • Tech. Sgt. Cody Hynes from Elmendorf AFB, Alaska
  • Staff Sgt. Justin James from Ramstein AB, Germany
  • Master Sgt. Michael Jenkins from Osan AB, Korea
  • Master Sgt. Chris Markey from Osan AB, Korea
  • Senior Airman Michael Melton from Eglin AFB, Fla.
  • Staff Sgt. Leonard Myers from Nellis AFB, Nev.
  • Master Sgt. Larry Shelvy from Camp Blanding, Fla.