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JCU returns to championship form with sweep of Defenders

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Jon LaDue
  • 43rd Airlift Wing Public Affairs
POPE AIR FORCE BASE, N.C. --  The Joint Communications Unit defeated the 43rd Security Forces Squadron Defenders in back-to-back games to win the 2008 Pope Intramural Softball Championship June 13 at the Pope softball fields. 

After more than a decade of winning the championship, JCU was dethroned last year by the 66th Air Operations Squadron Wolfpack. 

The big question this year was if they would be able to regain their pinnacle form and once again dominate the league. 

Coming into the playoffs they showed they were determined and ready by besting nine National League teams on their way to a perfect 20-0 record. 

Game 1 

JCU shortstop J.R. Reynolds turned a game-ending double play to cap off his team's victory in game one of the championship series. 

Both teams battled each other back and forth for almost the entire game. 

JCU got to a quick start in the top of the first when designated hitter Brent Hobby hit a deep home run over the left-field fence bringing in two runners to establish a 3-0 lead.
The Defenders responded in the bottom half of the first with six straight batters getting on base to eventually take a 4-3 lead. 

JCU regained the lead on a single by third baseman Ken Garrison and a sacrifice fly by second baseman Dutch Broussard. Reynolds set the tone defensively for JCU when he fielded a ground ball from Defenders second baseman Dave McClain and made a spectacular throw from his knees to get the out at first. However the pitching didn't hold up as the Defenders regained control on a triple by right-center fielder Greg Taylor and a monster home run by Adam Jessee to give them a 7-5 lead. The Defenders scored the only two runs in the third inning, which were answered by JCU in the fourth when first baseman Ben Mooring hit a home run to cut the Defenders lead in half. Later in the inning, controversy hit home plate following an at bat by JCU pitcher Todd Petzel. Petzel batted a triple into right center bringing in two runs , but the umpire called the second runner out for diving head first, although the batter alleged that he tripped coming into home. 

JCU pulled away by scoring seven runs in the seventh, including RBIs by Hobby, Mooring, Garrison and left-center fielder Chris Alexander to take a 19-13 lead. 

The Defenders cut the lead in half following their third triple of the game by Taylor. The game came down to one tense moment for both teams. Losing by two, the Defenders had the bases loaded with first baseman Donald Montgomery up to bat. That is when Reynolds initiated the double play with the quick turn to second. 

Taylor led the Defenders offensively going five-for-five with three triples, two singles and three RBIs. 

Offensively for JCU, Hobby and Mooring each had four RBIs. Alexander led JCU defensively with more than five outs. Petzel also earned more than seven strikes in the game. 

A second game was required because the Defenders had been previously undefeated in the playoffs, which was set up as double elimination. 

Game 2 

JCU started strong offensively in the first inning and proved to be too much for the Defenders in the second and final game of the 2008 Pope Intramural Softball Championship. 

JCU kick started the game with eight runs in the first. This was, in part, thanks to right fielder Nick Reed who hit a triple, as well as doubles by Broussard and left fielder Jim Prassee. 

Jessee tried to answer for the Defenders by hitting a homer, bringing in two, but two of the following three batters hit pop flyouts to end the inning. 

Both teams played staunch defense in the second and third innings with the Defenders giving up no runs and JCU yielding only two. 

JCU scored four in the fourth following a home run by right-centerfielder Shawn Pokey and two RBIs by Reynolds. 

The fifth inning saw more action from both teams. JCU began with a homer by Reed followed by a double and RBI by Petzel to extend the lead 14-5. Defenders answered big with five RBIs by left-centerfielder Scott Ochab, third baseman John Mellish and McClain. 

JCU pulled further away in the two remaining innings outscoring the Defenders 4-1. 

With the championship game on the line in the bottom of the seventh inning, the Defenders faced a 18-11 deficit but gave way to three straight outs to end the game. 

Reed led JCU offensively, hitting for the cycle with a single, double, triple and home run. 

Ochab led the Defenders on offensive going three-for-four on a single, double and triple.