KMC, Stuttgart teams miss finals, but take plenty from softball regionals

  • Published
  • By Master Sgt. Jim Fisher
  • 17th Air Force Public Affairs
RAMSTEIN AIR BASE, Germany --  Camaraderie proved easier to come by than wins for the three American teams
representing Germany in the Europe-Middle East-Africa softball regionals
here July 12-16. Little League Softball teams from Stuttgart and the KMC
competed in the Junior Division, while the KMC also carried the German and
American flags in the Senior Division.

The tournaments, and the corresponding chance to compete in the August World
Series in the U.S., were ultimately won by Juniors from Italy and the
Seniors the Netherlands. The local German-American representatives
appreciated the chance to compete, come together as teammates and learn from
the experience.

Stuttgart Coach Joe Puckett said his team didn't come to Ramstein to rack up
wins, but to leave as better players. While the team didn't manage a win in
the tourney, they persevered in playing the game correctly. While his
players were the best selections from teams in the local league, they didn't
have experience with post-season competition.

"We realistically didn't expect to win against these teams. Most of our
girls were players from the [recreational] league in Stuttgart and hadn't
played at this level before," Puckett said. "Our objective in coming here .
was to be a better team than we were before the tournmament, to be better
softball players than we were before we started-not to quit and to play hard
all the way through."

After going 0-3 through the first two days of competition, Puckett and his
team were hoping to prove themselves against rivals KMC July 14. They
achieved their most narrow margin of defeat and highest run tally, losing
17-10. Though the loss meant their exit from the tournament, Puckett said
Stuttgart finished strong, attaining their goal.

"It would have been nice to beat KMC today, but I have no regrets in
bringing this team here. I believe they learned a lot and how far they have
to go because there are just some amazing softball players here," Puckett
said.

His daughter and second baseman Cosette Puckett said while learning to never
give up, she also appreciated the team's opportunity to come together.
Players had only three weeks as a team after all-star selections were made
following the local season in Stuttgart.

"I really liked bonding with my teammates. I've made a lot of friends, met a
lot of new people-people I'll remember for the rest of my life," Cosette
said.

Their KMC rivals in the Junior Division had more auspicious goals, having
several players with World Series experience from younger levels. Coach
Pedro Martinez' team was hoping for their first return to the series since
their last appearance in 2006. Still, they knew the competition was stiff.
After dropping their first two matches of the tournament, they needed a win
against Stuttgart to advance to the knock-out round. Though they beat their
rivals to finish 1-3, they lost to Poland 11-1 in semi-final competition
July 15, joining Stuttgart in the bleachers.

KMC first baseman and pitcher Liz Pendergrass praised the competition as
being "the best I have ever played against," and invoking the loftiest of
Little League ideals in describing her team's experience.

"I think we are the team that had the most fun," she said.

Martinez cited the continual challenge the military-based teams face in the
constant rebuilding mandated by the frequency of player arrivals and
departures. While the teams from Holland, Italy and Poland have the
advantage of continuity, the KMC teams have a chance to get to the World
Series every year, he explained.

"In the States, we'd have to get through so many levels to even get a
glimpse of a chance to go to the World Series. Here, we have to play our
best for one tournament. So I can't complain about our scenario," Martinez
said.

The KMC Seniors have been taking advantage of that opportunity in recent
years, looking to make 2011 their fourth consecutive trip to the Series.
They went 1-1 in the first round, defeating the Netherlands 14-0, but losing
to Italy 10-2. They lost the semi-final match, and their hopes of
progressing, to their Dutch opponents 13-5.

KMC Senior first baseman and pitcher Kelsey Freeman said that the difficulty
of the tournament is what makes it worth playing in.

"The competition is really good-that's why I like this tournament," Freeman
said. "You are playing teams that give you something to work for. You have
to fight to win because they are going to come out and fight for it."

KMC Seniors assistant coach Manuel Bonano said the team didn't play up to
their high defensive standards, with the lapse coming at the wrong time.

"This year, it wasn't meant to be. Of course they are disappointed, but in
the end, they are going to be OK," Bonano said, adding that the off season
training program and a new group of Juniors becoming eligible will ensure
continued success. "We expect to have a competitive team every year."

As tournament organizers began picking up the bases, the winners' cries of
joy faded, along with the steady cadences of encouragement from the dugouts.
As teams packed up after 18 games in five days, they took away much more
than wins and losses.