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Play Ball

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Amber Grimm
  • 51st FW/PA
OSAN AIR BASE, Republic of Korea --  The Yokota High School Panthers of Yokota Air Base, Japan, beat out defending champions Zama American High School's Trojans from Camp Zama, Japan, to win the 2015 Pacific Far East Division II baseball tournament with a final score of 3-0 May 20, 2015, at Osan Air Base, Republic of Korea.

This Department of Defense activity brought together teams from across the pacific to compete for the division title in a double elimination tournament.  Yokota and Zama competed against the Daegu American High School Warriors from Camp Walker, ROK, the Matthew C.  Perry High School Samurai from Iwakuni, Japan, the Robert D. Edgren High School Eagles from Misawa Air Base, Japan, the Ernest J. King High School Cobras out of Sasebo, Japan and the hometown Osan American High School Cougars.

After three days of battling Yokota was undefeated, guaranteeing them a place in the finals. The standout heavy hitters from Zama and Perry went head-to-head for a place in the finals, with Zama winning 8-5. 

Knowing it would take two loses to knock Yokota out of 1st place, Zama came out of the dugout swinging. The competition was fierce and neither team gave an inch, runs were traded for seven innings before Zama managed to win 5-4 forcing Yokota to play one last game. Bouncing back Yokota defeated Zama 3-0, securing the championship.

"We had to do it the hard way," said Steven Firch, Yokota coach. "They're competitors. They don't give up, they've always been a tough team to play and they have a lot of good players."

With the tournament over, the awards passed out and the teams returning to their respective homes some reflect on the shared camaraderie, the competitive spirit of the tournament and are sad to say goodbye to their fellow ball players. "It's bittersweet because it's over," said Leo Austin, Yokota pitcher. "It feels good though."