News>Kadena Eagles compete in local baseball tournament
Photos
Kadena Eagles pitcher Kevin Ford pitches during the Pepsi baseball tournament May 4 at the Kadena Municipal Sport Stadium.
(U.S. Air Force/Senior Airman Nestor Cruz)
Kadena Eagles Pitcher Jahsan Page pitches during the Pepsi baseball tournament May 4 at the Kadena Municipal Sport Stadium. Although the team lost the game, the Eagles will participate in other tournaments later this year, including the Green Kumesen Cup, Orion Cup and Victory Gym Fall Tournament.
(U.S. Air Force/Senior Airman Nestor Cruz)
Brandon Dong, Kadena Eagles coach, prepares to catch a passed ball and tag a Bars team runner during the second round of the Pepsi baseball tournament May 4 at the Kadena Municipal Sport Stadium. Coach Dong founded the team, Kadena's first varsity baseball team, in February 2007.
(U.S. Air Force/Senior Airman Nestor Cruz)
Kadena Eagles third baseman Jesus Reza, 20, prepares to defend third base as a Bars team runner approaches during the second round of the Pepsi baseball tournament May 4 at the Kadena Municipal Sport Stadium.
(U.S. Air Force/Senior Airman Nestor Cruz)
by Senior Airman Nestor Cruz
18th Wing Public Affairs
5/9/2008 - KADENA AIR BASE, Japan -- The Kadena Air Base Eagles played valiantly against Central Okinawa's Bar's but fell short of a victory during Sunday's 13-inning second round of the Pepsi baseball tournament at the Kadena Municipal Sport Stadium.
Eagles center fielder Tom Yost got things started in the first inning by slamming an RBI double, putting his team on the scoreboard with a run.
Starting pitcher Kyle Ochoa pitched four straight innings allowing only one hit, but at the top of the 6th, the Bar's scored their first run, tying the game.
Both teams struggled to break the tie for the next five innings. Everything changed by the 11th inning when, according to Japanese rules, each team starts the inning with bases loaded and no outs.
The Bar's blasted ahead of the Eagles in the 11th, scoring two runs off a base hit and one from an error.
The Eagles returned fire by scoring three runs on a passed ball and a throwing error, tying the score at 4-4.
Determined to deliver the final blow to the Eagles, the Bar's brought home two more runs with an RBI single. In the bottom of the 12th, the Eagles lost steam and could not put any more runs on the board.
"There was great pitching from both teams," said Eagles coach and team founder Brandon Dong. "We played a great game defensively, but our guys just weren't connecting with the ball today and that's basically what it came down to."
This was the first loss of the year for the Eagles, bringing their record to 8-1-1.
The Eagles may be out of the Pepsi tournament, but Coach Dong promises a comeback for his team of Airmen, Sailors, Soldiers, Marines and handful of civilians.
"We've got other tournaments and some scrimmage games ahead of us this year," the Eagles coach said. "In the meantime, we're going to work on our hitting."
The Eagles, Kadena's first varsity baseball team, was founded February 2007 by Coach Dong.
For more information about the Kadena Eagles or to try out for the team, visit www.leaguelineup.com/kadenabaseball.
