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NEWS | June 28, 2018

NCR Airmen head to Armed Services Classic championship game

By Senior Airman Abby L. Richardson 11th Wing Public Affairs

The National Capital Region Air Force softball team will head to the Armed Services Classic softball tournament championship game after a successful preliminary round at Jericho Park in Bowie, Md., June 23, 2018.

The tournament is a competition featuring teams from all five military branches that culminates with a championship game between the top two teams as part of Major League Baseball’s All-Star Week. During the preliminaries, each team played each other to determine who would move on.

“To play against each branch is something special,” said Tech. Sgt. Larry Russell, NCR Air Force softball team outfielder. “When you’re playing for your branch, it’s service before self—you’re playing for something a lot bigger than yourself.”

On the final day, the Air Force beat the Marines 11-9 and lost to the Navy 10-6. The win against the Marines solidified their spot in the championship game, scheduled for July 13, 7 p.m., at Nationals Park in Washington, D.C. In the final game, the Air Force will face the Army. Free tickets for military personnel will be available at the Community Commons leading up to the game.

“A lot of us dream of playing in a stadium,” Russell said. “So I think it’s a dream come true.”

Immediately after the championship game, one representative from each team will compete in the preliminary round of the Military Home Run Derby contest.

The two competitors who hit the most home runs in 60 seconds will go on to compete in the final round July 16. The money raised by the event will go to military charities.