445th AMXS softball team "a hit"

  • Published
  • By Stacy Vaughn
  • 445th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio --  When they are not on the flightline, several members of the 445th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron can be found on the softball field competing against other base intramural softball teams during the summer.

Master Sgt. Brock Felgenhauer and Tech. Sgt. John Stevens, both from the 445th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, have softball on their minds every Tuesday night along with other AMXS members. Their team, the Crew Dawgs, has 17 members on the roster and they each take the game seriously.

"The Tuesday night team is the only competitive team the wing has. It is part of the upper league and there are seven teams in that league. We take our game serious but we also have a great time playing," Sergeant Stevens said.

"This is the fifth year now for the AMXS team. In 2007-2008, we were undefeated and won the league but we lost the tournament. We hope to win both this time around," Sergeant Felgenhauer said.

Sergeant Stevens reflected on the first year for the Crew Dawgs. "We've come a long way since our first year. We started out with just one bat that we had to share and now we have 12," he said.

Tech. Sgt. Brian Knouse, 445th Operational Support Squadron, who's the only non-AMXS player on the Crew Dawgs, is also busy Thursday nights coaching the 445th Airlift Wing team, which has 21-22 people on the roster with an average of 15-16 showing up at each game. The 445th Airlift Wing team is one of 17 teams in its league.

"Thursday night is when the recreational leagues play and we have a non-competitive team made up of various 445th units, spouses and family members. We just go out and have a great time and everyone is given a chance at bat," Sergeant Knouse said.

Sergeant Stevens added that because the three are coaches, they help each other out when needed.

"This season has been hard on the Crew Dawgs. Because of the recent activation, training requirements, TDYs, some people being hurt, etc., our team has been greatly affected this season. We usually have only 11 people at the game because we have a lot of team members that just cannot make it out every week," Sergeant Stevens said.

Sergeants Stevens and Knouse, along with Staff Sgt. Chris Braun, 445th AMXS, not only play on their unit team but also play on the base men's varsity softball team. This is Sergeant Braun's first season; Sergeant Stevens' second season; and Sergeant Knouse's sixth season with the base team.

"I've traveled to two military world series tournaments in Texas and Florida, and four Band-Aid/First Responders Softball Tournaments at Peterson Air Force Base, Colo., with the team," Sergeant Knouse said.

Softball fans can go out and root for both teams until the season ends for the Crew Dawgs in August and the 445th Wing team in September. Tournament results will be announced when posted.