MARINE CORPS AIR STATION IWAKUNI, Japan -- Headquarters and Headquarters Squadron Crew Dawgs were annihilated by the Marine Aviation Logistic Squadron 12 Guatemalan Circus Midgets, 33-9, at Penny Lake, Monday.
The Dawgs, with a 4-0 record were anticipating a good game with the Midgets, 5-1, but were surely disappointed with their opponent’s lackluster performance.
“The competition out here is pretty bad,” said Jordan J. Hines, coach of the Midgets. “I mean, the rest of these teams look like they have never played a game of softball or baseball in their lives. It makes it easy for us.”
Although Joseph P. Beal, Dawgs pitcher and coach, had big aspirations before the game began, the Dawgs did not have a chance from the start.
“They have what we want skill wise,” said Beal. “As long as we hit at their level this will turn out to be an interesting game.”
The hitting started soundly enough for the Dawgs, with a two-run blast by shortstop Gary L. Allen. The score stood at 2-0 with the Midgets taking their turn at the plate.
In the bottom half of the inning, the Midgets exploded for 12 runs in a matter of minutes while sending the Dawgs reeling for answers. In the middle of the onslaught of runs, Cliff J. Lindgren, shortstop, drilled a pitch over the left field fence for a three-run homer and the game was quickly getting out of hand.
The Midgets shutdown the Dawgs hitters in the top of the second and it was back to the run-scoring machine of the Midget offense.
“We are not in our game tonight. We are just out of our groove,” said Jose P. Martinez, Dawgs right fielder. “They are on top of their game, getting base hits and doing everything that they need to be doing, and that’s why they are winning.”
If being down by 10 was not bad enough, the Midgets bombarded the Dawgs with hits as they put up 21 more runs. The lineup batted around continuously and the game became a laugher. The game ended in the third inning with the mercy rule in effect and the Dawgs going home with their tails between their legs, losing 33-9.
“They’re a stacked team, and that’s all,” said Beal. “They are the two best teams from last season combined. This is intramural softball not the All-Marine team.”
All-Marine team or not, the significant gap in score didn’t change, and the Midgets were not one bit surprised with the outcome of the game.
“It was like taking candy from a baby with them,” said Hines. “You tease them a little and let them get a couple runs, but then you just take it away.”