NAVAL AIR STATION NORTH ISLAND, Calif. Sailors from throughout the greater San Diego area teamed up for a softball game against the San Diego Padres Alumni hosted by Naval Base Coronado's (NBC) Morale, Welfare and Recreation (MWR) at the Vice Admiral Martin Softball Fields on Aug. 16.
The Navy’s softball team manager, Vice Adm. DeWolfe Miller, commander, Naval Air Forces from York, Pa., greeted the crowd of military members and their families from the pitcher’s mound.
“When I think of partnerships, I think of the Navy and baseball,” said Miller. “I think of the Padres and what they do for our community- nobody does it better.”
Participating softball players from the Navy and San Diego Padres Alumni took to the field as each player was introduced to the crowd. Among them was Tony Gwynn Jr., San Diego Padres player from 2009-2010, from Poway, Calif., son of Hall of Famer and San Diego Padres’ legend, Tony Gwynn.
“This is the third game that I’ve participated in with the San Diego Padres Alumni and the military,” said Gwynn Jr. “For me personally, I grew up in San Diego and the Padres have always done a good job in highlighting the men and women that served our country.”
This is the fourth softball game where the San Diego Padres Alumni and military members have competed, but was the first time for Aviation Machinist Mate 2nd Class Darius Dawson, assigned to Center for Naval Aviation Technical Training Unit (CNATTU) North Island, from Jackson, Miss.
“This is my first year playing in this competition,” said Dawson. “It was hard for me to sleep last night because I was so excited. Having a chance to play against the professionals, the guys who’ve been playing a long time, is a rewarding opportunity for me to participate in.”
Those who attended were also able to meet with two professional baseball outfielders for the San Diego Padres, Travis Jankowski and Hunter Renfroe.
“I go to all the games, and I love it,” said San Diego Padres fan and retired Gas Turbine Systems Technician (Mechanic) 1st Class Jason Muir, from Sanford, Fla. “It was awesome to see two of my favorite players and get their autographs.”
The competition was fierce and the game ended with a final score of 10-10.
The event also included tents where Hodad’s, a chain of hamburger restaurants, served burgers and MWR served snacks and refreshments.
NBC is a consortium of eight Navy installations stretching from San Clemente Island, located seventy miles west of San Diego, to the La Posta Mountain Warfare Training Facility, located sixty miles east of San Diego. The base’s mission is to support and train America’s heroes.
| Date Taken: | 08.16.2018 |
| Date Posted: | 08.20.2018 13:34 |
| Story ID: | 289347 |
| Location: | SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA, US |
| Web Views: | 60 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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