HILL AIR FORCE BASE, Utah – The most decorated player in Air Force women’s softball history has made good in her head-coaching debut.

Paced by Kat Braun and Darlene Rayburn of Kadena Air Base, Okinawa, and Carley Edwards of Osan Air Base, South Korea, the All-Air Force team won the All-Armed Forces tournament title Thursday, making a winner out of Cheryl Trapnell in her first year as Air Force coach.

Air Force swept its three games on the final day of the triple round-robin tournament, including a crucial 13-0 shutout of defending champion Army. The teams each finished 7-2, but Air Force beat Army two of three times they played.

“This is one of the best team in terms of chemistry that the Air Force has ever had,” said Trapnell, a retired senior master sergeant and shortstop who was All-Air Force 20 times, All-Armed Forces 14 times and first-team All-American nine times.

Air Force’s comeback took root on Day 2 of the tournament, in which Army beat Air Force 13-5, helped by a triple play finished by second baseman Roxie Finks of Yongsan Garrison, South Korea.

“We didn’t play to our potential,” Braun said of the second day. “We talked about it as a team and came out and did what we had to do. The heart showed.”

Now, the All-Armed Forces team goes to Oklahoma City for the Amateur Softball Association open national championship scheduled for Sept. 27-30.

“It’s really exciting,” Edwards said. “We have a lot of talent and I think we’ll do well.”

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