KADENA AIR BASE, Okinawa — Jim Flagg’s numbers read well enough: 3-for-3 with two doubles, a home run and four RBIs during a first-round game Thursday in Kadena Air Base’s 18th Services company-level softball playoffs.

But the two-time All-Air Force outfielder insisted he wasn’t satisfied.

“I missed all three of them,” said Flagg, one of four Kadena-based players selected to the All-Air Force men’s tryout camp, scheduled for Aug. 27-Sept. 15 at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla.

He and 23 other selectees will vie for spots on the All-Air Force team, two-time defending champions in the All-Armed Forces tournament.

Flagg, named to the All-Armed Forces team in 2005, says he’s “more excited than ever” about this year’s All-Armed Forces tournament, scheduled for Sept. 16-21 at Eglin.

“You play the best of the best,” said Flagg, 34, from Farmington, Maine, a captain assigned to Kadena’s 18th Munitions Squadron. “I get to turn it up. I love the competition.”

Nonethelsss, Flagg said his batting gradually has improved; he predicted he’ll be ready when the time comes.

“My swing has already changed the last few weeks,” Flagg said. “I’ve been hitting the ball really well. I know I have to start doing it now. I’m not there yet but I have three weeks to get ready.”

He’ll be joined at camp by 2003-04 All-Air Force outfielder Chadd Malin of Kadena’s 353rd Maintenance Squadron, the only repeat selection from among the five Pacific Air Forces players tapped for camp.

Going to camp for the first time will be Alton Hufstetler of Kadena’s 31st Rescue Squadron and Flagg’s 18th Munitions teammate Kurt Tom.

PACAF’s other camp selection hails from South Korea: Christopher Bast of Kunsan Air Base’s 8th Maintenance Squadron.

Kadena continues to lead the way in All-Air Force camp selections, with nine in the past three years. Malin cites the sub-tropical weather, talent level on the island and “the amount of ball we play here” as reasons why.

The 35-year-old technical sergeant from Andrews, N.C., said, “There’s always a tournament going on, intramurals, co-ed ball.”

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