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YOKOTA AIR BASE, Japan — On Friday, the Yokota Warriors gave coach Christopher Bell the best birthday present ever.

Given a second chance after the Yokosuka Seahawks were penalized for roughing the kicker in the second quarter, Yokota’s Michael Myschieski booted a 22-yard field goal, and the defense did the rest as Yokota edged defending U.S. Forces Japan-American Football League champion Yokosuka 3-2.

“It’s my 31st birthday, we just beat the No. 1 team in the league, with the No. 1 defense, with the No. 1 offense, and we held them to a safety,” Bell said. “If you ask me if this was the best birthday present I’ve ever had, I’ll say ‘You bet it is.’”

Yokota finished the regular season in second place (4-2), and will host third-place Misawa (3-3) in the playoff semifinals on Aug. 18. The teams split their regular-season meetings, Yokota winning 16-6 on June 2 at Misawa, and the Jets winning 6-3 in overtime at Yokota on July 14.

Despite the loss, Yokosuka (5-1) won its sixth regular-season championship in seven years and will host the Torii Bowl on Sept. 1.

The Warriors put together a solid defensive performance despite holding limited practices the past two weeks due to duty commitments, Bell said.

“The guys played with a lot of heart,” he said. “We snuck away with one at Yokota.”

It was the worst performance of the season for a Seahawks offense that averaged 33.4 points in its first five games. Yokosuka played without several of its stars, including quarterback Michael Ott and reigning league MVP Dayon Banks, who were away on assignment.

“Ugly, ugly, ugly,” Seahawks coach Robert Cole said of a game in which Yokosuka coughed up four fumbles and threw an interception. “The defense did their thing. We just weren’t clicking on offense. Yokota came to play. Their defense played their backsides off.”

After the Seahawks went up 2-0 on a first-quarter safety, the Warriors drove to the Yokosuka 10, where Myschieski lined up for a 27-yard field goal. He missed, but the Seahawks were flagged for roughing the kicker. Myschieski made the most of his second chance.

Camp Carroll soldier tabbed for All-Army tryoutsAndre Elder of Camp Carroll, South Korea, was the only Pacific-based soldier selected to the All-Army men’s softball tryout camp scheduled for Aug. 22- Sept. 10 at Fort Benning, Ga., Army sports officials announced Thursday.

Elder, a sergeant first class assigned to the 501st Special Troops Battalion and a six-time All-Army outfielder, will vie for one of 15 spots on the All-Army team.

The All-Armed Forces tournament is scheduled for Sept. 11-16 at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla.

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