OSAN AIR BASE, South Korea — All-Air Force slugger Chris Markey earned MVP honors and helped the host Osan Defenders capture the title in the Independence Holidays Softball Tournament for open- and post-level teams.

Osan beat Yongsan Garrison 17-6 in Tuesday’s championship game, completing an 8-0 run in which it outscored its foes 163-61 and won seven games by the mercy rule.

Yongsan didn’t exit the tournament empty-handed. Tournament MVP Wanda Reed helped Yongsan’s women beat Kyongbuk, the Korean national team, 15-4 in the second of two championship games.

The tournament replaced the Firecracker Shootout, originally scheduled for last weekend on Okinawa but canceled due to troop deployments.

Osan’s men would have preferred to win the Pacificwide Open tournament during the Memorial Day weekend at Yongsan, coach Mike Lemond said, since the Osan tournament featured a field of just 12 men’s teams, all Korea-based.

“But we’ll take this, absolutely,” Lemond said of his team that improved to 45-7 this season. “From hitters 1 through 11, everybody hit, everybody fielded, we did everything together as a team. Even the subs, when they came in, they did everything they needed to do.”

Markey, who batted .828 with six home runs, led the offense with Ty Jarry, who hit nine homers and batted .760. The Defenders batted .675 for the tournament.

Yongsan third baseman Tony Iafelice earned Gold Glove honors, while Donnie Morris of the Kunsan Wolf Pack hit 12 homers and was selected as the tournament’s Home Run King.

Yongsan’s Reed won the Home Run Queen award. In the second championship game, she hit three homers and a double.

The tournament was the first Osan hosted for post- and open-level teams since the base welcomed a fastpitch invitational in 1990. Osan’s 51st Services provided the fields and grounds crew, and its commanding officer, Maj. David Kretz, presented awards during the closing ceremony.

“Everybody enjoyed it. Everybody talked about what a great time they had,” said Osan pitcher Danny Acosta, one of the tournament’s organizers, adding that 51st Services officials told him they were “impressed” by the turnout of teams and spectators.

“Everybody’s saying they should keep this an annual thing.”

Independence Holidays Softball TournamentAt Osan Air Base, South Korea

Men’s double-elimination playoffs

Monday

Camp Red Cloud 18, Camp Hovey 3Camp Humphreys 17, Camp Carroll 15Osan Air Base Mustangs 16, 554th Civil Engineering Squadron (Heavy Repair), Osan 251st Munitions Squadron, Osan, 11, Suwon Air Base 6Osan Air Base Defenders 18, Camp Red Cloud 8Kunsan Air Base 21, Camp Humphreys 12Yongsan Garrison 16, Osan Mustangs 15Camp Casey 13, 51st Munitions 3Camp Hovey 7, Camp Humphreys 0, forfeit; Camp Humphreys eliminatedCamp Red Cloud 22, Camp Carroll 7; Camp Carroll eliminated51st Munitions 18, 554th CES (HR) 15; 554th CES (HR) eliminatedOsan Mustangs 13, Suwon 3; Suwon eliminatedOsan Defenders 23, Yongsan 15Kunsan 21, Camp Casey 20Tuesday

Camp Red Cloud 19, Camp Hovey 7; Camp Hovey eliminatedOsan Mustangs 17, 51st Munitions 8; 51st Munitions eliminatedCamp Casey 15, Camp Red Cloud 7; Camp Red Cloud eliminatedYongsan 29, Osan Mustangs 7; Osan Mustangs eliminatedOsan 22, Kunsan 8Yongsan 12, Camp Casey 2; Camp Casey eliminatedYongsan 22, Kunsan 7; Kunsan eliminatedOsan 17, Yongsan 6; Yongsan eliminatedWomen’s double-elimination playoffs

Monday

Kyongbuk National Team 11, Camp Casey 8Yongsan Garrison 18, Camp Humphreys 2Kunsan Air Base 11, Kyongbuk 7Yongsan 10, Osan Air Base 9Osan 10, Camp Casey 8; Camp Casey eliminatedKyongbuk 12, Camp Humphreys 1; Camp Humphreys eliminatedKyongbuk 12, Osan 8; Osan eliminatedYongsan 13, Kunsan 1Tuesday

Kyongbuk 11, Kunsan 3; Kunsan eliminatedKyongbuk 7, Yongsan 5Yongsan 15, Kyongbuk 4; Kyongbuk eliminatedTrio from Korea earn tryouts

FORT INDIANTOWN GAP, Pa. — Seven-time All-Army and All-Armed Forces outfielder Dexter Avery of Camp Henry leads three South Korea-based soldiers selected to the All-Army men’s softball tryout camp, scheduled for Aug. 15-Sept. 4 at Fort Lee, Va., officials announced Tuesday.

Other invitees are: Andre Elder of Camp Stanley, four times All-Army, and Jimmy Perez of Yongsan Garrison, making his second trip for tryouts. Only 16 players were selected, 18 fewer than last year’s All-Army camp.

Players who make the 15-man All-Army team will compete in the All-Armed Forces tournament, scheduled for Sept. 5-11 at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla.

Players from all four services will vie for berths on the All-Armed Forces team, slated to play in the Amateur Softball Association national majors championship Sept. 16-18.

— Stars and Stripes

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