Little Leaguers Honor Air Force Reservists

  • Published
  • By Master Sgt Ellen L Hatfield
  • 940th ARW
BEALE AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. --  The Fourth of July fireworks had barely fizzled to a finish when the Sunrise Little League All-Stars geared up for their first double elimination tournament game July 5, 2007, in Carmichael, Calif.

The team was excited because sewn to the sleeves of their uniforms is the unit patch of the Air Force Reserve's 940th Air Refueling Wing, Beale AFB, Calif., to honor their local military heroes.

No team member could have been prouder than 10-year-old Colton Nelson. His uncle, Master Sgt. Hector Aguilar, a transportation specialist with the 940th Logistics Readiness Squadron, is deployed to Manas Air Base, Kyrgyzstan with Operation Enduring Freedom.

Colton's step-father, MSgt. Alan Carlson, a heavy equipment operator with the 940th Civil Engineering Squadron who has deployed four times, is also one of the coaches for the team. It was Sergeant Carlson who came up with the idea for the team to wear the patches.

When he presented the proposal to the team, their parents, league representatives, and the tournament director, they endorsed it wholeheartedly.

The little leaguers, all 9-10 year old boys, played at the La Sierra Community Center ball fields, squaring off against the Rancho Cordova all-stars.

Despite heat soaring above the 100 degree mark, the boys were at the field more than two hours prior to game time, their energy and excitement tangible.

The team had a special visit from Lt. Col. Tim McCoy, 940th Mission Support Group commander, who came out to personally thank them for honoring the wing, and to cheer them on.

"We think it is truly special that you are honoring our wing this way," the colonel told the team. "It means a lot to our Reservists and their families that you care and know what it means to serve our country."

The colonel said that Sergeant Aguilar is among 26 wing Reservists deployed around the world in support of the Global War on Terror, bringing the total to about three hundred total deployments for the 940th since the beginning of the war on terror.

This is Sergeant Aguilar's second deployment, according to Sergeant Carlson. "Colton really misses him, as they are very close," he said. "Wearing the patch is important to him, too."

Colton, a man of few words, said "It makes me feel good."

Sergeant Carlson said Sergeant Aguilar did not know about the team wearing the patch for him yet. "But he's a huge baseball fan," he said, "and we are video-taping the game."

Sergeant Aguilar will be cheering somewhere in Afghanistan when he finds out the Sunrise All-stars posted a 10-5 win in a well-played first game.

The team lost their second game July 7, but advanced forward in competition when they posted a 6-3 win July 8. Although, according to Sergeant Carlson, the team played valiantly, they lost and were eliminated from the tournament in the fourth game July 9.

Sergeant (Coach) Carlson said they weren't disappointed for long, as each team member received a Beale AFB "challenge coin" and are looking forward to a future tour of the base to visit with their military heroes.

The Sunrise Little League all-stars: Matt Nunez, third base, Michael Niekamp, third base, Eddie Sandoval, left field and third base, Hercules Brack, pitcher, David Tupper, second base, Colby Walker, catcher, pitcher, first base, Brody Nesemann, catcher, first base, shortstop, Justin Marz, second base, Cain Lackey, pitcher and shortstop, Colton Nelson, catcher and second base, Tyler Babb, catcher and shortstop and Dallas Svoboda, pitcher, catcher and 1st base. Their coaches are Alan Carlson and Ken Babb, and the team manager is Matt Svoboda.