The quest for Sven's Cup

  • Published
  • By A1C Rachel Martinez
  • 319 ARW/PA
GRAND FORKS AIR FORCE BASE, N.D. --  The first Sven's Cup kickball tournament was held July 13 on softball field three with eight participating teams. 

The participants in the event included the Airman Activities Council, the Network 56 Council, first sergeants, the Chiefs Council, Top 3, the commanders team, the Company Grade Officers Council and spouses. 

The tournament play was set up as single elimination where the loser of each match is no longer eligible to win the cup. The winner of each match is decided by either the leader in points after five innings or the "mercy rule". The mercy rule is used when the first team to score 10 points wins the match. 

The first game of the day between spouses and the first sergeants ended in a forfeit in favor of the shirts because the spouses did not have enough participation for a full team. 

In the second match between the AAC and the 56, the crowd was ready to watch a good game of kickball after the first game forfeit. The game play was slow, with the AAC losing to the 56 with a final score of 4-1. 

The third game was between the commanders team and Top 3. The game started with the Top 3 scoring the first run. The commanders team, not to be out done, scored two points. The Top 3 in the second inning scored their final two points of the game. The commanders team ran away with the game, winning 9-3, knocking the Top 3 out of the tournament. 

In the fourth match between the CC and the CGOC, the airmen from the AAC had a chance to redeem their earlier performance by teaming with the CGOCs to avoid a forfeit. The CC also had help from the 56 to form a full team. In a close game that was neck to neck until the end, the CC came out victorious with a final score of 4-3. 

The first of two semi-final games was between the shirts and the 56. The first sergeants annihilated the Network 56, winning the game in three short innings, putting the mercy rule in to effect with a final score of 10-0. 

The second semi-final game was between the commanders and CC. Both teams played with skill and determination but ultimately the commanders team won, with a final score of 5-3, advancing them to the finals. 

The much anticipated final game was led by the commanders team and the shirts for the Sven's Cup. Both teams were evenly matched for their final game. The commanders team played hard but the first sergeants played even harder. By playing harder the shirts won the final game and Sven's Cup with a final score of 5-3. 

"I thought it was great to have everyone out here playing, not focused so much on winning but the camaraderie and being together as a wing was great," said Col. John Quinn, acting commander of the 319th Air Refueling Wing after awarding the Sven's Cup to the first sergeants.