News

Reservist bats a thousand on making Air Force softball team

  • Published
  • By Master Sgt. Jake Chappelle
  • 446th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
MCCHORD FIELD, Wash. --  Your parent, mentor, or boss might have told you to swing for the fences once on a project or venture in life. In one Reserve Airman's case, she did and made the team- four years in a row.

A staff sergeant with the 446th Aeromedical Staging Squadron here, is doing it as a player on the Air Force women's softball team at Tyndal Air Force Base, Fla., who began playing in the Armed Forces Championships at Naval Air Station Pensacola, Fla. Sept. 17-23.

"I tried out for the Air Force team in 2008," said Staff Sgt. Lindsay Ciullo, 446th ASTS. "Since then, I have fortunately been able to come back every year."

One of those years she earned a batting average of .448 and hit two RBIs in the 2009 championship game.

"This is my fourth year playing for the Air Force team," said the Sweet Home, Ore. resident. "I am the only Reservist on the team this year."

A lot of times when someone makes it in the "system" then they're good to go every year. But for Ciullo, it's the opposite.

"To me, it actually gets harder to make the team year-after-year," said the catcher. "You have to prove that you're making the team based on your skills and talents and not just the fact that you're a vet."

In the future, Ciullo would like to see more athletic participation from Reservists.

"When I talked to my unit about going through the softball process, no one had any idea that the program existed," she said. "I want them to know it's possible for Reservists to attend training camps for sports at the Air Force level. To me, the more people who are aware of this and want to tryout will help keep the Air Force sports program alive."

In addition to playing on the team multiple times, Ciullo has made the All Armed Forces team and played in the Amateur Softball Association nationals in Oklahoma City the last three years. The All Armed Forces team comes from the All Tournament team at NAS Pensacola and is comprised of players from all service branches and the U.S. Coast Guard.