On Oct. 6, the Marine Band softball team continued a long tradition of success by defeating Company A by a score of 31-13 in the Marine Barracks Washington Softball Championship. The win marks the ninth time in the last ten years that the band’s softball team has won the championship. The win came off the collected backs of the whole team, with multiple home runs by several different team members. Bassoonist Master Gunnery Sgt. Roger Kantner, playing in his last softball game as a member of the Marine Band, belted three homers.

The softball season features games played by the several teams made up by the different companies at Marine Barracks Washington. The end of the season includes a playoff, with the final two teams playing to determine the champion. While the games, especially those in the playoff, are very competitive, they are also a good way to build esprit de corps among the companies.

“It’s a lot of fun,” said Gunnery Sgt. Jennifer Mills, Marine Band librarian and softball team member. “The games are a great way to foster camaraderie with my co-workers.”