Korea HEAT Competition
The Korea HEAT is made up of players that represent a cross section of the international community in which we live. Although just formed in the summer of 1997, we have already competed in 2 tournaments in Korea and one international tournament in Taiwan, Republic of China. This team came together in its first tournament August 15-16 to finish 4th out of 13 teams, gaining the necessary experience of playing together. Overall, we were quite pleased with the initial showing of the team.
The first international experience for the HEAT came in september of this year as we made the trip to Taiwan, Republic of China. This extrememly well run tournament showcased much of the top talent in the Far East as well as the
island of Taiwan. During the qualitfication for the tournament, over 300 Taiwanese teams competed over a span of two months for the 6 precious spots in the "ASIAN INVASION" tournament. The HEAT started the tournament on a winning note by defeating the #1 seed in the tournamen in 8 innings. The second game saw the HEAT take it on the chin, losing to the eventual runner-up in the tournament, "Tokyo Global". Our third game was marred by a torrential downpour that called the game in the first innings. But not before the HEAT were able to score 8 runs and secure the victory. This victory put us in the championship round pitting us against the eventual tournament champion "ChenKung" of Taiwan. We played them to a virtual standstill for 8 innings when our luck ran out, losing by one run in 8 hardfought innings. Although we lost this heartbreaker, it just served to galvanize the team to regroup and come back in the next tournament.
Our third tournament was an in-country AT&T tournament held at Yongsan
Army Garrison. Once again, the HEAT played very well in a tournament marred by cold weather and very stiff competition. In our first game of the round robin format, the HEAT defeated the eventual tournament runner-up HAMMERS
easily. We then went out and promptly lost a heartbreaker to the OSAN TPS/Ballz team 11-8. The third and fourth games of the round robin saw the HEAT rip up also-rans STORM and 524th MI. With the 3-1 round robin record, we placed 2nd in our division to the HAMMERS and entered the championship single-elimination round facing the MADDOGS. The MADDOGS were the better team on this day, defeating the HEAT 13-1 and eventually taking the tournament championship.
Our next international tournament is scheduled for 20-24 November at the Bangkok International Softball League annual tournament in Bangkok, Thailand.
Look for updates soon.
Email: tompkins@bora.dacom.co.kr
