Altus airman picked for Air Force Softball Team

  • Published
  • By TSgt Jennifer Seidl
  • 97th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs
ALTUS AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. --  Staff Sergeant Michele L. Polachek was recently chosen for the Air Force Softball Team on September 1st, one of 15 women who made the team, out of 21 Air-Force wide who tried. SSgt Polachek is the NCOIC of Plans and Implementation with the 97th Communications Squadron, Altus AFB, Oklahoma. She manages base Command, Control, Communications, Computers, and Intelligence systems architecture, configurations, and integrations, supporting the 97th Air Mobility Wing and 40 associate units, when she's not on the ball field. 

This year's softball training camp started on August 27th at Tyndall AFB. SSgt Polachek said they spent three weeks preparing to defend the back-to-back gold medals they've already collected and are well on their way to compete at the Armed Forces Tournament at NAS Pensacola. 

"The Air Force team won the gold medal for the 3rd year in a row," SSgt Polachek said. "This has not happened since the early 80's." 

SSgt Polachek is from Willard, Ohio, and is an 11-year veteran of the USAF. She competed in tryouts for the Air Force team in 1999, but was not selected; following that she worked on her game skills and played on base and intramural levels. She plays the back-up pitcher position. SSgt Polachek said the camaraderie and teamwork of softball is what motivates her. 

"Our coach afforded our success to an outstanding defense," SSgt Polachek said. "From a player's perspective, I think our success can be attributed to a complete team effort. We went out on the field every game as a complete team, whether you were starting, pinch hitting, or cheering on your teammates from the dugout." 

SSgt Polachek said she earned a rare opportunity to compete at the Air Force level, and encouraged everyone to strive to achieve the same level. 

"I would not have been afforded this opportunity without the help of my squadron leadership, the fitness center staff, and a fellow player who took the time to help me prepare for the (training) camp," SSgt Polachek said. "It's a memory that will last a lifetime." 

Anyone interested in more information on the Air Force Softball Team should contact the Air Force Services Agency at www.usafsports.com or call (210) 652-3471 (commercial).