Each year, hundreds of military softball players from across the country submit applications and resumes to Fort Sill's Morale, Welfare, and Recreation office. They're not seeking employment, but they are seeking a position  one on the softball field for the All-Army softball team.

Closed tryouts are being conducted at the Fort Sill Cannoneer Softball Complex and will conclude next week when the team is cut from 25 players to 15. For the players who demonstrated enough ability  on paper  their hard work has just begun.

The head coach of the All-Army softball team this season is Victor Rivera Collazo, a retired command sergeant major with 33 years of service in the Field Artillery.

Training  beginning as early as 9 a.m. some days  includes fielding, base-running and defensive drills, which give way to batting practice as the day progresses and several intrasquad scrimmages as evening approaches.

Rivera, who has been coaching softball 10 years, said his favorite part of the sport is how much the players genuinely care about the game and the camaraderie of the teammates. He also is enthusiastic about encouraging family involvement.

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