Lake Elsinore Storm baseball hosts March ARB night

  • Published
  • By Megan Just
  • 452nd AMW Public Affairs
MARCH AIR RESERVE BASE, CALIF. --  The Lake Elsinore Storm, the San Diego Padre's minor league baseball affiliate, recently hosted a March ARB night. Air Force, Army, and Navy service members from March ARB units attended the evening game against the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes. 

Brig. Gen. Eric Crabtree, Fourth Air Force Commander, and Navy Cmdr. Steven Hartsel, Commanding Officer of Moreno Valley Navy Operational Reserve Center, threw first pitches at the game. 

The pitch was the first time Cmdr. Hartsel had ever thrown a baseball. "I was going to do anything to avoid putting it in the dirt," he said. 

Public events are always important for the Moreno Valley Navy unit. 

"We take every chance we can get--especially in a dry place like this--to remind everybody there really is a Navy here, doing very important things around the world," Cmdr. Hartsel said. 

Following the first pitches, Tech. Sgt. Sue Lewis, 452nd Mission Support Squadron Chief of Customer Service, sang the National Anthem. 

"It was an honor getting to sing in that big of a venue," she said. 

Sergeant Lewis has performed the National Anthem at several other events, including three March ARB Military Balls. This was her first performance at a baseball game. 

Following the National Anthem, March ARB's Blue Eagles Total Force Honor Guard marched down the stadium stairs and presented the colors on the baseball diamond. The honor guard is comprised of active duty, Reserve, and National Guard Airmen. 

The baseball game marked the midway point of the 304th Sustainment Brigade's two-week annual training at March ARB. Twenty-two Soldiers from the brigade attended the game in uniform. 

Private First Class Richard Escoto, a chaplain's assistant with the brigade, was glad to be at the game instead of spending the evening training with the unit. 

"It was a big surprise, a happy surprise," he said. 

Pfc. Escoto, along with the other Soldiers in his brigade, had Storm fans approach him during the game, thanking him for his military service. 

"It's always a blessing when people come up and show their appreciation. It's very humbling," he said. 

At the stadium entrance, Airmen from the 452nd Security Forces Squadron displayed a HMMWV and a patrol car. They also brought several weapons for the public to view, including an M-4, M-9, and 240-B. 

The 4th Combat Camera Squadron sent a crew of photographers and videographers to cover the game. They interviewed Brig. Gen. Eric Crabtree before the game. 

"I'd like to say thanks to the community members and the people who support us," General Crabtree said during the interview. 

"I've had a number of people here this evening come up to me and thank me for my military service and I think the community is so supportive of what goes on at March--it's one of the gems of the United States." 

The Lake Elsinore Storm won the game with a final score of 3-0 over the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes.