Oct. 26, 2026
by 2nd Lt. Crystal Housman
129th Rescue Wing Public Affairs
MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif. – As Major League Baseball’s best take the field for the 2026 World Series, another team is swinging for the fences in California’s Silicon Valley. The Moffett Fielders may not be professional athletes, but the 129th Rescue Wing’s coed recreational softball team has plenty of talent in its lineup.
There’s a civil engineer, an aircraft maintenance officer, a command support staff member and a medical group chief, among others. Their expertise lies in supporting the Air Force mission, not necessarily hitting home runs or turning double plays.
Every week, Airmen from across the wing trade their military uniforms for softball jerseys for an evening of friendly competition, exercise and camaraderie as they take on community teams from the Bay Area.
U.S. Air Force Chief Master Sgt. Hensley, the 129th Mission Support Group senior enlisted leader and Moffett Fielders manager, helped establish the team about five seasons ago.
“We were looking for an opportunity to connect outside of work with our coworkers across the base,” Hensley said.
The coed recreational team welcomes everyone from junior enlisted Airmen to senior leaders, as well as family members and others affiliated with the wing.
Connection is more important than the score, Hensley said. Winning isn’t the priority.
“The goal is fun and camaraderie. It’s not competition,” Hensley said.
The games also offer an opportunity to improve physical fitness.
At 70 feet, the distance between bases on a slow-pitch softball diamond is approximately 21.3 meters, roughly one step longer than the 20-meter High Aerobic Multi-Shuttle Run, or HAMR, used as an alternative cardio assessment during Air Force physical fitness testing.
While softball doesn’t replace structured physical training, running bases, fielding ground balls and chasing fly balls provides opportunities for exercise.
For Tech. Sgt. Tantana, a member of the 129th Security Forces Squadron who also works full time in the 129th Civil Engineer Flight, the weekly games offer a chance to decompress while spending time with coworkers.
“It’s a way to get somewhat of a workout in and then just have fun,” Tantana said. “We don’t always win, but we all have fun no matter what the score is or how we do.”
Now in his second full season, Tantana said the team has introduced him to wing members he rarely interacted with during regular duty days or drill weekends.
Military commitments, including temporary duty assignments and deployments, sometimes make it challenging to field a full team, but Hensley continues organizing the weekly games because he sees the value in bringing Airmen together.
Connections forged on the field extend well beyond the softball diamond.
Hensley said playing alongside Airmen from other squadrons has given him a network of contacts throughout the wing, making it easier to coordinate projects and solve problems.
“We have a point of contact now,” Hensley said. “We’ve got a buddy over there. I have someone to call and make the connection.”
For the Moffett Fielders, success isn’t measured in runs scored or games won. It’s measured in the relationships built between Airmen who know they can count on one another, both on the field and when the mission calls.
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