Fort Bragg military softball team earns world championship title

Aug. 24--A Fort Bragg softball team with female players who are either connected to the military or Department of Defense has claimed a championship title.

Coach Arthur Mack, an Army veteran who retired from Fort Bragg after 26 years of service, started the Band of Sisters Softball team known as BOSS in 2013.

Taking on multiple teams Aug. 16-18 in Viera, Florida, BOSS was named the 2019 United States Specialty Sports Association's world champions.

North Carolina's three teams earned first and second place among teams from states all over the country. Another team from the Fort Bragg area, Lady Klutch, earned second place and Jacksonville Stack, from the Camp Lejeune area, earned third place.

There are 11 teams in BOSS's division, and about five divisions overall.

BOSS beat Lady Klutch in the final round of the tournament, 8-6.

"I was relieved because we've been trying to get that championship won for so many years, and to finally win it, it fulfilled one of my dreams," Mack said.

Mack used to play ball himself, and decided to take his wife's advice to start a team when he started cutting back on playing. His wife, Elondis Mack, who also is an Army veteran, is one of the members of the team.

The team, which has a roster of about 20 players, includes veterans or active-duty service members from the Marines, Army, Navy, National Guard, are military spouses or Department of Defense contractors ranging from ages 24 to 51.

Laura McCarn, who's played softball since she was 9, is a left field player who played under Coach Mack when he had another team dating back to 2010.

Her husband was stationed at Fort Bragg from 2010 to 2012, and though McCarn's husband is now stationed in Colorado, she still sticks with BOSS.

"It's a great family environment of people who love the game of softball, and Coach Mack has a great passion for it," she said. "Coach Mack is a strict coach, but he's very disciplined, and I need that as a ballplayer. Softball is my passion."

McCarn said the team is "like a sisterhood."

McCarn said the final tournament game before the team earned the championship title was a "good game."

"A shortstop player came up to bat, and it was two outs, and we needed an out," she said. "(The pitcher) came up and popped it up to the shortstop, and I just remember her saying, 'I got it. I got it.'"

The team ran to the dugout and immediately celebrated.

Valinda "Blu" Vargas, of Spring Lake, was among the celebrators.

Vargas is a first base, catcher and extra hitter who's been with the team since 2015 and in the softball world since 2005.

Vargas also is a Navy veteran who served for 15 years.

"This is our home away from home. This is our stress relief. This is what we do to have fun," Vargas said of the team she described as her "sisters in softball."

Vargas, who's been playing ball since she was 5 years old, said winning the title means she has her first championship ring.

"It was one of those moments where it was like, 'Whoa, we just won,' " she said. "I'm so proud, and I can't stop smiling when people ask me how's softball going. It's a great time to be in softball, especially women's softball."

Vargas said she credits Coach Mack with getting the team to that spot.

"He gives us his all, and he expects us to give our all," she said.

And Mack said the team has roughly 360 days until it's back to defend its title.

"This win is for the ladies and the sport they love," he said.

Staff writer Rachael Riley can be reached at rriley@fayobserver.com or 910-486-3528.

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