Robins Airman helps nab repeat title on AF women’s softball team Published Oct. 10, 2008 By Wayne Crenshaw 78th ABW/PA Robins Air Force Base, Ga. -- For the second year in a row, Senior Airman Toni Epps represented Robins on the Air Force women's softball team that took the gold medal in the 2008 Armed Forces Softball Championship. Hailed by her coach for her versatility, Epps helped the team defeat teams from the Army, Navy and Marines to take the title for the Air Force for the second straight year. The Air Force ended the 9-game, round-robin tournament with the only winning record at 7-2. The tournament was held Sept. 14-18. Epps, who coordinates training for the 5th Combat Communications Group, said she enjoyed playing with women from Air Force bases all over the world, many of whom were envious of her Robins assignment. As a result of her play in the tournament, she was selected for the All Armed Forces team that finished second out of three teams in the national Amateur Softball Association National Championship played in Oklahoma City on Sept. 27. Epps, 24, said she also enjoyed playing with women from other military services. Although they are fierce rivals when playing each other, she said, they came together as a team in the ASA championship. She also said that playing in the tournaments have helped her in her regular duties in the Air Force. "Playing not just softball but any sport prepares you for things in life because you have to be committed to it," she said. "It takes a lot of hard work in practice and team work, not to mention the competitiveness." Although Robins did not have a softball team this year, Epps plays regularly. Since she has been in Warner Robins she has played almost every weekend in the summer months on the Cherokee Brick & Tile team in the USA Softball league. She travels all around the state playing the games, and occasionally outside the state. She grew up in Webster City, Iowa, which she said has three traffic lights. She had offers to attend college on a softball scholarship, but she went into the Air Force right after she finished her state's high school softball tournament. Except for training, she has spent all of her nearly six years in the Air Force at Robins. It might seem like a big adjustment, but she has taken to the state, and even enjoys playing in the sweltering summer heat here. "I love Georgia," she said. "I plan on staying here. I love the weather, and the fact that there is no snow. Warner Robins is a good town to me." Cheryl Trapnell, who is retired from the Air Force, coached the Air Force team this year and last, plus she coached Epps on the All Armed Forces team this year. She said she likes Epps in part for her versatility. She can play just about any position, including infield, catcher and outfield, Trapnell said. "She's a great defense player," Trapnell said. "She's just solid as a rock." Whether Epps will try out for the Air Force team next year is uncertain. She is about to reenlist and plans to pursue her college degree. She wasn't sure whether she will be able to fit softball into her school schedule next year. "We'll just have to wait and see," she said.