Coach Dave Pfennig of the Lodi Extreme describes winning the softball national championship at the Lodi City Council meeting Wednesday. (Dan Evans/News-Sentinel)

Two Lodi teams honored for top finishes

Top-notch SWAT team

Members of the Lodi Police Department SWAT Team were recognized at Wednesday night's Lodi City Council meeting for their first-place finish in the Sierra Foothill Tactical Challenge this July.

The event consisted of three days of training scenarios including: hostage/rescue; high-risk search warrant entry; narcotics buy and bust; and dignitary protection. Physical challenges involved traversing a demanding ravine area; a timed land navigation course; and a 1.5-mile race through forest terrain.

This is the third time the Lodi Police Department SWAT Team won the competition, previously placing first in 2001 and 2004.

Those in this year's challenge were Sgt. Fernando Martinez, Sgt. Mike Oden, Officer Sean Blanford, Cpl. Sierra Brucia, Cpl. David Griffin, Officer Kevin Kent and Officer Mike Manetti.

Extreme softball team

Members of Lodi Extreme, the World Champion Babe Ruth Girls 16 and Under Softball team, were honored Wednesday night at the Lodi City Council meeting at Carnegie Forum.

The Extreme was one of 10 teams in the World Series Championships in Pittsfield, Mass. The teams represented Babe Ruth regional champions from throughout the United States.

The Lodi Extreme has been to the World Series for the past three years with third place finishes in 2006 and 2007. The team is sponsored by the Boosters of Boys and Girls Sports and the city of Lodi.

Lodi Chief of Police David Main describes events in which the Lodi SWAT team competed at the Sierra Foothill Tactical Challenge. Lodi SWAT, which is made up of full-time patrol officers who are called upon for SWAT missions as needed, took first-place overall against other full-time SWAT teams. (Dan Evans/News-Sentinel)