Former Air Force cadets Paul Skenes and Griffin Jax ensured their alma mater's baseball team could attend Team USA's World Baseball Classic matchup against Mexico on Monday night. The 41,628 fans in attendance at Minute Maid Park included the Air Force Falcons, who were in Texas for a series against Baylor.

Skenes and Jax coordinated tickets for their former teammates after Air Force coach Mike Kazlausky reached out. The connection between the former cadets runs deep - Jax spent three years as an Air Force cadet before his MLB career with the Tampa Bay Rays, while Skenes transferred from Air Force to LSU, where he became the No. 1 overall draft pick in 2023.

On the field, Skenes delivered a dominant performance, striking out seven batters over four innings of one-hit ball while warming up to the "Top Gun" theme. Jax entered in the eighth inning with the tying run at the plate and induced a crucial double play. Team USA secured a 5-3 victory to remain undefeated in Pool B play, with the Air Force contingent witnessing the win firsthand thanks to their former teammates' generosity.