Ramstein senior Katherine Enyeart pitches during a game against Vilseck on the second day of action at the DoDDS European Softball Championship, May 24, 2013. (Stars and Stripes)
Ramstein senior Katherine Enyeart pitches during a game against Vilseck on the second day of action at the DoDDS European Softball Championship, May 24, 2013. (Stars and Stripes)
Patch' Colleen Fenton catches a throw from teammate Alexis Haddock to successfully put out Vilseck's Brittany Richardson during a semifinal game at last season's DODDS European Softball Championship, May 24, 2013. Patch won the game 6-3. (Stars and Stripes)
The 2014 DODDS-Europe softball season opens Saturday with five matchups in three countries, including a marquee matchup between defending Division I champion Ramstein and rising rival Vilseck. Here’s a look at the season ahead.
Division I With a championship culture and a top-notch youth system feeding them fresh talent on an annual basis, the Ramstein Royals have long been the class of DODDS-Europe softball. The title they won in 2013 was their second straight and third in four years.
Beyond that history of success, however, Ramstein has something no other Division I team has: Katherine Enyeart.
Around 20 players play some role in the outcome of a softball game; Enyeart is one of the few in DODDS-Europe who can dominate one singlehandedly. The 2013 Stars and Stripes softball Athlete of the Year was an overwhelming force as a junior, mowing down opposing batters from the mound and swatting booming home runs when it’s her turn at the plate.
Enyeart’s senior season should hold more of the same, and it’s her game-changing presence that is Ramstein’s best shot at another championship. The return of fellow All-European Savannah Brooks, another two-way standout, and solid senior catcher Alexis Weathers strengthens the Royals’ case.
But Ramstein might be vulnerable this season.
Only seven varsity Royals return from last year’s title squad. Three of the program’s five All-Europe selections are gone, including two of its three first-teamers. Coach Kathleen Kleha will tap incoming freshmen for key starts and at-bats; their ability to “step up and perform” will go a long way towards determining the Royals’ hopes of another title.
That, and the quality of their competition. Which, by all accounts, is rapidly improving.
The Patch Panthers interrupted a Ramstein title reign in 2011, and have the tools to do it again in 2014. Nine varsity players return from the team that lost 10-3 in last year’s championship game. Seven of the returnees are seniors, and all seven were consistent contributors to last year’s squad, including Amber Marvin, Colleen Fenton and Abbie Weaver, each of whom excelled on the mound, at the plate and in the field.
“We should be as strong as were last year,” coach Brian Tingey said.
Patch is only the most obvious candidate to unseat Ramstein. A look around the Division I field yields more dangers for the Royals.
Vilseck coach Jim Hall said his team is strong in “defense and pitching,” two qualities that will give the Falcons the chance to pile up wins with a handful of timely hits. Senior pitcher/catcher Kayla Clamage, a first-team All-European as a junior, returns for her senior season and gives Vilseck a roster centerpiece to rival Ramstein’s Enyeart. Valuable utility player Brittany Richardson, another first-team All-Europe selection, is also back for her senior season.
Kaiserslautern has been on the verge of a title-game appearance for years, and will try again this year behind a balanced roster led by pitchers Meagann Schultz and Tori Liggins and senior third baseman Alexes Liggins.
Wiesbaden lurks as a potential contender with a young roster featuring just one senior in Katie Connors and 10 combined freshmen and sophomores.
Former power Lakenheath is still in the process of rebuilding to its previous level of contention.
Division II/III Last year, DODDS-Europe’s two smaller divisions held separate tournaments, with Vicenza beating AFNORTH for the Division II crown and Alconbury knocking off Rota for the Division III title.
That will change this year as softball moves to the same combined model that baseball has used in recent seasons, a switch that was all but unavoidable. Alconbury, Baumholder and Rota were all bumped up to Division II athletics last fall. With Division III sports stalwarts like Brussels and Incirlik not fielding softball teams, that left Italian program Sigonella as the only Division III team around.
Rather than run unopposed to the Division III title, however, the Jaguars will find plenty of competition in a Division II field that is now deeper than ever.
Sigonella packs a fundamentally sound infield, a proven starting pitcher in senior Chelsea Hinton and 10 freshmen to develop.
Alconbury has long made a habit of knocking off bigger foes, even recording a regular-season win over Division II runner-up AFNORTH last season. But that squad was stocked with seniors, and the new group of Dragons has a tougher road to a title.
Rota will sport a new look featuring first-year coach Anne Porcilli and promising freshman catcher Audrey Howard, but the Admirals also bring back six varsity players from 2013.
Those current and former Division III challengers will find themselves fighting for a foothold in a Division II field that was already marked by parity, balance and intense competition.
Seniors Vicky Krause, Shanice Alexander and Davina Gutierrez give perennial contender Naples another realistic shot at a title. Hohenfels has nine varsity players back. SHAPE and Bitburg, two traditional powers, are building the foundation to equally competitive in softball.
In the end, however, the division may come down to the same two teams that decided last year’s championship.
Even after losing two All-Europe pitchers in Morgan Beal and Madison Puckett, 2013 European runner-up AFNORTH should boast one of the best rotations at any DODDS-Europe level. Sophomore Erica Balkcum and junior Abby Kinnear have exhibited “steady growth” over the early portion of their respective careers, coach Greg Blankenship said, and appear poised to continue the Lions’ reputation for fierce pitching. Senior catcher Rachel Pagio, herself a first-team All-Europe selection last year, will provide a capable guiding hand from behind the plate.
The rising AFNORTH duo will do well to keep up with Vicenza ace pitcher Megan Buffington. As a sophomore, Buffington capped a breakout season with a brilliant 12-strikeout effort in the 6-4 title-game win over AFNORTH.
Her return – and that of 10 of her teammates from last year’s championship roster – gives Vicenza an inside track on a second straight title.
Twitter: @broomestripes
