Division I

Kadena Panthers2017 Far East Tournament finish — Runner-up.Coach — Boe Roberts, fifth season.Key performers — Cody Sego, Sr., P-C-3B (All-Far East in 2016; Best Pitcher in 2017); Cody Chambers, Sr., 1B-2B-OF (two times All-Far East); Sam Jensen, Sr., 2B-SS; Jared Duenas, So., 3B-2B-P; Anthony Clark, Fr. 3B; Uriah Morris, Jr., OF; Nick Gutierrez, So, LHP.Outlook — Contending, and trying hard to get the Far East runner-up gorilla off their backs. Six times the Panthers have been to a D-I final; six times denied. This is a young team with only three seniors.

Kubasaki Dragons2017 Far East Tournament finish — Sixth place.Coach — Randy Toor, 12th season (took last season off).Key performers — Shannon Hyde, So., P-C-IF; Eric Ganci, Sr., P-C; Adam Garlick, Sr., OF; Kyle Powell, Jr., P-SS; Jon Palmer, Sr., P-2B; Cade Schaffner, Jr., P-UT; Samuel Williamson, So., OF.Outlook — Rebuilding-reloading. Though all but Hyde did not play on the varsity last year, they’re not strangers to the game, having matriculated under Toor for the Oki Boys club team last spring. This team should do better than the one that struggled last season and finished last at D-I, but pulled the tournament’s only triple play.

Nile C. Kinnick Red Devils2017 Far East Tournament finish — Fourth place.Coach — Chad Stark, fifth season (took last season off).Key performers — Kacey Walker, Sr., P-C (three times All-Far East); Aaron Peterson, Sr., C; Jonathon Acosta, Sr., P-3B; Terrence Berg, So., P-C-1B; Arnel Maglay, Jr., UT.Outlook — Contending. A mostly senior squad, with high expectations to compete at a high level and continue a school trend of boys teams winning school-first Far East tournaments. Could be the best team the Red Devils have fielded yet.

Seoul American Falcons2017 Far East Tournament finish — Sixth place.Coach — Eddie Rozzi, first season.Key performers — Billy Laxton, So., 1B; David Kang, SS-2B-P; Joshua Gagnet, Sr., SS-P; Logan Howell, Jr., P-C-UT; Daniel Lee, Sr., P; Daniel Kim, Sr., UT.Outlook — Rebuilding-reloading. About 70 percent of the roster is new to the game. Could be competitive within DODEA-Korea, but might struggle at D-I against the likes of ASIJ and Kadena.

Division II

Daegu Warriors2017 Far East Tournament finish — Third place.Coach — Marc Boese, third season.Key performers — Michael Martinez, Sr., P; Elijah Bembishew, Jr., P.Outlook — Contending within DODEA-Korea and Far East D-II. Nine players return and some new talent has come aboard. Martinez and Bembishew return on the mound and will anchor the roster.

Humphreys Blackhawks2017 Far East Tournament finish — Fourth place.Coach — Dean Florio, first season (transferred from Seoul American).Key performer — Joshua Weaver, Jr., OF; Mathew Whiting, Sr., 1B; Owen Williams, Sr., IF-OF; Kierden Blessing, Jr., IF; Jared McKean, Sr., C (transferred from Georgia); Erich Gries, Sr., OF (transferred from Seoul American).Outlook — A new coach with a small group comprised mostly of new and inexperienced ballplayers.

Matthew C. Perry SamuraiCoach — Frank Macias, sixth season.2017 Far East Tournament performance — Champion.Key performers — Garrett Macias, Sr., C-P (three times All-Far East); Chad Schuch, Sr., SS-P; Ethan Peterson, Jr., SS; Eli Perez, Sr., 1B; Zach Greulich, Fr., P-IF; Marshall China, So., P-3B.Outlook — Contending, with six returners from last year’s Far East Tournament team. But pitching depth could be the biggest concern; Peace Gates, the team’s anchor for four years, is gone, and Schuch is recovering from an arm injury; should be back before Far East. Many new faces with little experience but plenty of promise. Macias speaks highly of China, a Far East wrestling champion, and Greulich, whom he calls “one of the most talented freshmen I’ve coached.”

Osan Cougars2017 Far East Tournament finish — Seventh place.Coach — Robert Penry, first season.Key performers — Aaron Gley, So., OF-P-C; Carson Nugent, So., P-C; Ryan Yi, So., SS-P; Daniel Jamerson, Fr., IF-OF (transferred from Yokota).Outlook — Rebuilding. Another young team, none of the key players or captains are upperclassmen, with the goal of being more competitive than they were a season ago.

Yokota Panthers2017 Far East Tournament finish — Runner-up.Coach — Steven Ferch, sixth season.Key performers — Sean Caffrey, Sr., P-IF (All-Far East in 2017); Troy Barnes, Jr., IF-P; Jack Winkler, Sr., P-SS (All-Far East in 2017); Glenn Willingham, So., 3B-OF-P; Nick Yingling, Jr., P-C; Riley DeMarco, Jr., 1B-OF-P; Logan Ferch, Jr., OF; Luke Wiedie, Sr., 1B-OF-P (transferred from Kadena); Jeff Mullarkey, Fr., 2B-OF-P (transferred from Florida).Outlook — Reloading. A good core of returning players along with a couple of newcomers who aren’t new to baseball. Hoping to be contending by the end of the season, which will be the last for Ferch, who has accepted a transfer to Okinawa following the school year.

Zama TrojansCoach — Tom Dignan, fourth season.Key performers — Jarred Green, So., P-C; Dashon McNeal, So., IF-OF; Sean Sullivan, Jr., P-C-IF (transferred from Seoul American); Izayah Coleman, So., P-OF; Cody Sessions, So., IF; Angelo Caburian, Fr., OF.Outlook — Rebuilding. No seniors on the roster. If Sullivan, Coleman and Green can stay healthy and consistent and younger talent develops, the Trojans could be competitive by season’s end.

Note: Robert D. Edgren will not field a team this season due to lack of numbers, coach Brett Lehner says.

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