Europe Sports

Ben Abrams, former Stars and Stripes high school sports writer, died Thursday, July 12, 2018, at 91.<br>Stars and Stripes

Former Stars and Stripes sports writer dies at 91

Longtime Stars and Stripes high school sports writer Ben Abrams died Thursday after a brief illness. He was 91.

Vilseck's Kayla Silden hits the ball in a game during the first day of the DODEA-Europe softball championships in Kaiserslautern, Germany, Thursday, May 25, 2017.<br>Martin Egnash/Stars and Stripes

Vilseck's Silden proved herself on field, then in dugout

Sigonella's Alex Ogletree, right, runs to first with Spangdhalem's Deon Montgomery close behind during the DODEA-Europe Division II/III baseball championship at Ramstein Air Base, Germany, on Saturday, May 26, 2018.<br>Michael B. Keller/Stars and Stripes

Ogletree's dominant performance was just what Jaguars needed

Ramstein's Jose Serrano leads the pack in the boys 1,600-meter race at the DODEA-Europe track and field championships in Kaiserslautern, Germany, Friday, May 25, 2018. Serrano won in 4 minutes, 28.73 seconds.<br>MICHAEL ABRAMS/STARS AND STRIPES

Serrano couldn't be beaten at season-ending meet

Jose Serrano set a new European mark in the 3,200 - his fourth gold in two days after winning the 800, 1,600 and anchoring the Royals’ winning 3,200 relay team.

Jada Branch reacts after setting a new DODEA-Europe record in the 400-meter race at the European championships. She finished in 57.28 seconds, breaking the record set in 2000 by Christina McDuffie of Hohenfels.<br>MICHAEL ABRAMS/STARS AND STRIPES

There's apparently no limit to Branch's track feats

Kaiserslautern’s Jada Branch spent the first few weeks of her track and field season this spring nursing an injury.

Kaiserslautern's Tyler Jankowski scores from outside the box in a Division I semifinal at the DODEA-Europe soccer finals in Reichenbach, Germany, Wednesday, May 23, 2018.<br>MICHAEL ABRAMS/STARS AND STRIPES

Boys soccer AOY

Jankowski filled whatever roles needed as Raiders retained title

Rising phenoms on the soccer pitch must fulfill a variety of roles to reach true stardom.

Stuttgart's Camille Pereira, left, clears the ball past Naples' Cora Houseworth during the DODEA-Europe soccer championships in Reichenbach, Germany, on Wednesday, May 23, 2018.<br>Michael B. Keller/Stars and Stripes

Girls soccer AOY

Pereira's year in Stuttgart ends with team regaining championship

As she made her transition from the Vilseck Falcons to the Stuttgart Panthers this spring, senior girls soccer star Camille Pereira was ready to make any contributions she could to the Panthers’ latest run at a European championship.

DODEA-Europe sports highlights

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Europe Scoreboard: June 8, 2018

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Wiesbaden's Brown, Sigonella's Chandler named DODEA-Europe Athletes of the Year

Multiple-sport stars Caleb Brown of Wiesbaden and Averi Chandler of Sigonella have been named the 2017-18 DODEA-Europe Male and Female Athletes of the Year, respectively.
European track - Day 2

Branch, Serrano wow crowd, set new marks

Kaiserslautern senior breaks second mark in two days by winning 400, while Ramstein senior finishes with five gold medals and sets new record in 3,200.
European D-I baseball

Lakenheath breaks through for historic win

No other school besides Ramstein and Stuttgart had won large-school baseball title before Lancers' triumph on Saturday.
European D-II/III baseball

Sigonella edges Spangdahlem to retain title

Senior Alex Ogletree strikes out 16 batters and allows three hits to out-duel Sentinels ace Max Little.
European D-I softball

Senior-led Raiders didn't stop until they were champs

Kaiserslautern edges Lakenheath 10-9 to back up top seeding and finish atop large-school pack.
European D-II/III softball

Jaguars finally get challenge, but emerge triumphant

Sigonella defends title with 4-2 victory over Hohenfels - the closest game by far the school had in the tournament.
European track - Day 1

Branch breaks own record on sweltering K-town track

Branch’s jumping feat was part of an exciting day of competition that saw another record almost fall on the track, a slew of new champions emerge, and a few familiar faces exert their dominance again.
European baseball

Eight teams still have a shot at two titles

Ramstein meets Lakenheath and Wiesbaden plays Kaiserslautern in large-schools semifinals, while favorites Spangdahlem and Sigonella appear headed for small-schools clash.
European softball

Vilseck looks to knock Royals off throne

Defending champion Sigonella romps through small-schools field to reach title game against Hohenfels
D-I boys soccer

Kaiserslautern scraps way to repeat

The 2018 Kaiserslautern Raiders are not what’s left of a championship team. They are a championship team in their own right.
D-I girls soccer

Stuttgart wins shootout to take back crown

For the second consecutive year, the Stuttgart Panthers found themselves selecting five shooters and preparing their goalie. This time, they came out winners.
D-II boys soccer

AFNORTH ends Marymount title run

The AFNORTH Lions wouldn’t be denied again.
D-II girls soccer

A win under any name is still a win

No matter which name they use – Bitburg, Barons, Spangdahlem or Sentinels – a group of soccer players can rely on one name recently: champions.
D-III boys soccer

Brigands complete rampage through field

By definition, a brigand is a member of a traveling gang that extracts treasure through overwhelming force.
D-III girls soccer

Alconbury beats Sigonella again for another title

The Sigonella Jaguars have seen enough of Alconbury and senior striker Isabel Black.
D-I boys semifinals

Top seeds upended to set up surprise final

Stuttgart edges unbeaten Ramstein 1-0 in one semifinal and defending champion Kaiserslautern tops Wiesbaden 4-1 in another.
D-II boys semifinals

AFNORTH looks to take crown from Marymount

Lions defeat Florence in one semifinal, while Royals top AOSR in other to set up rematch of 2-2 draw in pool play.
D-I girls semifinals

Stuttgart, Ramstein to meet for title again

After two-year break, one of Europe's fiercest rivalries is renewed in finals after Royals and Panthers win Wednesday semifinals.
D-II girls semifinals

Triumph would cap perfect season for Rota

Unbeaten and top-seeded Admirals take on Spangdahlem, which edged Black Forest Academy, in Thursday's final.
D-III soccer roundup

Brussels, Alconbury to take on underdogs

Ansbach boys played Brigands closer than anyone in tournament and get another chance, while Sigonella girls hope to stretch out one-goal winning streak.
Branch to cap stellar high school track career at finals

The final championship event of the 2017-18 DODEA-Europe school year arrives this weekend in the form of the European track championship meet, scheduled for Friday and Saturday at Kaiserslautern High School.
Europe boys soccer - Day 2

Teams scramble to stay alive and make the final cuts

Kaiserslautern to play Wiesbaden and Ramstein takes on Stuttgart to reach D-I finals, while AFNORTH is lone school not from Italy in D-II semis.
Europe girls soccer - Day 2

Big-school favorites move on through to semis

In D-II action, Rota will take on AFNORTH with Black Forest meeting Spangdahlem for right to play in finals.
Europe baseball preview

Well-armed teams should have the advantage

It’s all hands on deck for the 2018 DODEA-Europe baseball tournaments, running Thursday through Saturday at Pulaski Barracks in Kaiserslautern, Germany, and nearby Ramstein Air Base
Europe softball preview

Everyone's out to topple Ramstein or Sigonella

Fourteen teams from around the continent will gather in the Kaiserslautern Military Community this week for the 2018 DODEA-Europe softball championship tournaments, running Thursday through Saturday at Ramstein Air Base and Kapaun Air Station in southwestern Germany.
Europe boys soccer - Day 1

First-day battles lead to second-day showdowns

Berths in the semifinals up for grabs Tuesday in top two divisions, while small schools continue to battle for supremacy.
Europe girls soccer - Day 1

Top teams generally find few surprises as tourneys open

Three defending champions and other favorites win all games, with exception of No. 2 seed Marymount in Division II.
Baseball roundup

Ramstein ends regular season with a sweep of Kaiserslautern

Royals rally from 5-0 deficit to triumph in first game, then get 7-3 victory over Raiders in nightcap.
Warriors, Cougars head into championships with split

Wiesbaden wins 15-4 in second game after Vicenza takes opener 16-6 in matchup between teams in cellar of D-I softball standings.
Lancers lead last charge to qualify for finals

After dominant meet, Lakenheath will send more than two dozen athletes to European championships in Germany.
Boys soccer preview

Ramstein, Rome and Brussels ruled regular season

In general, there are two avenues to soccer success - scoring a lot of goals or preventing the other team from scoring.
Girls soccer preview

Teams scramble to join divisional elites

Three DODEA-Europe divisional championship girls soccer tournaments will begin Monday at sites around the Kaiserslautern Military Community. All three will culminate with European championship matches Thursday at Kaiserslautern High School.
Spangdahlem stays perfect in division by edging Aviano

Sentinels are 5-0 in Division II play, but should face plenty of challenges in small, but competitive field in championships.
With finals looming, track athletes push to qualify

Athletes still trying to qualify for the DODEA-Europe Track and Field Championship in Kaiserslautern, Germany, in two weeks were as focused on the clock or measuring tape as their opponents.
Boys soccer roundup

Division I teams appear to be in tournament form

SHAPE, Stuttgart tie and Kaiserslautern edges Vilseck in final weekend of the soccer season.
Girls soccer roundup

Most games a bit one-sided as regular season ends

Spangdahlem, Alconbury, Rota all win by four goals, while Stuttgart finishes unbeaten with narrower victory over SHAPE.
Diamond roundup

Kaiserslautern baseball team goes 4-0 in Italy

Lakenheath sweeps Ramstein to join German rivals as contenders for season-ending championships.
Raiders cross Alps and conquer Italian foes

Kaiserslautern improves to 8-2 in Division I by scoring 45 times in games against Naples and Vicenza.
Home Team

Longer trips require adjustments for some teams

For baseball and softball teams in DODEA-Europe, long road trips can mean two things: less practice, and more practice.
Seeding at stake in final weekend of soccer

The final weekend of the DODEA-Europe soccer regular season holds a number of last-minute chances for teams to optimize their seeding in the upcoming European soccer tournaments, set for May 21-24 at sites around the Kaiserslautern Military Community.
Boys soccer roundup

Warriors edge Raiders with late goal

Ramstein tops Black Forest to remain only unbeaten team in boys play with a week left to go in regular season.
Girls soccer roundup

Wiesbaden, Naples keep momentum heading into final weekend

Defending champion Warriors win fifth straight, while Wildcats improve to 6-1-1 with victory.
Baseball roundup

Wiesbaden, Ramstein pile up runs, wins

Warriors score 29 in two games against Vilseck, while Royals tally 31 in sweep of Spangdahlem.
Home Team

New players have Ramstein on the attack

In recent seasons, the Ramstein Royals boys soccer program has developed an identity constructed around a specific style of play.
Defending D-I champs face tough tests

Both of DODEA-Europe’s reigning Division I soccer champions will be on the field Friday as the Kaiserslautern Raiders visit the Wiesbaden Warriors. And both find themselves in the midst of a challenging title defense that has seen several contenders apply to supplant them.
Jacobs, Sigonella go 4-0 in four-team event

Jaguars improve to 11-1 on the softball season and could be favored to defend their European title.
Boys soccer roundup

With two weekends left, top D-I teams start to turn it up a notch

Naples, Ramstein, Wiesbaden all earn easy victories, while SHAPE holds off Brussels.
Girls soccer roundup

Bigger schools largely get better of smaller counterparts

SHAPE, Vicenza, Spangdahlem all get victories against lower division opponents.
Diamond roundup

Kaiserslautern, Wiesbaden play rude hosts to Spartans and Lancers

Raiders and Warriors take two games each from SHAPE, while Lakenheath splits games with each school.
Some teams appear more armed for success

Stuttgart and Vilseck emerge from first day with pair of victories over Italian rivals Naples and Vicenza.
AFNORTH cruises to sweep of Baumholder

Lion boys thump Bucs 15-0, while AFNORTH girls rout Baumholder 10-1.
Home Team

Scheduling change creates busy championship week in Europe

The 2018 DODEA-Europe soccer season is fast approaching its season-ending tournaments. At the same time, it’s fast approaching the second extended break of the spring.
North-south bragging rights on the line in softball, baseball

DODEA-Europe’s growing trend of multiple-team meets continues on the diamonds of northern Italy this weekend.
AOSR, Marymount continue to handle the competition

The two Rome-based schools have spent most of the past decade facing off in the title game and it would take an upset to keep them from doing so again this season.
SHAPE stifles Lakenheath bats for doubleheader sweep

Lancers manage only six total hits in 6-3, 6-5 losses to Spartans.
Boys soccer roundup

Royals starting to emerge from close D-I race

Naples and Vilseck tie, while Ramstein hands SHAPE first divisional loss.
Girls soccer roundup

Stuttgart picks up scoring in second day in italy

Day after narrow 1-0 win over Naples, Panthers shut out host Vicenza 6-0 to complete weekend sweep.
Diamond roundup

Ramstein, Kaiserslautern earn close softball wins

KMC rivals dispatch Vilseck, Wiesbaden to complete weekend sweeps of D-I opponents.
Vicenza girls find net again and again against Vilseck

Stuttgart girls and boys and Vilseck boys get narrow victories in other action in annual north-south matchups.
Home Team

Rota getting closer to having a 'regular' season

The Rota Admirals have long been impossible to overlook in the postseason, making routinely long tournament runs across sports in the fall, winter and spring and collecting an impressive haul of championships along the way.
16 soccer teams converge on two Italian sites

Italy takes center stage in DODEA-Europe soccer this weekend as teams converge on Aviano and Vicenza for two-day soccer events that should have a substantial impact on the Division I and II standings.
Big meet highlights track season debut

Large schools dominate most events as 10 boys and girls teams gather to see much of this season's competition.
Royals stating their case for a repeat

Defending champion Ramstein blows out rival Stuttgart 15-6 and 24-12 to remain perfect on young season.
Raiders, Falcons split a doubleheader

Kaiserslautern romps to 13-2 victory in opener, but Vilseck earns 14-11 triumph in second game.
Lakenheath strolls to victories over Spangdahlem

Pitchers have problems finding home plate, but Lancers add timely hits for doubleheader sweep.
Boys soccer roundup

Kaiserslautern's sweep includes first D-1 triumph

Defending champion Raiders thump Alconbury 8-1, then rout Lakenheath 7-0.
Girls soccer roundup

Large-school favorites play to draws

Ramstein and Stuttgart battle to 1-1 tie while Vicenza and Naples share same result south of Alps.
Baseball roundup

Longtime rivals split a pair of games

Ramstein and Stuttgart each get a win at expense of the other while Kaiserslautern takes two from Vilseck.
Track preview

Raiders' Branch, Royals boys look like sure bets as season opens

The 2018 DODEA-Europe track and field season begins Saturday with an opening meet that will look a lot like its final meet.
Ramstein, Stuttgart square off across spring sports

The 2018 DODEA-Europe spring sports season resumes this weekend after a two-week hiatus for spring break. The schedule includes a full slate of boys and girls soccer fixtures across the continent and a handful of baseball and softball matchups along with the debut of the track and field regular season.
Brussels, Alconbury split a girls-boys doubleheader

Laela Evans scores twice to pace Dragons in girls game while Brigands eventually get a goal past 10-man squad to win boys contest.
Ansbach edges Hohenfels on fluky play at end

Tigers take 1-0 lead into halftime in season debut for both teams, but it doesn't hold up as Cougars come away with 2-1 victory.
Boys soccer roundup

Panthers hand defending champs first defeat

Gus De Andrade scores three times for Stuttgart in 4-1 triumph over Kaiserslautern.
Girls soccer roundup

Stuttgart, Ramstein displaying early dominance

Panthers improve to 2-0 with second blowout while Royals win opener against defending champion Wiesbaden.
Diamond roundup

Spangdahlem, Sigonella get wins against bigger foes

Sentinels split with Kaiserslautern, while Jaguars take games from both Vicenza and Aviano.
Baseball/softball preview

Can anyone dethrone Ramstein, Sigonella on diamonds?

The Ramstein Royals and Sigonella Jaguars will open defense of their matching baseball and softball championships this weekend as the 2018 DODEA-Europe baseball and softball seasons begin their two-month run.
Large schools clash before spring break

Western Germany’s big four DODEA-Europe high schools will struggle for large-school supremacy on the soccer pitch this weekend as the Ramstein Royals face the Wiesbaden Warriors and the Kaiserslautern Raiders take on the Stuttgart Panthers.
BFA, Kaiserslautern square off in chilly spring opener

Raiders win boys contest 2-1 and rally to earn 1-1 tie in girls game in teams' first soccer games of the 2018 season.
Soccer roundup

Stuttgart gets small dose of revenge for title loss

Panthers open season by downing defending champion Wiesbaden 5-1, though Warriors win boys' opener.
Boys soccer preview

Teams don't have to wait long for statement games

Three key matchups in Italy highlight Saturday’s opening day of the 2018 DODEA-Europe boys soccer season, a light five-match slate featuring two of three European champions in action.
Girls soccer preview

Champs hope for more of same, while contenders look for change

DODEA-Europe girls soccer picks up Saturday where it left off last spring.
Boys basketball AOY

Eaves showed diversity, but remained dominant for Ramstein

Ramstein junior Naser Eaves sits at a fascinating crossroads of achievement and potential.
Girls basketball AOY

Taylor played role well as Stuttgart repeated

On the surface, the story of the Stuttgart Panthers’ two-year Division I girls basketball championship run is a tale of two diametrically different seasons. After an ideally constructed 2016-17 Panther team cruised undefeated to a title, a scrappier 2017-18 group of holdovers and new arrivals overcame losses, doubts and adversity to successfully defend the crown.
Wrestling AOY

Carroll was a large presence for Stuttgart again

A heavyweight wrestling match is a different animal than one featuring smaller competitors. In fact, it’s one specific animal.
Marksmanship AOY

Funk-led Panthers maintained reign of excellence

Stuttgart senior Callum Funk came into the 2017-18 DODEA-Europe marksmanship championship meet in something of an awkward predicament.
D-I boys final

Ramstein seemingly can't be beat in title games

The Ramstein Royals maintained their status at the top of the power curve in the Kaiserslautern Military Community with a thrilling, come-from-behind 46-45 win Saturday over crosstown rival Kaiserslautern.
D-I girls final

Stuttgart staves off Naples to remain atop heap

The Stuttgart Panthers successfully defended their DODEA-Europe Division I girls basketball championship Saturday at Clay Kaserne Fitness Center, using an overwhelming run out of the halftime locker room to knock off the top-seeded Naples Wildcats 31-25.
D-II boys final

Falcons edge Admirals to extend reign

Black Forest Academy defended its DODEA-European Division II basketball title Saturday when Rota star center Andy Drake’s shot rolled off of the rim at the buzzer, giving the Falcons a 48-47 victory.
D-II girls final

Black Forest breezes to third straight championship

The Black Forest Academy Falcons completed one of the most dominant postseason runs in DODEA-Europe girls basketball history Saturday, routing the Spangdahlem Sentinels 36-10 for their third straight Division II championship.
D-III boys final

Baumholder needs OT to get past Brussels

The DODEA-Europe boys’ basketball championships got off to a dramatic start Saturday as the Baumholder Bucs outlasted the Brussels Brigands with a 35-28 overtime win.
D-III girls final

Sigonella defends title by downing Ansbach

The Sigonella Jaguars won their second consecutive DODEA-Europe Division III girls basketball championship Saturday at Clay Kaserne Fitness Center.
D-I boys semifinals

Raiders to try to knock off three-time champion Royals

Hot-shooting Kaiserslautern is too much for Stuttgart in semifinal, while Ramstein edges Wiesbaden to reach title game yet again.
D-I girls semifinals

Top seeds to meet as Naples, Stuttgart advance

Wildcats rally past Ramstein, while defending champion Panthers hold off Vilseck.
D-II boys semifinals

Third time will be charm for Rota or BFA

Admirals and Falcons will face off for the title for the third consecutive year.
D-II girls semifinals

Old rivalry renewed as BFA will take on Spangdahlem

The Black Forest Academy Falcons and the Spangdahlem Sentinels will face off Saturday in the 2017-18 DODEA-Europe Division II girls basketball championship game, extending an ongoing rivalry between BFA and the program known through last year as the Bitburg Barons.
D-III roundup

It's Baumholder-Brussels and Sigonella-Ansbach for titles

Bucs and Brigands emerge from boys field, while Jaguars and Cougars come out on top in girls round-robin play.
Boys basketball roundup

Heavyweights will face off for finals berths

Largest four schools in Europe meet in D-I semifinals, while heavy favorites Black Forest and Rota take on underdogs in D-II.
Girls basketball roundup

D-I favorites advance while BFA joined by underdogs in D-II

Vilseck pulls mild upset to join Ramstein, Stuttgart and Naples in final four. Falcons joined by fifth, sixth and seventh seeds in semifinals.
Boys basketball roundup

Some drama, but few surprises as tourneys open

Wiesbaden and Stuttgart move on to semifinals, with Ramstein and Kaiserslautern close behind and Black Forest and Rota look strong.
Girls basketball roundup

D-I, D-II powerhouses start strongly again

Stuttgart and Ramstein win first two games, while Black Forest Academy makes it look easy with a pair of blowouts.