Hohenfels' Maia Brewer scores her team's only run Friday, April 28, 2023, before Aviano pitcher Sophia Scavo can get the ball back from the catcher. (Kent Harris/Stars and Stripes)

AVIANO AIR BASE, Italy – Stuttgart’s Cavan Cohoes was drafted by the Seattle Mariners in 2011. Vilseck’s Lily Bravo led her team to a softball championship last year and will likely be among the favorites to take most valuable player honors in this year’s event.

But for every standout player who has made his or her mark on a diamond around DODEA-Europe through the years, there are dozens of others who will never play after high school. And many likely wouldn’t have even had the chance to play at all if they were attending schools in the States.

The Hohenfels Tigers haven’t won a game this season on the four softball fields they’ve played. The same holds true for the Ansbach Cougars on just as many baseball fields.

That didn’t change Friday as both teams suffered lopsided defeats to the Aviano Saints.

The Tigers, who didn’t have enough players to field a baseball team, lost 17-1. But you’d never know it from the demeanor of coach Stephanie Schnabel, who might not have said a single negative thing to her squad the entire game, somehow managing to find a silver lining for just about every play (and doing a decent job hiding a slight grimace on a few others).

“Way to be aggressive,” she said after one Tiger struck out swinging.

“Nice stop,” she said to her catcher after a pitch was nowhere close to the plate.

“Good effort,” came after an infielder failed to make a play and a runner scored. “At least we kept it in front of us.”

“It’s hard to stand out there and get yelled at,” Schnabel said of her coaching style with a team that features only three players with previous playing experience – all earned last season. “In this sport, when you make a mistake, you stand out already. Why do I need to add to that?”

Both Schnabel and Cougars baseball coach Kurt Lange said that criticizing players with very little experience is not the way to get them to enjoy the game and continue to play.

“I’m not worried at all about winning,” Lange said. “I want to see improvement.

“Of course, everyone would like to get at least one win,” he said, with half a smile. “But in our situation …”

Lange spread his hands to encompass an empty dugout. The players had already walked to the bus. But even when they were there, there was still room. Ansbach didn’t have enough players to field a softball team. So six girls outnumber the five boys on the baseball squad. Earlier this season, Vilseck scored 50 runs in one inning against the Cougars. Aviano won 14-0 Friday.

Ansbach’s Jayden Murray sends a pitch toward home in the Tigers’ game against the Aviano Saints on Saturday April 28, 2023. (Kent Harris/Stars and Stripes)

Ansbach baseball coach Kurt Lange doesn't have a lot of company in the dugout when his team is playing defense. The Tigers have six girls and five boys on the team and haven't won a game this year. (Kent Harris/Stars and Stripes)

Ansbach's Kennedy Lange started Friday's game on the mound and first baseman Jayden Murray also got a chance to pitch in the Cougars' game against the Aviano Saints. (Kent Harris/Stars and Stripes)

Ansbach earned the respect of Aviano coach Martin Vasquez.

“They’ve got great heart to come out here and keep carrying on,” he said.

Not only was Schnabel constantly on the attack with positivity, she also frequently took time out to talk to individuals or the whole team about a particular play, trying to explain how the game works.

That included one inning where the Saints loaded the bases, but suddenly had to play defense after star freshman Sophia Fisher lined out to Tigers pitcher Jazlyn Campbell. Campbell, one of the team’s “veterans,” then threw to second base to double up one runner. After some confusion on behalf of both Hohfenfels infielders and Aviano baserunners, shortstop Maia Brewer then followed Schnabel’s yelled instruction to throw to first base.

After the Tigers returned to the dugout, Schnabel explained how they had just turned a triple play and how rare that was. Smiles lit up the Tigers’ faces.

“There’s a lot of names we have for things in this game that they don’t always understand yet,” Schnabel said with a smile after the game. “But we’re learning them one at a time.”

Ansbach and Hohenfels have the smallest enrollments of any DODEA-Europe schools to field a baseball or softball team this spring. They’ve got two weekends left before the season-ending championships.

Lange, who had tabbed his daughter, Kennedy, as the starting pitcher against the Saints, said he’s not sure if Ansbach will be able to field a baseball team next year. He said it’s possible the girls could pick up a few more players, though, and start a softball team.

“It’s a slightly different game, but …

Hohenfels softball coach Stephanie Schnabel shouts encouragement to her team Friday, April 28, 2023, during a 17-1 loss to the Aviano Saints. (Kent Harris/Stars and Stripes)

Aviano's Sophia Scavo tags out Hohenfels' Tyleigh Shamoon before she can get to home plate after a wild pitch on Friday, April 28, 2023. (Kent Harris/Stars and Stripes)

Hohenfels' Suse Sigrah puts the ball in play Friday, April 28, 2023, in a game against the Aviano Saints. (Kent Harris/Stars and Stripes)