Naples pitcher Ella Grace throws during the Divisions II/III DODEA European baseball championship game against Sigonella on May 20, 2023, at Southside Fitness Center on Ramstein Air Base, Germany. The junior tossed a perfect game in the Wildcats' 16-0 win over the Jaguars. (Matt Wagner/Stars and Stripes)
The 2023 DODEA Europe baseball season went mostly to script, with Stuttgart and Naples running the table en route to titles.
While the Wildcats seem destined for a three-peat in Divisions II/III, the picture looks murkier in Division I, where Ramstein seeks to the return to the top, the Panthers will try to defend and others such as Kaiserslautern will try to throw themselves into the mix.
The season commences Saturday and ends in the Kaiserslautern Military Community on May 22-24.
Here’s a team breakdown based off responses from coaches:
Aviano
The Saints lost some key starters from a squad that entered the European tournament as the second seed and finished third, but they expect to contend for a championship all the same this spring.
Colin North is expected to lead the way from the mound. The senior went 4-0 as a starter. Junior catcher/infielder Cristiano Peterson averaged .500 from the plate in 2023 and will bring back his bat.
Juniors Deon and Andrew Walker join the squad and bring big arms and speed on the basepaths. Freshman shortstop/pitcher J.J. Sanchez may be small in stature but also has a hefty arm and great fielding ability.
Kaiserslautern
The Raiders went 8-10 in 2023, but half of their losses came against one opponent – Ramstein – and they ended up taking fourth in Division I.
Most of that team is back for 2024, and seventh-year coach Justin Bates is raising expectations for a team one year older, stronger and smarter.
Kaiserslautern will be banking on the leadership of experience of seniors Braydon Lokey, Trygg Bredlow and Dominic Bailey, all of whom have been in the program since they were freshmen. Junior Logan Bell and sophomores Nicolas Sullivan, John Leonard, James Leonard, Andy Etchell, Bryant Lokey and Wyatt Humpal also return.
Lakenheath
The Lancers once again will be young with just two seniors in outfielders Calvin Moncada and Braylon Steverson.
Lakenheath coach Gabe Feletar expressed excitement at seeing how much the returners have grown over the offseason. Those include juniors Ethan Wright (first base/pitcher) and Allen Primmer (first base/pitcher) and sophomores Christian Laliberte (third base/shortstop/pitcher), Tyler Chiappetta (second base) and Zach Stutzman (outfield).
Sophomore second baseman Kyle Vogt transferred in from Aviano, while sophomore outfielder Wesson Roney and catcher/infielder Jayse Cowen joined the squad.
Naples
Good luck to Divisions II/III trying to upset the Wildcats this spring.
Coach Jim Davis is blessed with an embarrassment of riches coming back with the top of the rotation and six batters who averaged .300 or better at the plate.
Ella Grace has proven to be one of the best pitchers in Europe, going 8-0 in 25 innings with 39 strikeouts and five walks in 2023. She pitched a gem in the title game, throwing 25 strikes out of 29 pitches.
The senior, who has started in the last two championship games for Naples, also batted .425.
Logan Barker offers a good one-two pitching punch. He went 7-0 over 19 innings pitched, fanning 43 and walking 11. Barker also hit .393 throughout the season.
Utility player David Manus averaged .442, pitcher/first baseman Matt Butler hit .400, utility player A.J. Lopez batted .368 and outfielder Josh Myrick went .300 at the plate.
Brady Price transferred from SHAPE, while freshmen Christian Barnard and Kenny Pirches join the team.
Ramstein pitcher Luke Seaburgh throws during the second game of a doubleheader at the baseball field near Southside Fitness Center on Ramstein Air Base, Germany. (Matt Wagner/Stars and Stripes)
Ramstein
Coach Alfredo Rios said players already look in mid-season form, which could pose a problem for opponents of the 2023 Division I runner-up.
The Royals can turn to a solid core of returners to get back to the top. Seniors Luke Seaburgh (pitcher/shortstop) – a first-team All-Europe honoree – Kyle Mattes (pitcher/outfield) and Liam Delp (pitcher/second base), a second-team All-Europe selection, bring veteran leadership.
Junior Christian Roy (pitcher, third base, outfield), Caden Nims (pitcher, first base, outfield) and Conor McGinty (pitcher, first base, outfield), who was named to the All-Europe first team, help make up a big portion of the pitching staff.
Sophomores Jaxon Lundell (catcher/second base) and Eiji Carpenter (second base) round out the returners.
Senior Jackson Arthaud joins the squad as a pitcher and outfielder, while junior outfielder Evan Krajewski transferred from SHAPE.
Sophomores James Arthaud (pitcher/outfield), Diego Cardenas (catcher/outfield), Mateo Cardenas (outfield), Ivory Coleman (outfield) and Jacob Vinson (pitcher/outfield), and freshmen Jackson Eves (pitcher/outfield), Lukas Bali (outfield) and Raistlin Asher (outfield) are new to the team.
Rota
First-year coach Luis Dominguez is taking an all-hands-on-deck approach to the team this year, especially on the mound. He also stressed the importance of playing smart baseball and limiting physical and mental errors.
He expressed optimism with the Admirals heading into the season.
Middle infielder and pitcher Jayden Jasso came into the squad midseason in 2023 and is expected to play a key role. Pitcher/catcher Jaden DeCastro, outfielder/pitcher Kaya Geylani, outfielder/first baseman Trevor Shannon and outfielder Quintin Harper are back this spring.
Dominguez is high on the addition of Thomas Brantley, who will line up on the mound and at third base.
SHAPE
The Spartans didn’t have much playing experience in 2023, but coach James Truitt is anticipating that time together will pay dividends this year.
He said the team added depth in pitching and the fielding should look more polished this spring.
First-team All-European player Will Bush will lead SHAPE. The senior posted a 1.34 ERA with 47 strikeouts and 10 walks last spring. Other veterans include Derek Hansen (pitcher/second base), Easton Welch (catcher), Josh Spires (first base/pitcher), Eugy Zermano (first base), Donovan Traylor (shortstop), Matthijs Dijkstra (infielder), Ethan Simmons (third base/pitcher), Connor Mahan (outfield) and Julyan Serrano (outfield).
Second baseman D.J. Flenaugh, second baseman/pitcher Austin Lawrence, outfielder Greg Benjamin, third baseman Logan Gonzales, outfielder/pitcher Estevan Trujillo and outfielder/pitcher/catcher Gavin Procknel are additions to the roster.
Sigonella
The Jaguars went .500 during the regular season before making a run to the Divisions II/III final.
Coach Carl Jorgensen expects more of the same from the Jaguars this spring.
Back are infielders Chase Wise, Keiron Cayton, Cooper Harrison, Bradley Duerkop and Jonathan Faulk and outfielders DeShawn Wallace and David Faulk.
New to the team are infielders Levi Denton, Mandy Gonzalez and Regan Rosier and outfielders Jacob Maloney, Bradley Torres, Nathan Ensey, Aiden Ward and Blake Parker.
Spangdahlem
The Sentinels have a much larger roster this spring, going from 11 to 18 players. Five of them – four sophomores and one senior – played for Spangdahlem last year.
Coach Doug Cobb said he hopes the squad will surprise some teams and improve on last year’s standing of 2-7.
Stuttgart third baseman Ryan Santana throws to first base during the Division I DODEA European baseball championship game against Ramstein on May 20, 2023, at Southside Fitness Center on Ramstein Air Base, Germany. (Matt Wagner/Stars and Stripes)
Stuttgart
The Panthers lack the sticks that powered them to a championship last spring.
But coach Drake Marbury, who takes over the helm for the first time in years, said if the pitching staff performs well, Stuttgart will have a chance. He also said the Panthers will rely on speed on the basepaths.
Senior pitcher and utility player Ryan Santana will lead the way after a first-team All-European selection. Others with championship experience are seniors Tyler Blalock (pitcher/catcher/infielder), Jamie Arnold (pitcher/outfielder) and Aiden Heumphreus (infielder/catcher/pitcher) and juniors Declan Mack (pitcher/utility player), Donovan Jurich (pitcher/outfielder) and Zach Siani (outfielder).
Joining the Panthers are seniors Jackson Boggs (pitcher/infielder), Dan Myrick (infielder) and Mason Hawkes (infielder/catcher); juniors Hayden Foley (pitcher/infielder) and Jaxin Schneiders (pitcher/infielder); and freshmen David Scudder (pitcher/infielder), Lucas Scudder (pitcher/infielder), Wyatt Marquet (infielder/catcher/pitcher) and Jonah Bird (utility player).
Vicenza
The Cougars cannot buy a break from the PCS lottery.
Struggling in the regular season with one win last spring, Vicenza made it to the third-place game in the tournament.
The problem is just three starters – sophomore Logan Sistare, junior Zach Alderson and senior Jayden Steimle – from that team are back. So it could be another rebuilding year.
The Cougars have six sophomores, a handful of upperclassmen and six freshmen to fill out the team.
Wiesbaden
Other than Ramstein on the opening weekend, the Warriors came the closest to handing Stuttgart a loss last season, falling in the semifinal 8-7.
Gone are many of the key pieces who powered that team, but coach Jon Ring expressed his belief in Wiesbaden being competitive in Division I.
Veteran leadership will come from senior third baseman T.J. Rice, junior catcher Owen Smith, junior pitcher/third baseman/outfielder Jack Lehr, junior second baseman/pitcher Jonah Harvey and junior left fielder Logan Hernandez.
Newcomers are sophomore Jace Ballard and freshmen Brogan Traugutt and Canyon Hunter.
