RAMSTEIN AIR BASE, Germany – The Ramstein softball program always has high expectations, having played in every title game since 1999 except two.

Coming off a championship win last spring adds to that pressure, especially with players such as ace Madison Mihalic and catcher Madalyn Young, both first-team All-Europe selections, coming back. It has the Royals thinking repeat.

Yet it’s some of the newer Royals who are sending that goal soaring. They’ve given Ramstein depth of which most DODEA coaches could dream.

The Royals displayed it during a home doubleheader sweep of Lakenheath 16-0 and 22-2. During the games, 16 players saw action whether in the field or at bat, eight of them posted hits and all but one – who got injured – scored.

“It’s a winning culture,” said Ramstein’s Ania Edwards, a newcomer from Colorado. “It’s a really cool team to be on. There’s hitters up and down the lineup, and our defense is strong. So, I’m really happy to be here.”

Edwards and fellow newcomer Aspen Lindsey had the biggest performances for Ramstein (6-0, 6-0).

Lindsey, a transfer from Spangdahlem batting in the last spot in the lineup in the morning, stepped up to the plate with the bases loaded and two out. She hammered a pitch over the left field fence for a grand slam, making it 7-0 Ramstein.

She brought home another run during her second at-bat on a single into left field. Lindsey ended up with six RBI over the two games, going 3-for-4 with four runs scored.

The second baseman, who came in emergency duty to play left field early in the twin bill’s later game, credited her walk-up song chosen by her parents, “Girls Just Want to Have Fun” by Cyndi Lauper, for giving her the motivation for the grand slam.

“I heard that walk-up song, and I just thought of my dad,” Lindsey said. “It was really clicking with me because he’s always telling me he wants me to hit a grand slam at least once in my life.

“I actually thought it was going to hit the fence and at best I would make it to second, but then I heard people screaming at me.”

Edwards wasn’t to be outdone from her clean-up batter spot.

The shortstop launched a two-run homer in almost the same spot as Lindsey, and she added a two-run double in the first inning of Game 2. Overall, Edwards finished 4-for-5 at the plate with 5 RBI.

Coach Kent Enyeart wasn’t surprised by the performances of transfers such as Lindsey and Edwards. He said he’s noticed how much desire the new players have to defend a title they didn’t win last year.

“There’s a certain hunger from the new girls that came out, whether they came to us from somewhere else or just girls that didn’t try out last year,” Enyeart said. “Everybody understands what it means to chase that championship, and they work hard every day.”

Mihalic didn’t need the power from the lineup in the first game. The senior blanked the Lancers (3-3, 1-3) with a perfect game, striking out the final five batters – including two looking.

In the afternoon game, Lakenheath managed to have some success against Ramstein pitcher Arianna Chambers. It started in the first inning when Audrey Young scored off a single by Arianna Harrison through the left side of the infield.

Young, the third baseman, showed power on her next plate appearance in the third inning, slamming a 0-2 pitch in the left field corner for a double. She came home two batters later when Sarah Williams grounded out to the shortstop.

For Lakenheath coach Chris LaVan, the second-game effort at the plate gives the Lancers a boost going forward. He mentioned he was proud the players were able to bounce back after being “shellshocked” early in the first game.

“It’s been an explosion of growth,” LaVan said of the Lancers’ improvement. “Thinking back to where we were at tryouts and how everybody was nervous and shaky to the first week of actual practice where we were trying to get our bearings … they’ve just catapulted up.

“Even after these games, I’m still proud of them and excited because they’ve grown so much.”

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