Kaiserslautern third baseman Amanda Garcia tries to grab a ground ball along the third base line as Ramstein baserunner Amayah Payton watches during the Division I DODEA European softball championship game on May 24, 2024, at Kaiserslautern High School in Kaiserslautern, Germany. (Matt Wagner/Stars and Stripes)

KAISERSLAUTERN, Germany – Nobody was going to rain on Ramstein’s parade Friday afternoon.

Even when the heavens opened to pour onto the field at Kaiserslautern High School for the final 2.5 innings of the Division I DODEA softball championship game against the crosstown rival Raiders, the Royals couldn’t be stopped.

In fact, Ramstein did a lot of damage when the weather went south during its 11-1 victory. The Royals (17-0) dropped five runs in the bottom of the fourth frame and added another two in the sixth to invoke the mercy rule.

“We’ve spent about half of our season in the rain,” Ramstein senior Madison Mihalic said. “It sucks as a pitcher because it’s hard to get a good grip on the ball, but I’m really proud of the way we battled through it.”

The victory over Kaiserslautern (12-7) clinched a repeat for the powerhouse Ramstein program, which continues to make deep tournament runs. Only two Division I title games since 1999 have not included the Royals.

For coach Kent Enyeart, this year’s European crown was special because of seniors such as first baseman Jazmyn Hall and catcher Madalyn Young who had been with the program their entire high school careers.

The duo made their marks in their last high school game, with Hall driving in two runs and connecting on a double into left field in the fourth and Young hitting a double in the sixth to center field.

“I’ve got some great kids this year,” Enyeart said. “As coaches, we’ve had the privilege to coach kids for as long as we have, and to go back to back in championships and send our seniors out on top, that’s special.”

Ramstein first baseman Jazmyn Hall runs to the bag after fielding a ground ball from a Kaiserslautern batter during the Division I DODEA European softball championship game on May 24, 2024, at Kaiserslautern High School in Kaiserslautern, Germany. (Matt Wagner/Stars and Stripes)

Ramstein senior Jazmyn Hall swings at a pitch from Kaiserslautern's Bevanie Cleark during the Division I DODEA European softball championship game on May 24, 2024, at Kaiserslautern High School in Kaiserslautern, Germany. (Matt Wagner/Stars and Stripes)

Kaiserslautern pitcher Bevanie Cleark looks to third base after catching a flyball during the Division I DODEA European softball championship game against Ramstein on May 24, 2024, at Kaiserslautern High School in Kaiserslautern, Germany. (Matt Wagner/Stars and Stripes)

Kaiserslautern’s Alessia Garcia catches a foul ball from Ramstein’s Isabella Chambers during the Division I DODEA European softball championship game on May 24, 2024, at Kaiserslautern High School in Kaiserslautern, Germany. (Matt Wagner/Stars and Stripes)

Kaiserslautern catcher Alessia Garcia tags Ramstein's Isabella Chambers at home plate during the Division I DODEA European softball championship game on May 24, 2024, at Kaiserslautern High School in Kaiserslautern, Germany. (Matt Wagner/Stars and Stripes)

Ramstein shortstop Ania Edwards throws the ball to first base and getting the force out of Kaiserslautern's Selam Foery at second base during the Division I DODEA European softball championship game on May 24, 2024, at Kaiserslautern High School in Kaiserslautern, Germany. (Matt Wagner/Stars and Stripes)

Ramstein junior Emma Inthavixay runs toward home plate during the Division I DODEA European softball championship game against Kaiserslautern on May 24, 2024, at Kaiserslautern High School in Kaiserslautern, Germany. (Matt Wagner/Stars and Stripes)

The Ramstein offense proved to be special as well.

The Royals totaled 14 hits off Raider pitcher Bevanie Cleark, including six extra-base hits. Mihalic, the tournament’s most outstanding player, began the power hour with a two-run home run in the bottom of the third inning and the score tied at 1-1.

That sparked a reaction within the Ramstein lineup, as Ania Edwards stepped up to the plate immediately afterward and hit a double into the left-center field gap. The junior shortstop followed that up with a triple in her next at-bat in the third that scored two Royals.

As the cleanup batter, Edwards is expected to bring the power. But she said it’s not just her who can create big-time hits. And when one Royal does so, it generally means more are to come like what happened with Mihalic’s homer and Edwards’ double.

“It really is like a chain,” Edwards said. “When one person gets a hit, there’s always more energy going into the next at-bat. We really do well going back to back and keeping the energy all the way through the lineup.”

Raider coach Zac Robinson praised the Royal lineup, saying it was going to be difficult for any pitcher, even one of Cleark’s stature, to get through the batting order unscathed.

Yet the Raiders enjoyed an early lead thanks to lead-off batter Selam Forey. The senior shortstop reached based despite striking out because of an error at the plate, and she crossed the plate three batters later with first baseman Mariska Campbell flew out to center field.

That lead gave Kaiserslautern hope, its coach said. But he also acknowledged the team needed more if it wanted to pull off the upset.

“We had some good at-bats in the first inning,” Robinson said. “We had really good baserunning that inning as well. Of course, it was early, and we knew 1-0 wasn’t going to hold up.

“I’m super proud of them. They worked hard all season long, got better and better and better, a great group.”