Wildcats shortstop Jayden Ferguson slides home during game two of Saturday’s DODEA European Division II baseball doubleheader. The game, at Naples, ended 15-15 in extra innings. (Alison Bath/Stars and Stripes)
NAPLES, Italy – The results on the field didn’t always match expectations Saturday.
But though the Naples Wildcats and Rota Admirals struggled through errors and lost opportunities in a DODEA-Europe Division II doubleheader, both pointed to positive signs leading to the season-ending championships.
Four-time division champion Naples dominated game one 13-8 with nine hits. The Admirals bounced back for a 15-15 tie in the second game, though.
The Admirals saw ups and downs during play, coach Luis Dominguez admitted, noting the team made too many mistakes on the field during game one but came back stronger in game two.
That comeback was due to player grit, he said.
“They never stop. They never quit,” said Dominguez, adding that the team never gave up during either game.
With a roster heavy on inexperienced freshman and sophomores and just three juniors and two seniors, much of the team is learning the sport and making mistakes — but quickly improving, Dominguez said.
“Every game there has been less and less mistakes,” he said. “I think as we move forward, we’re going to surprise some people when we get to (the championships in) Germany.”
Jeramiah Robinson pitches for Naples during Saturday's doubleheader between the Wildcats and Rota Admirals. Naples won game one, 13-8, while game two was tied, 15-15. (Alison Bath/Stars and Stripes)
Jonathan Valenzuela pitches for the Admirals during Saturday’s DODEA European Division II baseball doubleheader at Naples’ Carney Park. (Alison Bath/Stars and Stripes)
Rota’s Johnathan Valenzuela steals third base during Saturday’s DODEA European Division II baseball doubleheader at Naples. (Alison Bath/Stars and Stripes)
A run scores in a cloud of dust as Naples Wildcats played against the Rota Admirals Saturday in a DODEA European Division II baseball doubleheader at Naples. (Alison Bath/Stars and Stripes)
Rota’s Xander Buchanan bats for the Admirals during Saturday’s DODEA European Division II baseball doubleheader at Naples. (Alison Bath/Stars and Stripes)
For Rota pitcher and shortstop Jonathan Valenzuela, playing against Naples was a chance to test his arm after a shoulder injury earlier in the season left him unable to pitch for a few weeks.
A sophomore, Valenzuela hopes to improve his arm velocity and be a better leader for the team this year.
That means “connecting with my team and being there for them through hard times” and other situations, he said.
Naples senior David Manus had a solid day, pitching three innings of no-hit ball in the first game and coming up with two hits in each contest. But the four-year starter is an exception on this year’s Wildcats team in terms of experience.
Despite the Wildcats’ winning legacy, Naples coach Christopher Storey said the team isn’t looking down the road to a potential fifth championship but rather is taking the season game by game.
That focus means building a strong foundation by ensuring younger players get skills and experience they need with time on the field during game play, he said.
“The big key is to make sure that we get enough experience in each one of our players during the game,” Storey said. “We’re not going to just do it if we’re up, we’re going to do it if we’re down … Those players have to be able to play in every situation.”
That philosophy helped Wildcats centerfielder Ryan Hernandez feel more relaxed as he and his teammates worked to win the first game and bring that momentum into game two.
Hernandez, a 16-year-old sophomore, acknowledged team mistakes in play but said what mattered is the Wildcats are “playing with a lot of heart.”
“We really care about these wins and any little mistakes we do, we keep in mind,” he said. “The next play matters.”
