Stuttgart shortstop Tasean Coston chases Ramstein's Hank Lundell back to first base in a rundown during the second game of a doubleheader on April 25, 2026, on Robinson Barracks in Stuttgart, Germany. (Matt Wagner/Stars and Stripes)
STUTTGART, Germany – Ramstein’s Jaxon Lundell and Lincoln Bump swear the Royals aren’t stepping up to the plate swinging for the fences.
They’re simply trying to put the ball in play.
“We come up with the mentality that we’re going to hit these hard line drives, and it doesn’t have to be in the gap or a home run all the time,” Bump said. “We just have to be focused, and we have to be consistent.”
The last couple of weeks, those line drives have been finding the gaps and clearing the fences.
Take Saturday’s doubleheader on Robinson Barracks in Stuttgart. The Royals mashed 10 extra-base hits, including three homers, in a sweep of the Panthers, 24-0 and 11-0.
One of those with a homer was Michael Schmiedel. His three-run shot to center field in the top of the first inning of the first game was his third over an eight-day span.
“Every single day, we have a drill that focuses on our approach or how we come up to the plate,” Lundell said. “Sometimes, you get out in front of one, and you pull it, but the opposite-field line drives and home runs and hard hits will come with it.”
Lundell himself had a huge day at the plate. The senior went 4 for 5 with six runs batted in and three multi-bag hits.
Ramstein senior Jacob Vinson, center left is mobbed by teammates after hitting the first home run of his career during the second game of a doubleheader against Stuttgart on April 25, 2026, on Robinson Barracks in Stuttgart, Germany. (Matt Wagner/Stars and Stripes)
Ramstein sophomore Michael Schmiedel swings at a pitch during the first game of a doubleheader against Stuttgart on April 25, 2026, on Robinson Barracks in Stuttgart, Germany. (Matt Wagner/Stars and Stripes)
Stuttgart first baseman Logan Taylor catches a fly ball in foul territory during the first game of a doubleheader against Ramstein on April 25, 2026, on Robinson Barracks in Stuttgart, Germany. (Matt Wagner/Stars and Stripes)
Ramstein's Lincoln Bump pitches during the second game of a doubleheader against Stuttgart on April 25, 2026, on Robinson Barracks in Stuttgart, Germany. (Matt Wagner/Stars and Stripes)
Stuttgart third baseman Carter Felty throws to first base during the first game of a doubleheader against Ramstein on April 25, 2026, on Robinson Barracks in Stuttgart, Germany. (Matt Wagner/Stars and Stripes)
In the second inning of the opener, Lundell parked the first pitch he saw over the left-field fence, bringing home Bump. Then, in the second game, the third baseman/catcher sent the first pitches he saw in the first and second innings down each baseline for doubles.
“You know when the ball’s coming in, you kind of black out a little bit – it’s just all the adrenaline,” Lundell said of his home run. “Off the bat, I knew it was gone. It felt good.”
Yet the swing that really excited the Royals (8-0, 8-0) came off Jacob Vinson’s bat.
The senior connected with a ball in the third inning of the second contest and watched as the ball drifted toward the right-field fence. When the ball flew over the yellow covering on top of the fence, Ramstein players cleared the dugout to celebrate Vinson’s his first-ever homer.
“We’ve been waiting for that one for a long time,” Lundell said. “He had gotten close a few times, and we were pumped to see that.”
Bump and Will Schmiedel each recorded a pair of doubles across the two games, while Bahrain transfer Ben Shutt made an impact with a two-bagger that drove in Will Schmiedel in the first inning of the first match.
The Ramstein pitching staff was just as strong as its sticks.
In the first game, Michael Schmiedel and freshman Cooper Yost combined to throw 42 strikes and just 14 balls over four innings, giving up just three hits.
In the second outing, Bump and Will Schmiedel nearly pulled off a perfect game over five innings. A Tasean Costen infield single in the top of the fifth inning ended the bid.
The duo combined for 10 punchouts, six of them looking.
“Just throwing strikes,” Bump said of the hurlers’ mindset on the mound. “Not trying to do anything too crazy. Just go and attack these hitters and give them something to hit. If they can’t hit it, then that’s just lucky for us.”
Although the Panthers (5-5, 3-5) were shut out in both games, coach Heath Hawkes said his players can take heart in their response after the first game.
The second contest got away from Stuttgart because of five defensive errors in the third inning that helped seven Royals cross the plate.
Starter Jordan Taylor only allowed four earned runs over 2 2/3 innings, while Westin Hawkes faced just six batters and recorded five outs without giving up a hit.
“Game 2 was definitely a much better game,” Heath Hawkes said. “The pitchers kept it close. The defense just had a couple slip-ups.”
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