Royals dynasty continues in large-school baseball

Ramstein lead-off batter Lincoln Bump stomps on home plate after connecting on a two-run home run during the Division I final against Lakenheath at the 2026 DODEA European baseball championships on May, 22, 2026, at Southside Fitness Center on Ramstein Air Base, Germany. (Matt Wagner/Stars and Stripes)

RAMSTEIN AIR BASE, Germany — The Ramstein baseball team doesn’t concern itself with other standards.

The Royals have their own, and those are the ones that matter, Ben Shutt said.

“We don’t have to prove anything to anybody else,” Shutt said. “We have expectations for ourselves, and we’re going to hold ourselves to that higher standard.

“We’re going to come out here and we’re going to play Ramstein baseball.”

Ramstein baseball was on display Friday during the 2026 DODEA Division I European baseball final at the Southside Fitness Center on Ramstein Air Base.

The Royals jumped out early against second-seeded Lakenheath and didn’t look back en route to 12-1 victory in five innings, clinching the program’s third straight European crown.

Even after losing much of the core from the last two championship squads, the Royals ran the table with a perfect season at 16-0.

“This is the brotherhood, man, and we’ve been grinding and working our butts off to get here,” pitcher/center fielder Lincoln Bump said. “We showed everybody who we are again, three times in a row.”

Even with the losses to PCS and graduation, the 2026 squad was blessed with newcomers – all of whom had a hand in the three-peat.

Two freshman, Cooper Yost and Hank Lundell, recorded hits, with Yost powering a double into the left-center field gap to drive in Will Schmiedel in the bottom of the first inning.

Shutt, meanwhile, transferred in from Bahrain, a school that didn’t have a baseball team when he was there. The coaching staff inserted him into the lineup, and the left fielder earned all-tournament honors this week.

“Everybody just welcomed me,” said Shutt, who went 1-for-3 with an RBI. “It was a great experience. I felt like I really belonged here. Everybody opened up to me, wide arms, helped me out whenever I needed anything.”

Ramstein's Jacob Vinson swings at a pitch during the Division I final against Lakenheath at the 2026 DODEA European baseball championships on May, 22, 2026, at Southside Fitness Center on Ramstein Air Base, Germany. (Matt Wagner/Stars and Stripes)

Ramstein senior Eiji Carpenter slides safely into the bag as Lakenheath first baseman Oskar Feletar tags his foot during the Division I final of the 2026 DODEA European baseball championships on May, 22, 2026, at Southside Fitness Center on Ramstein Air Base, Germany. (Matt Wagner/Stars and Stripes)

Ramstein starter Michael Schmiedel throws a pitch during the Division I final against Lakenheath at the 2026 DODEA European baseball championships on May, 22, 2026, at Southside Fitness Center on Ramstein Air Base, Germany. (Matt Wagner/Stars and Stripes)

Bump was another one of those transfers who made noise this season. And it continued Friday.

In the bottom of the second inning, the junior stepped up to the plate and parked a 0-1 pitch from Lakenheath starter Hunter Weekly over the wall in dead center field, bringing home himself and Lundell.

“I was waiting for a fastball, just looking to be aggressive and hit something,” the all-tournament selection said. “I got what I wanted, and it went over the fence. It felt great. I’ve been waiting for it.”

Lundell’s older brother Jaxon went 2-for-2 with a pair of doubles, including a two-run two-bagger down the third-base line in the top of the third that made it 11-0.

The Lancers (15-4), meanwhile, struggled to get anything going against Ramstein starter Michael Schmiedel, who nearly pitched a complete game but hit the pitch-count limit with one out to go in the fifth inning.

Jaykob Kreider ended any chance of a no-hitter by the Royals ace with a single up the middle. Later that inning, catcher Kyle Vogt drove in Graham Arthaud with a ground out to Ramstein third baseman Jaxon Lundel for the Lancers’ lone run.

But that was all Lakenheath could muster from a bases-loaded, no-out situation in that inning, as Schmiedel struck out two batters around Vogt’s sacrifice out.

While the ending wasn’t what the club was hoping for it to be, coach Gabe Feletar said the program took big strides forward after some struggling years.

Now, it’s about continuing the progression beyond this spring.

“We’re losing a few seniors and some key guys, but I think the guys that are coming back, they know this culture we have and this program we have,” Gabe Feletar said. “We’re looking for some of these younger guys to take the next step and become leaders to make sure this isn’t a one off.”

Ramstein, meanwhile, looks ready to reload again. And Bump isn’t shy about the expectations for 2027.

“I’m pumped,” he said. “I’m ready to come back out here and possibly win another one, that’s the mentality here.”

Lakenheath left fielder Hunter Weekly catches a fly ball during the Division I final against Ramstein at the 2026 DODEA European baseball championships on May, 22, 2026, at Southside Fitness Center on Ramstein Air Base, Germany. (Matt Wagner/Stars and Stripes)

Lakenheath reliever Vance Cooper pitches during the Division I final against Ramstein at the 2026 DODEA European baseball championships on May, 22, 2026, at Southside Fitness Center on Ramstein Air Base, Germany. (Matt Wagner/Stars and Stripes)

Lakenheath sophomore Oskar Feletar runs to first base for the force out during the Division I final against Ramstein at the 2026 DODEA European baseball championships on May, 22, 2026, at Southside Fitness Center on Ramstein Air Base, Germany. (Matt Wagner/Stars and Stripes)

Ramstein shortstop Cooper Yost tries to field a ground ball as Lakenheath sophomore Jaykob Kreider runs to second base during the Division I final of the 2026 DODEA European baseball championships on May, 22, 2026, at Southside Fitness Center on Ramstein Air Base, Germany. (Matt Wagner/Stars and Stripes)