Sports
European H.S. roundup: Vicenza boys soccer team opens with win
March 23, 2008
Heidelberg's Kelsey Little keeps her eyes on the ball as she gets ready to connect in the second game of Saturday's doubleheader against Mannheim. (Michael Abrams / S&S)
Heidelberg's Kelsey Little keeps her eyes on the ball as she gets ready to connect in the second game of Saturday's doubleheader against Mannheim. (Michael Abrams / S&S)
Heidelberg's Jalle Merritt delivers a pitch to a Mannheim batter in the second game of Saturday's doubleheader. (Michael Abrams / S&S)
Heidelberg's Kelsey Little slides under the tag of Mannheim pitcher Erica Wilson in the second game of a doubleheader. Heidelberg won both games, 17-0 and 17-7, on the opening weekend of the DODDS-Europe spring sports season. (Michael Abrams / S&S)
Heidelberg's BriAnn Joyner connects with a pitch in the second game of Saturday's doubleheader against Mannheim. (Michael Abrams / S&S)
Mannheim pitcher Erica Wilson's tag is a little late on Heidelberg's Victoria Jacson in the second game of Saturday's doubleheader. At right is Mannheim catcher Ayanna Washington. (Michael Abrams / S&S)
Kyle Kaus scored twice Friday as the Vicenza boys of Division III, winless during the regular season last year, opened their new regular season with a 4-0 blanking of D-II Naples at Naples.
Kaus registered both his strikes in the second half, when, according to Naples coach Peter Nagafuchi, the Cougars were beneficiaries of a strong tailwind. Vicenza had led 1-0 at halftime on a Felipe Diaz penalty kick.
Awe Kola tallied Vicenza’s other goal as the Cougars took the Region V lead. The game was the only contest scheduled in Italy over the weekend.
In other soccer games of note:
Mannheim boys 1, Bitburg 1: At Bitburg, Kareem Ates of Mannheim and Steven Johnson of Bitburg found the net Saturday on a snow-covered field in a non-regional game.
Honenfels boys 1, Bamberg 1: At Bamberg, Lucas Hoss of Hohenfels and Jake Dominick of Bamberg matched goals in a Saturday game between Region IV D-III teams that will not count in the regional standings. The two are scheduled to play their regional game April 28 at Hohenfels.
Naples girls 1, Vicenza 0: At Naples, Stephani Hargberg pumped in a second-half game-winner Friday for new coach Bruce Collins. Collins identified defenders Samantha Dozier, Sharten Farrell, Laiken Magers and Kate McCormick as the keys to Region V season-opening shutout.
SoftballHeidelberg 17-0, Mannheim 17-7: Heidelberg swept Mannheim in the season-opening doubleheader for both teams Saturday at Heidelberg.
Briann Joyner and Jalle Merritt combined to pitch a no-hitter and Kelsey Little drove in five runs in the opener, which ended after three innings because of the 15-run courtesy rule, according to Heidelberg coach Al Simoncic.
In the nightcap, Merritt picked up the victory in a walk-filled contest. Caitlin Donnelly of Heidelberg, and Liz Southworth and Torree Rheingans of Mannheim each drove in two runs in the contest, Simoncic said.