Kadena Panthers shortstop Macalah Danielsen, shown batting against Kubasaki Dragons, is one of six underclassmen starters and part of arguably the most formidable heart of the batting order in school history. (Dave Ornauer/Stars and Stripes)
Kadena Panthers shortstop Macalah Danielsen, shown batting against Kubasaki Dragons, is one of six underclassmen starters and part of arguably the most formidable heart of the batting order in school history. (Dave Ornauer/Stars and Stripes)
Kadena Panthers sophomore right-hander Bailey Prince, shown pitching against Kubasaki Dragons, is one of six underclassmen starters and part of arguably the most formidable heart of the batting order in school history. (Tyler Prince/Special to Stars and Stripes)
Everything seemed to be going Kadena’s way. It wasn’t the largest of leads, but right-hander Peyton Lettkeman was matching Nile C. Kinnick counterpart Kelly Osterbrink strike for strike and the Panthers held a slim 1-0 edge heading into the final inning.
Lightning struck in the form of two runs, including the game-winning hit by Tenley Getschman, for the Red Devils as they stunned the reigning Far East Division I softball champion Panthers 2-1 in last season’s championship game.
It’s not something easily forgotten. But Kadena third-year coach Kelli Wilson says she’s emphasizing with her players that they can only take care of what’s in front of them and not worry about the past.
“Everybody knows about it,” she said. “We remember it, but we don’t dwell on it. We can’t go back to it. We’re just trying to focus on us, our team on the field this year and this year alone.”
The Panthers start the path toward trying to wrest the title from Kinnick, which would be the program’s third in five years, starting at Naval Air Facility Atsugi. The Division II tournament runs concurrently; Daegu won it last year.
The 2014 version of the Panthers that Wilson is putting on the field is a young one. Of her nine starters, six are freshmen and sophomores, but each is very familiar with the game, having played on traveling teams in the States and for the Lady Ambassadors club program on Okinawa.
Leading the charge is perhaps the most formidable heart of the batting order in school history: Freshman Macalah Danielsen (.636 batting average, 20 RBIs, four stolen bases in 10 games) and sophomores Bailey Prince (.545, 25, 11) and Asia Abdul (.516, 27, 6).
“We’re as ready as we’ll ever be,” Wilson said. “We’re taking it one day at a time, we’re excited to be there, we want to be in the final. We plan to do what we need to do.”
Osterbrink sat part of the season with a high ankle sprain, but the Red Devils repeated their DODDS Japan tournament title and after suffering their only loss of the season to American School In Japan rebounded to rout them in a twin bill last week.
The senior right-hander will be Kinnick’s main pitching option, and the Red Devils are “solid” with Getschman behind the plate and Smithers sisters Beverly – the reigning Most Valuable Player – and Jane at the keystone positions.
“If they play at the top of their game, if they play as well as they can play, if Osterbrink is throwing like she can, they will be difficult to beat,” Yokota coach Ty Gaume said, adding of the Smithers: “Best middle infield we’ve faced all season.”
While Seoul American won the DODDS Korea district, coach Julian Harden and the Falcons play solely Division II programs all season. He says he doubts that he can match Kadena’s or Kinnick’s firepower, especially on the mound, where left-hander Julia Ring is the main option.
“We don’t have the pitchers” that those two schools have, Harden said. “I don’t have that luxury. That’s going to be our nemesis.”
While the Panthers and Red Devils are expected to contend for the D-I title, Daegu appears to be a favorite to repeat its D-II title, with Zama, Robert D. Edgren and last year’s runner-up E.J. King giving chase; each has good pitching options, though Zama’s are young.
“Daegu has a lot of people who played last year,” Harden said of a Warriors team that relies mainly on former All-Far East pitcher Christina Henry. “Their infield is solid and that’s why they did so well last year. “Their chances are pretty good.”
