YOKOTA AIR BASE, Japan — New look. Same old story.

Trey Davis scored twice and Jonathon Evans and Andy Brown scored once each as defending Japan Soccer League champion Nile C. Kinnick halted Yokota’s early-season 6-0 run with a 4-1 victory on Saturday at Yokota’s Bonk Field.

The Red Devils improved to 4-0 with a vastly different look from the team that went 15-6-3 a season ago. For the first time in four years, Kinnick takes the field this season without its “Little Lightning” crew of Ken Cardwell and George Murray, who combined for 42 goals last year.

“We have a better team this year,” coach Bill Schofield said, emphasizing the word “team.”

“We have a really focused team, strong kids, nine good players and enough to fill the last two positions,” he said. “The kids are excited. They feel they can have the best season they’ve ever had, even exceed last year.”

Rather than two guys doing the lion’s share of the scoring, Kinnick has spread the wealth: Brown and Evans scored six times and Davis five, while Koji Silk dished out six assists and Daniel Appleman contributed five.

And a team of mostly midfielders is doing whatever job Schofield tosses them. “We can move these kids around, play them at any position,” he said.

“They completely outplayed us in the first half,” Yokota coach Tim Pujol said.

Yokota’s lone goal came from Bronson Bailey in the 75th minute, but that came long after the outcome of the game had been decided.

“They created chances to score, we were beaten to the ball, out-passed, out-defended, out-attacked, out-everythinged. You have to play 80 minutes against Kinnick. They have height, speed, good control, lots of good pieces. They’re a dangerous team.”

Schofield said the team came away feeling good about itself.

“This was a good confidence boost for us, absolutely,” he said.

Kadena proves it can win without superstar Abel

KADENA AIR BASE, Okinawa — Junior striker Dianne Abel hobbling on an injured right foot didn’t stop the Kadena Panthers from routing Naha Commercial High 7-0 Saturday, six hours after topping Oroku 2-1 — with Abel connecting for both goals.

The defending Far East Girls Class AA (large schools) Tournament champion Panthers erupted for five second-half goals against Naha, following a lackluster first half.

Against Oroku, Abel came down awkwardly on her right foot after going up to head the ball away from the goalkeeper. It’s uncertain how long Abel, who led the region with 34 goals and 19 assists in 2004, will be out.

But her teammates’ performance, including three goals by Alicia Larson and two goals and an assist by Patty Adkins, gave Abel and the team hope.

“They passed the ball well in the second half,” said Abel, who tried to play in the second game but came off after 10 minutes. “They didn’t let the first half get to them. They just played their game.”

Coach Hoa Nguyen said he was pleased the team handled what he called the “big challenge” of playing without its superstar. “They played the way they were supposed to play,” he said. “At the beginning, they appeared lost. Mentally, for them, it was a shock, they were saying, ‘Coach, where’s Dianne?’ But they picked it up. They realized she might not be there for every game.”

He said he was particularly pleased with Larson’s and Adkins’s scoring and midfielder Victoria Lyle’s table setting.

Adkins’s and Larson’s performances were “a big surprise, a big plus,” Nguyen said. “Victoria, she draws the defenders to her and she crosses it to the other strikers. She doesn’t get the glory but she works hard.”

Novak outduels Badillo in pitching showdown

YOKOTA AIR BASE, Japan — In a battle of the Japan Baseball League’s two hottest pitchers, Shawn Novak of Yokota got the upper hand on Will Badillo of Zama American.

Novak (5-0), who already has one perfect game to his credit this season, gave up three hits and a season-high three walks while striking out 13 as the Panthers downed the Trojans 6-2 in the first game of Saturday’s twin bill at Yokota Park. Yokota also won the nightcap 6-4.

Badillo (2-2), who tossed a no-hitter two weeks ago, struck out 11 Panthers while giving up seven hits and three walks.

Baseball

Yokota 6, Zama American 2, Yokota 6, Zama American 4

Saturday at Yokota Air Base, Japan

Game 1:Panthers right-hander Shawn Novak outdueled Trojans lefty Will Badillo. Novak gave up three hits and a season-high three walks while striking out 13; Badillo scattered seven hits and allowed three walks and struck out 11. Zach Dopslaf had three hits and Chris Shelton doubled for Yokota.

Game 2:Kenny Harris went the distance for Yokota, giving up six hits and striking out four. Nick Villasana took the loss for Zama. Dopslaf and Sean Martel each had two hits to pace the Panthers, while Anthony Garcia doubled twice and Miguel Vega and Badillo each doubled for the Trojans. Ario Granum’s diving catch with two out in the seventh squelched a potential Zama rally and saved the game for Yokota.

Nile C. Kinnick 14, Matthew C. Perry 0, 5 inn.

Saturday at Iwakuni Marine Corps Air Station, Japan

Sean DeChane pitched a complete-game victory for the Red Devils, allowing one hit and striking out five, and Ren Jackson went 3-for-4 with his second grand slam home run in as many days. Mike Riley went 2-for-4 for Kinnick.

Boys soccer

Nile C. Kinnick 4, Yokota 1

Saturday at Yokota Air Base, Japan

Halftime:Kinnick 3-0. Goals: Kinnick, Trey Davis 2 (5), Andy Brown 1 (6), Jonathon Evans 1 (6); Yokota, Bronson Bailey 1 (11). Assists: Kinnick, Andy Brown 1, Jonathon Evans 1, Koji Silk 1, Daniel Appleman 1; Yokota, Stefan Welch 1.

Robert D. Edgren 4, E.J. King 1

Saturday at Sasebo Naval Base, Japan

Halftime:Edgren 3-0. Goals: Edgren, Patrick Pezoulas 2 (5), Nathan Fine 1 (4), Brandon Green 1 (3). Assists: Edgren, Brandon Green 3.

Robert D. Edgren 3, E.J. King 0

Friday at Sasebo Naval Base, Japan

Halftime:Edgren 2-0. Goals: Edgren, Patrick Pezoulas 1 (3), Nathan Fine 1 (3), Brandon Green 1 (1). Assists: Edgren, Randy Haltli 1.

E.J. King 2, Matthew C. Perry 1

Friday at Sasebo Naval Base, Japan

Halftime:Perry 1-0. Goals: E.J. King, Brandon Gilbert 1 (2), David Years 1 (2); Perry, Ronnie Soloman 1 (2).

Seoul American 3, Osan American 1

Saturday at Osan Air Base, South Korea

Halftime:Seoul 1-0. Goals: Seoul, Sam Crothers 1 (3), Chris Churchwell 1 (2), Greg Cooper 1 (1); Osan, Kevin Finch 1 (2). Assists: Seoul, Sam Crothers 1.

International Christian-Seoul 9, Taegu American 0

Friday at Camp Walker, South Korea

Goals:ICS-Seoul, Sunday Olowu 4 (17), Brian Kay 2 (6), Daniel Jung 2 (5), David Hyun 1 (4). Assists: ICS-Seoul, Daniel Jung 3, David Hyun 2. Saves: ICS-Seoul, Shawn Harmsen 2.

Girls soccer

Pusan American 2, International Christian-Uijongbu 0

Saturday at Uijongbu, South Korea

Halftime:0-0. Goals: Pusan, Brieanna Carroll 2 (13).

Seoul American 3, Osan American 0

Saturday at Osan Air Base, South Korea

Halftime:Seoul 3-0. Goals: Seoul, Amy Bakameyer 2 (6), Margaret Nurse 1 (1).

Taegu American 6, International Christian-Seoul 0

Friday at Camp Walker, South Korea

Halftime:Taegu 3-0. Goals: Taegu, Chrystal Anguay 3 (4), Joanne Youngblood 2 (5), Katrina Alsup 1 (2). Assists: Taegu, Joanne Youngblood 1.

Kadena 2, Oroku 1

Saturday at Kadena Air Base, Okinawa

Halftime:Kadena 1-0. Goals: Kadena, Dianne Abel 2 (4). Assists: Kadena, Alicia Larson 1.

Kadena 7, Naha Shogyo 0

Saturday At Kadena Air Base, Okinawa

Halftime:Kadena 2-0. Goals: Kadena, Alicia Larson 3 (3), Patty Adkins 2 (2), Victoria Lyle 1 (3), Kelsey Decker 1 (2). Assists: Kadena, Victoria Lyle 2, Patty Adkins 1.

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