Kadena Panthers

Baseball

Head coach — Steven Ferch, sixth season.

Key performers — Drew Eaglin, Jr., P-1B; Kaden Connolly, So., OF-3B; Kai Olszewski, So., OF-P; Jeremiah Sprague, Sr., C-P-3B; Bruce Young, Jr., IF; Andrew Chapman, Fr., OF; Ty Lujan, Fr., IF.

Outlook — Rebuilding. Although a goodly number of veterans return and Ferch feels his team has much to learn and needs to grow before it can be consistently competitive.

Softball

Head coach — Jess Geffre, first season.

Key performers — Morgan Sayers, Jr., SS; Janna Hurst, Jr., 1B-3B; Julia Petruff, So., P; Jessica Petruff, So., 2B; Lia Connolly, Jr., 3B.

Outlook — Reloading. Though the Panthers are on their third coach in as many seasons, they’re strong up the middle with Sayers and the Petruffs and are hopeful they can take additional strides beyond their winning the DODEA All-Japan tournament last April.

Boys soccer

2022 season record — 7-3-1.

Head coach — Abe Summers, fourth season.

Key performers — Yoshua Whipp, Jr., MF; Elijah Whipp, Fr., MF (both transferred from Seneca Valley [Md.]); Tyler Smith, Jr., F (7 goals); Tuck Renquist, Jr., MF; Derek Vaden, So., MF; Noah Barrett, Jr., def.

Outlook — Reloading-contending. With the Whipp brothers, who played for Paragon FC in Maryland, on the roster, the Panthers bring experience to the table and could compete for the Far East title.

Girls soccer

2022 season record — 6-3-1.

Head coach — Joey Wood, second season.

Key performers — Lucy Delaney, Sr., MF (transferred from Kaiserslautern); Marina Sawyer, Jr., MF; Mia Garza, Sr., MF (7 assists); Mary Tracy, Sr., def.; Brooke Brewer, Fr., def.; Sydney Pontious, So., MF.

Outlook — Reloading. It might be a struggle at first, but the Panthers bring back a solid core of veterans. Delaney will add depth to the middle and Brewer is not new to the game.

Kubasaki Dragons

Baseball

Head coaches — Jason Welte, David Wray, first season.

Key performers — Luka Koja, So., P; Nick Adams, Sr., 2B; Ryder Beaudoin, Sr., C; Andrew Welte, Sr., 1B; Lukas Gaines, So., UT; Julian Hall, So., OF; Brayden Milam, So., UT; Samuel Bierman, Sr., 2B-OF; Roman Leal, Jr., C.

Outlook — Contending. With a solid mix of veterans and underclassmen, and with eight players who can pitch and two more whom the team is working on, the Dragons could recall the days when they won Far East tournaments in 2010 and 2013. Third set of coaches in the last three seasons, though.

Softball

Head coach — Cassandra Pineda, second season.

Key performers — Mia Vedsted, Sr., C-SS-P; Kristen Lininger, Sr., SS-CF; Caroline Law, Sr., 1B-RF; Allison Sizemore, Sr., OF-3B; Taylor Tobin, Fr., C; Samantha Diaz, Fr., OF-C.

Outlook — Contending. Vedsted and Lininger provide the backbone of a core of seasoned veterans, while Tobin and Diaz are showing solid promise as rising freshmen who aren’t new to the game.

Boys soccer

2022 season record — 6-4-1.

Head coach — Tony Washington, sixth season.

Key performers — Frank Stare, So., MF (6 goals, 8 assists); Justin Murray, Jr., F (7 goals); Matthew Yulee, Jr., F (7 goals); Donovan Blas, Sr., def.; Luka Lantz, Fr., MF; Jaden Oshana, Jr., MF.

Outlook — Contending. That 3-0 loss last April to Nile C. Kinnick in the DODEA All-Japan final still sticks in the craw of the Dragons veterans and their main goal is to gain redemption. They have the returning pieces to at least make a strong run.

Girls soccer

2022 season record — 8-3-1.

Head coach — Chris Eastman, fourth season.

Key performers — Emma Leggio, Sr., def.; Becca Chandler, Sr., def.; Annabelle Alvarado, So., GK; Lilyana Solano, Jr., MF; Sakura Lopez, So., F (13 goals, transferred from Zama American); Sophia Grubbs, Sr., MF; Solares Solano, So., F (17 goals); Hailey Brooke, Fr., F; Amaya Schaffeld, Fr., F.

Outlook — Contending. An interesting setup, in that the veteran core plays in the defensive half, while underclassmen Brooke, Schaffeld, Lopez and Solano man the front end. Lopez will fit in nicely for Syra Soto, who took her six goals to Humphreys. Dragons could definitely challenge for Far East Division I honors.