Kadena's Madison Lovelace tries to put the tag on Humphreys' Melina Schablik. (Jeunei Bodnar/Special to Stripes)
YOKOSUKA NAVAL BASE, Japan – Madison Lovelace struggled mightily in the first three games of the Far East softball tournament.
From then on, she could not be stopped. And Kadena benefited greatly.
The sophomore shortstop turned the Division I tournament final around with a two-run inside-the-park home run. The Panthers rallied from early 3-0 and 6-5 deficits to win their fourth straight D-I title, beating Humphreys 11-7 Thursday at Berkey Field.
“The first day, I didn’t do well,” said Lovelace, named the tournament’s Gold Glove winner. “I thought it (home run) brought me up and the energy of the team as well.”
Kadena set a DODEA-Pacific record with its fourth straight D-I title and ninth overall dating back to the inception of Far East softball tournaments in 2010.
Counting the Panthers’ All-DODEA Japan tournament title in 2022 on that same Berkey Field, it marked their fifth straight inter-district tournament crown.
Madison Lovelace, with ball, and Kadena had much to smile about Thursday. (Lauren Casey/Special to Stripes)
Kadena's Dystiny Wilcox can't find the handle on the ball as Humphreys' Deja Wilson, the tournament MVP, slides into third base. (Eryzah Joyce Ricardo/Special to Stripes)
Kadena's Zaire Kerneal slides into second as Humphreys' Joselyn Sanchez Falkenberg tries to apply the tag. (Eryzah Joyce Ricardo/Special to Stripes)
Kadena's Aubree Leidig dashes into third base as Humphreys' Joselyn Sanchez Falkenberg tries to tag her. (Jeunei Bodnar/Special to Stripes)
Kadena's Audrey Fabian slides into third as Humphreys' Kelia Pa'aluhi applies the tag. (Jeunei Bodnar/Special to Stripes)
If Kadena wasn’t 100 percent brilliant, it proved to be resilient when they had to be, coming from behind in two of its six games, coach Daniel Lynn said.
“There were a couple of moments when we could have gotten down, but they picked back up” in the final, said Lynn, whose Panthers finished 19-1-1 overall. “Our bats were alive, we fielded well, we have the best pitcher in the Far East.”
That pitcher, sophomore Aubree Leidig, pitched all but three innings in those six games, earning tournament Best Pitcher honors.
“I thought it (arm) would be a lot more sore, but I feel great,” Leidig said. “I felt like I could pitch another game.”
For the Blackhawks (12-7), who lost four home games to Kadena two weeks ago, it was their first D-I finals appearance.
Humphreys’ Amelia Pa’aluhi and Melina Schablik each hit RBI singles and Kelia Pa’aluhi drove in another run with a fielder’s choice grounder in the top of the second inning.
The Panthers responded with Lovelace’s two-run shot, a line drive into the right-center field gap to tie the game 3-3. Journey Terlaje stole home and Leidig hit a run-scoring infield single to make it 6-5 Kadena.
The Blackhawks wouldn’t quit. Joselyn Sanchez Falkenberg tripled and stole home, tournament Most Valuable Player Deja Wilson tied it with an RBI single and scored on an infield error in the third.
It would be the last time Humphreys led. Lovelace scored on an infield error, Terlaje gave the Panthers the lead for good with a two-run single, McKenzie Johnson doubled in another run, scored on an error and Jazlene Vergara hit an infield RBI single.
“I’m very proud of my team and my coaches,” said freshman Audrey Fabian, who reached base all but two times in the tournament and was named the event’s Best Hitter.
Kadena's Madison Lovelace skies for the ball as Humphreys' Deja Wilson pulls up into second base. (Jeunei Bodnar/Special to Stripes)
Humphreys right-hander Madison Marasco delivers. (Kay Kim/Special to Stripes)
Kadena's McKenzie Johnson pulls up into second base as Humphreys' Madison Marasco awaits the throw. (Kay Kim/Special to Stripes)
Kadena's Dystiny Wilcox, Aubree Leidig, Audrey Fabiian and Journey Terlaje celebrate their fourth straight title. (Dave Ornauer/Stars and Stripes)
Kadena's Aubree Leidig pitched all but three innings in the tournament. (Dave Ornauer/Stars and Stripes)
Kadena's Audrey Fabian reached base in all but two at bats duriing the tournament. (Dave Ornauer/Stars and Stripes)
Kadena's McKenzie Johnson slides in safely at home. (Ciara Marie Galvez/Special to Stripes)
Kadena celebrates its fourth straight D1 title. (Ciara Marie Galvez/Special to Stripes)
YOKOTA AIR BASE, Japan – While one defending tournament champion four-peated, Zama’s run of Division II baseball titles came to an end Thursday when the Trojans fell 10-3 to host Yokota in Thursday’s quarterfinal.
Derrick Gima and Takumi Iwazaki-Chung combined for two doubles and five RBIs for the Panthers, who scored six second-inning runs to put the contest out of reach. Iwazaki-Chung got credit for the win.
Robert D. Edgren, last year’s runner-up, and Matthew C. Perry face off for the tournament crown Friday at Yokota Park.
