Zama American left-hander Silvia Dykstra delivers against E.J. King during Saturday's DODDS Japan softball tournament at Yokota Air Base, Japan. Zama, the reigning Far East Division II Tournament champion, won 17-6 in two innings. (Amanda Champion/Special to Stars and Stripes)
Zama American left-hander Silvia Dykstra delivers against E.J. King during Saturday's DODDS Japan softball tournament at Yokota Air Base, Japan. Zama, the reigning Far East Division II Tournament champion, won 17-6 in two innings. (Amanda Champion/Special to Stars and Stripes)
Nile C. Kinnick's Maria Montepio takes her cuts against Matthew C. Perry during Saturday's DODDS Japan softball tournament game at Yokota Air Base, Japan. Kinnick won 17-0 in two innings en route to its second straight tournament title. (Amanda Champion/Special to Stars and Stripes)
Zama American baserunner Nicole Oquendo slides in safely at home as E.J. King pitcher Deanna Austin tries to cover the plate during Saturday's DODDS Japan softball tournament at Yokota Air Base, Japan. Zama, the reigning Far East Division II Tournament champion, won 17-6 in two innings. (Amanda Champion/Special to Stars and Stripes)
Zama American baserunner Melissa Sybico slides in safely at home under the tag of E.J. King's Deanna Austin during Saturday's DODDS Japan softball tournament at Yokota Air Base, Japan. Zama, the reigning Far East Division II Tournament champion, won 17-6 in two innings. (Amanda Champion/Special to Stars and Stripes)
Things could not have looked any worse for Nile C. Kinnick’s baseball team, which lost its DODDS Japan tournament opener Thursday 11-1 to Robert D. Edgren, on the heels of getting blown out by Yokota in a Kanto Plain doubleheader two days earlier. At home.
But things turned around quickly on Friday, thanks to the rocket arm of junior right-hander Daniel Ross – and the Red Devils never looked back, winning four straight games to capture the tournament title and give Kinnick much needed momentum looking ahead, coach Charles Stark said.
It was a Red Devil of a weekend for Kinnick ballplayers of both genders, as Grace Huezo and Kelly Osterbrink fueled the softball team’s drive to its second straight DODDS Japan tournament title with a perfect 5-0 mark at Yokota High School’s Headley Field.
“That was really big for us,” Stark said of Kinnick’s 5-1 upset Friday of favored Yokota, and Ross’ pitching gem, in which he gave up three hits, a run, a walk and struck out eight. The Panthers entered the tournament with the “team to beat” label, and the doubleheader sweep only emphasized it.
“But we didn’t pitch Daniel” in the twin bill, Stark said. “We were waiting for Yokota and Daniel was outstanding. Yokota is a really good team. They have three really good pitchers. But our kids were fired up and ready to play. We knew with Daniel on the mound, we had a chance, but we had to score.” And score they did, despite taking just 11 players to the tournament, having one get hurt and finishing with just 10. “Somehow, we pulled it together,” Stark said. “I don’t know if we can beat them (Yokota) again. It was just our night.”
Kinnick and Yokota each finished the tournament 4-1, but Kinnick won the title based on the head-to-head competition tie-breaker.
No tie-breakers were needed for Kinnick’s girls, and their infield contingent of Sierra Lee, Beverly Smithers and Elizabeth Farrelly along with their pitching aces. The Red Devils finished a game ahead of second-place Zama (4-1), whom Kinnick beat 11-3 on Friday en route to outscoring opponents 68-21.
“I was proud of how they played in every game,” coach Katrina Kemper said, adding that the team sets performance goals for every game and tournament, “little things,” Kemper said, to help the team “make good plays and try to get better every game. Big things aren’t going to happen overnight.”
Though the Red Devils won the DODDS Japan tournament a year ago, they came up short in the chase to unseat the Okinawa powers in the Far East Division I Tournament last May, and Kemper hopes to rectify that. “Celebrate now, yes, but look to our next goal. We know the Okinawa teams will be good in May.” Yokota High School student photojournalist Amanda Champion contributed to this report.
