Since the return from the COVID-19 pandemic, the DODEA-European baseball scene has faced the same questions:

Can anybody break Ramstein’s and Stuttgart’s dominance in Division I? And will this finally be the year somebody ends Naples’ stranglehold on Division II/III?

The Royals and Panthers bring back enough talent that they should be in the mix once again. Kaiserslautern and Vilseck, though, are waiting for their chances to knock the two powerhouses off their perch.

The Wildcats, meanwhile, have a ton of turnover, including a new coach at the helm. Now, it’s up to others in the smaller-school division to take advantage.

All will be decided in the Kaiserslautern Military Community on May 21-23.

Here’s a team-by-team look based off coaches’ responses:

Division I

Kaiserslautern

The Raiders are banking on chemistry to take them to the top this spring.

Eight starters and 10 players return from last year’s third-place squad, and co-head coach Justin Bates, who shares the duties with Zac Robinson, said a majority have been on the squad the past two years.

Logan Bell and Rueben Todman once again figure to lead the way during their senior seasons. Both were named to the all-tournament team last year, while Bell received first-team All-Europe honors as a third baseman and pitcher.

Junior Bryant Lokey has cemented himself as the team’s ace after taking hold of it last year. Bates mentioned Lokey has improved over the offseason.

Junior John Leonard has asserted himself as Lokey’s and the rest of the rotation’s battery mate, while his brother James, also a junior, renews his role at shortstop.

Junior Nick Sullivan will patrol centerfield, and he will also step on the mound. After an impressive freshman campaign, Adrian Carrasquillo returns at second base, and junior Jonny Brown rounds out the veteran starters.

Other returners are junior Andy Etchell and Noah Deweese.

Among a group of newcomers Bates said show potential are sophomores Jamaal Redd and Jakob Bell and freshmen Anders Olsen, Lucas Sullivan, Greyson James and Liam Ferguson.

Lakenheath

The Lancers experienced their second-straight disappointing season last spring, when they didn’t win a single league game.

Coach Gabe Feletar said his charges are looking to improve. He will count on a solid upperclassman group to do so

It starts with senior first baseman/pitcher Ethan Wright and junior third baseman/pitcher Christian Laliberte. Senior Allen Primer (outfielder) and junior Hunter Weekly (infielder) also will see time on the mound, and junior Jayse Cowen will catch.

Junior James Arthaud transferred from Ramstein and will play as an outfielder and pitcher. Freshman Jaykob Kreider also could throw a few innings, as well as play shortstop.

Ramstein

The Royals are loaded once again in their attempt at a repeat.

Nine players are back, starting with senior Caden Nims. The third baseman batted .595 last spring en route to tournament MVP, first-team All-Europe and Stars and Stripes’ baseball Athlete of the Year honors.

Junior Jaxon Lundell comes back as catcher, and senior Conor McGinty will help lead the pitching rotation and see time at first base.

Senior Christian Roy joins McGinty at the top of the rotation. The future Ottawa University Brave will line up at shortstop as well.

Ramstein also has nine new players, four of whom coach Alfredo Rios described as impressive in practice. A pair of brothers – junior Will and freshman Michael Schmiedel – moved to Germany from Zama, Japan. Will plays catcher, while Michael will man second base.

Finn McGinty, the freshman brother of Conor, can play in the outfield, and freshman Travis Yockel will slot in at shortstop.

Stuttgart

The Panthers made a spirited comeback late in the 2024 title game before losing to Ramstein. While they will be seeking a return to the top in 2025, they will be doing so with numerous new faces after losing four All-European selections.

Still, new head coach Alan Thomas described this year’s squad as one of the most coachable groups with which he has worked.

One of the key returners is first-team All-European honoree Hayden Foley. The senior pitcher/shortstop/center fielder batted .439, produced a 1.225 on-base plus slugging percentage and drove in 21 runs. Over 17.2 innings on the mound, Foley recorded an ERA of 1.585.

Senior catcher Declan Mack, who also could line up on the other side of the battery and at shortstop, hit .351 over 15 games in 2024. Senior first baseman/pitcher Jaxin Schnieders broke the .400 mark at .419, playing in every game.

Senior first baseman/pitcher Donovan Junich is the lone other returner who played double-digit games, producing a .281 batting average.

Senior right fielder Zachary Siani, junior first baseman/second baseman/outfielder Jonah Bird and junior left fielder Jack Landauer got some experience last spring

New to the team are Jackson Branco (catcher/outfielder/shortstop), Cooper Graham (third baseman), Julian Hall (center fielder/pitcher/shortstop), Carter Felty (shortstop/outfielder), Westin Hawks (second baseman), Darius Canty (second baseman), Thomas Hobitzre (outfielder), Ethan Holstein (third baseman) and Kenneth Lee (shortstop/outfielder).

Vilseck

Coach Michael Valenzuela has a good mixture of veterans and newbies to take on the best in DODEA-Europe.

The Falcons return 10 from their fourth-place squad, including two all-tournament and All-European selections. Sophomore Jacob Boyle impressed so much during his freshman campaign that he made the first-team All-Europe as pitcher and shortstop, while senior Isaac Greene earned second-team honors as a catcher and pitcher.

Many of the other eight returners have position flexibility. Carlos Aleman, Rohail Jan, Parker Wayland and Ethan Worby are utility players; Americo Contreras and Drake Neville can line up in the infield or on the mound; and Shane Jones can see time in the outfield and at pitcher.

Aleskie Rivera bucks that trend as only as outfielder.

Vilseck picked up two transfers in Brett Edelman from Texas and Levi Schleicher from Missouri. Also joining the team are Liam Colgan, Diego Garcia, Karter Kullerud and Logan Neville.

Wiesbaden

The Warriors have a nearly even balance with nine returners and eight additions. Coach Jon Ring is hoping this group will manage to place after failing to do so last year.

Coming back are seniors Jonah Harvey, Jack Lehr, Owen Smith, Logan Hernandez and Bryson Kay; juniors Stephen Fuller and Cristian Varela; and sophomore Canyon Hunter.

New are seniors Orrin Perkins and Munro Davis; juniors Hayden Blackman and Logan Wiesner; sophomores Liam Ek, Sebastian Trujillo and Aiden Horras; and freshmen Ethan Malaga and Luke Kuhar.

Division II/III

Alconbury

Christopher Pardo was a student the last time Alconbury had a baseball team in 2022, which also happened to be the first time in 10 years prior they had fielded a team.

Three years later, the 21-year-old Alconbury graduate finds himself in charge of the resuscitated program.

With 15-year-old uniforms and little practice equipment, the Dragons may be a sight to behold. Yet 20 guys showed up to play this spring, which has Pardo excited for the season.

Two players from the 2022 squad are still at the school. Lincoln Flake was a starter in the rotation and played third base his freshman year. Kaden Vankirk manned right field as a freshman as well.

Pardo anticipates the duo will slot into the same positions this year.

As for the rest of the roster, some played in middle school, but most hadn’t picked up a ball before joining the squad.

Hohenfels

The Tigers have a lot of fresh faces, and coach Robert Deverick is hoping they will refresh a team that picked up just one win in 2024.

Hohenfels have six returners in Sawyer Baxter (pitcher/infielder), Aiden Boyle (outfielder/middle infielder), Tkoa Kaisa (infielder), Haylen McClannahan (outfielder), Logan Mitchell (catcher/infielder) and Kylejames Sigrah (outfielder/catcher).

Newcomers include Nehemiah Baleto (catcher/pitcher), Connor Brown (outfielder), Henry Edwards (outfielder), Bronson Jackson (pitcher/infielder), Logan Landry (pitcher/infielder), Joseph Londono (outfielder), Karson Matthey (outfielder), Matheo Reyes (pitcher/infielder), Jayden Rueles (outfielder/first baseman), Siyar Ruiz (outfielder), Cameron Sanchez (outfielder), Cory Taylor (outfielder/first baseman), Jameson Trotter (infielder) and Angel Young (outfielder).

Naples

The Wildcats are trying to make it four European crowns in a row without some of the faces who made that run possible.

It starts with the coaching staff, as Zach Pierson takes over for Jim Davis. Also gone is ace Ella Grace, who pitched the past three championship games.

Naples does have a few key pieces back. Senior captain Matt Butler earned first-team All-European honors at first base. Juniors Jeramiah Robinson and David Manus and sophomores Carlos Bailey Jr., Matthew Hostetler and Kenny Pirches Jr. round out the returners.

Juniors Julian Parker and Andrew Serrano joined the team. A host of freshmen round out the roster in Jayden Ferguson, Ryan Hernandez, Roy Holmes, Parker Langton, Hayden Schmall and Grayson Wall.

Rota

The Admirals got bit by the injury bug and eligibility issues last spring, and it led to struggles, with just one win during the regular season.

Rota boasts a solid rotation this campaign. Jayden Jasso, who also can play shortstop, earned all-tournament honors, and he should lead the staff with Jacob Arrington (also a catcher) and Thomas Brantley (also a first baseman).

Adding depth to the pitching are Mikey Borchansky, a transfer from Aviano, and freshman Johnathan Valenzuela.

Right fielder Quinton Harper, third baseman Ronald Ryder and outfielder Trevor Shannon are expected to anchor the bottom of the lineup and to be steady hands in the field.

New to the team are Anthony Rodriguez, Dyler Mercado, Harper Stumberg, Ayden Taylor, Brennon Bleik and Julian Haber.

Sigonella

Coach Matt McKown said his team will have to “eat a lot of dirt” to challenge the top of the Division II/III pool.

He is counting on a group of freshmen, veteran Jaguars and athletes from other sports giving baseball a try.

Six Jaguars are back, beginning with senior outfielder Jonathan Faulk. Junior pitcher/first baseman Cooper Harrison, junior outfielder/pitcher Jacob Maloney, junior outfielder Keiron Cayton, junior catcher/second baseman Chase Wise and sophomore third baseman/pitcher Mandy Gonzalez round out the veterans.

Senior Andrew Buelow lines up as a designated hitter for his first year on the team. Other newcomers include juniors Henry Hurst (first baseman/pitcher/shortstop) and Ryan Miniard (outfielder/pitcher), sophomore Kalem Lawrence, and freshmen Dax Abel (catcher/shortstop/pitcher), Max Kinney (catcher/shortstop/pitcher) and Talis Furuoka (second baseman/pitcher).

Spangdahlem

The Sentinels made a Cinderella run to the championship game after winning just three games during the regular season.

That taste has the squad seeking even more this year.

First-year coach Andrew Burton has all-tournament selectee Mason Dearing manning third base and catcher. Ryan Roe (first baseman/pitcher) and Cohen Mendiola (middle infielder) are the team captains.

Others coming back are Edward Peterson (first baseman/outfielder), Cullen O’Malley (outfielder/pitcher), Jackson O’Malley (outfielder/pitcher/first baseman), Cameron Chavez (outfielder/first baseman) and Logan Siler and Mason Knight (both outfielders).

Stepping onto the baseball diamonds for Spangdahlem are Adler Armstrong (second baseman/outfielder), Landon Bueche (second baseman/pitcher/outfielder), Andre White (catcher/third baseman), Garrett Tanksley, Shaun Addams and Gavin Collazo (all outfielders), and Hudson Hulet (outfielder/first baseman).

Vicenza

Coach Stacy Kelly calls every season a rebuilding one, but this year, that may be truer than most. The Cougars have 11 underclassmen.

Three main returners are pitcher/third baseman Zach Alderson, shortstop/third baseman Jace Herron and center fielder Austin Perry.

Two newcomers expected to make a splash are Max Thrasher and Nicky Brown.

K-town Sports

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