Naples' Ella Grace started her third DODEA European Division II/III championship game Friday, May 24, 2024, and tossed three shutout innings in the Wildcats' 17-2 victory over Spangdahlem at Ramstein Air Base, Germany. (Kent Harris/Stars and Stripes)

RAMSTEIN AIR BASE, Germany – Ellla Grace has known nothing but winning since she first put on a Naples Wildcats baseball uniform.

The Naples senior pitched three shutout innings Friday as the Wildcats claimed their third straight DODEA European Division II/III baseball title with a 17-2 victory over Spangdahlem.

The Wildcats, heavy favorites after an undefeated regular season, were declared winners when the winning run crossed the plate in the fourth inning, triggering the 15-run mercy rule.

“It’s been a really great experience,” Grace said of her three-year run on the team. “Just super blessed.”

Grace, who plays shortstop for Naples when not on the mound, isn’t exactly an intimidating presence physically. She lists her height at 4 feet, 10 inches “and a half.”

But she throws strikes. She didn’t walk a batter. The Sentinels scored their only two runs in the top of the fourth after Grace had left the mound. Two walks, two wild pitches and a run-soring popup from Spangdahlem’s Cohen Mendiola that effectively served as a squeeze bunt brough the Sentinels to within 10-2. But Naples scored seven times in the bottom of the inning to end it.

Run-scoring singles from David Manus and A.J. Lopez put the Wildcats up to stay in the fist inning. They added three more in the second and another five in the third.

Lopez, whose sister Arianna stars for the Wildcats softball team, is one of three other players besides Grace to be on three-straight title teams.

He and Grace both credited the team’s success to its togetherness and its ability to absorb new players as the years go along. Also, like Grace, he doesn’t expect to be playing in college next year, unless there’s a spot on an intramural team.

“I’m really going to miss the sport,” he said. “And all my teammates.”

Spangdahlem's Caiden Taherimorovat fouls off a pitch in the DODEA European Division II/III championshp game at Ramstein Air Base, Germany, on Friday, May 24, 2024. (Kent Harris/Stars and Stripes)

Ryan Roe started for the Spangdahlem Sentinels in the DODEA European Division II/III championships Friday, May 24, 2024, at Ramstein Air Base in Germany. (Kent Harris/Stars and Stripes)

Naples' Ella Grace delivers during the DODEA European Division II/III championship game against Spangdahlem. The Wildcat senior didn't walk a batter and left the mound with her team leading 10-0 on Friday, May 24, 2024 at Ramstein Air Base, Germany. (Kent Harris/Stars and Stripes)

Spangdahlem third baseman Michael Landers waits for the ball to fall into his mitt in the DODEA European Division II/III championship game Friday, May 24, 2024, at Ramstein Air Base, Germany. (Kent Harris/Stars and Stripes)

Naples' Logan Barker takes a big lead off third base Friday, May 24, 2024, while Spangdahlem's Casey Supinger makes a pitch at the DODEA European Division II/III championship game at Ramstein Air Base, Germany. (Kent Harris/Stars and Stripes)

Naples freshman Kenny Pirches closed the game for the Wildcats at the DODEA European Division II/III championship Friday, May 24, 2024 at Ramstein Air Base, Germany. (Kent Harris/Stars and Stripes)

Naples' Matthew Hostetler slides back into second base as a pickoff throw goes over the head of Spangdahlem's Cohen Mendiola at the DODEA European Division II/III championship game at Ramstein Air Base, Germany. (Kent Harris/Stars and Stripes)

If a trophy for perseverance existed, the Sentinels likely would have won that. The school didn’t even field a team a year ago after a video of some players using racial slurs surfaced.

This year, the base’s field was unplayable, with six games cancelled due to rain. Even practicing was an issue.

“Practiced in the gym, playing whiffle ball and working on basics,” coach Douglas Cobb said.

He said he wasn’t even sure there was going to be a team, but a group of football players decided to try out the sport.

“I don’t care what the scoreboard says, you are all champions,” he told his players afterwards.

As far as being a champion, Grace said it never gets old.

Asked if she which she would remember the most from Thursday – her performance on the mound or an early plate appearance, she picked the latter.

“Probably striking out with the bases loaded,” she said, with a smile. “But I’ll remember the three shutout innings, too. I’ll remember it all.”