Bitburg's Sydney King makes a throw to first after fielding a grounder in the Barons' pool play game in the DODDS-Europe softball championships Friday against Hohenfels. (Matt Millham/Stars and Stripes)
Bitburg's Sydney King makes a throw to first after fielding a grounder in the Barons' pool play game in the DODDS-Europe softball championships Friday against Hohenfels. (Matt Millham/Stars and Stripes)
After fielding a trickling grounder near third base, Bitburg pitcher Alexa Landenberger throws to first in an attempt to throw out Hohenfels' Mikaela Strange during day two pool play in the DODDS-Europe softball championships Friday. (Matt Millham/Stars and Stripes)
Rota pitcher Mikaela Palmer winds up against AFNORTH during pool play Friday, May 23, 2014 in the DODDS-Europe softball championships. The Admirals downed the Lions 8-1. (Matt Millham/Stars and Stripes)
Rota shortstop Jalahna Burton throws to first after fielding a ground ball in the final inning of the Admirals' 8-1 pool play victory in the DODDS-Europe softball championships Friday, May 23, 2014, over AFNORTH. (Matt Millham/Stars and Stripes)
Rota's Audrenik Howard reaches for a high throw at the plate as Erica Balkculm slides in for AFNORTH's only run during their 8-1 meeting in pool play in the DODDS-Europe softball championships Friday, May 23, 2014. (Matt Millham/Stars and Stripes)
Naples pitcher DeDe Jones winds up in the Wildcats' 18-3 quarterfinal rout of Ansbach in the DODDS-Europe softball championships Friday. (Matt Millham/Stars and Stripes)
Naples sophomore Anna Gaughen slides into second and avoids the tag Friday in the Wildcats' 18-3 quarterfinal win over Ansbach in the DODDS-Europe softball championships. (Matt Millham/Stars and Stripes)
Ansbach sophomore pitcher Melissa Flemming delivers the ball in her team's 18-3 loss Friday against Naples in the DODDS-Europe softball championships. (Matt Millham/Stars and Stripes)
Naples' Davina Gutierrez smacks a fly ball in the Wildcats 18-3 drubbing of Ansbach in their quarterfinal matchup Friday, in the DODDS-Europe softball championships in Kaiserslautern, Germany. (Matt Millham/Stars and Stripes)
Hohenfels' Mikaela Strange scores a run in the Lions' 10-3 win Friday over Aviano in a quarterfinal game in the DODDS-Europe softball championship at Kaiserslautern, Germany. (Matt Millham/Stars and Stripes)
Hohenfels' Leslie Martinez slides into second as Aviano's Lindsey Farrington reaches for the tag. Hohenfels won their quarterfinals matchup in the DODDS-Europe softball championships 10-3. (Matt Millham/Stars and Stripes)
Hohenfels freshman pitcher Elexianna Artiaga winds up in the Lions 10-3 quarterfinal win over Aviano in the DODDS-Europe championships Friday. (Matt Millham/Stars and Stripes)
Aviano's Sabrina Huerta looks up to see the umpire call Hohenfels' Brooke Bean safe at third after the Lions sophomore smacked a looping triple to center field Friday in the DODDS-Europe softball championships. (Matt Millham/Stars and Stripes)
Aviano's Alexus Ferron glides into first on a single in the Saints' 10-3 loss Friday to Hohenfels in a quarterfinals match in the DODDS-Europe softball championships Friday. (Matt Millham/Stars and Stripes)
RAMSTEIN AIR BASE, Germany – DODDS-Europe has its Division II/III softball final four.
Underdog Rota and top dog Vicenza sailed into the semifinal with pool-play sweeps and Naples and Hohenfels gritted out quarterfinal wins Friday to set up Saturday’s decisive slate of three games. Defending champion and top seed Vicenza will face Hohenfels while upstart Rota will face third-seeded Naples on Saturday morning; the title game follows in the afternoon.
Rota 8, AFNORTH 1: The 11th-seeded Admirals completed a three-game pool play sweep with a steady win over the Lions.
“We play our game,” catcher Audrey Howard said. “We play Admirals ball. “ The Admirals’ successful style involves timely hitting, aggressive but prudent baserunning and a fundamentally proficient defense. But the smooth Rota defense carried the day, as Howard gunned down a late-inning base-stealer at second and Ophelia Vella scooped up grounders at third and fired confident throws across the diamond to send the Lions parading back to the dugout.
Both Howard and Vella are freshmen, but Vella credited tenured teammates with instilling the Admirals’ winning culture.
“They take the pressure off us,” Vella said.
Rota has long been a standout squad in the Division III tournament, including a runner-up finish a year ago. But the school’s promotion to Division II, and this year’s merger of Division II and III teams into one combined bracket, figured to test the Admirals more than ever.
The Admirals are just two wins away from a championship, so consider that test passed.
“We just wanted to make a good showing,” Rota coach Anne Porcelli said. “And I think we are.”
Hohenfels 10, Aviano 3: A pair of to-the-fence home runs by sophomore Payton Chandler fueled a Tiger romp into the semifinals.
“I’m trying. There’s always room for improvement,” Chandler said. “But I’m feeling good.”
Fellow sophomore Brooke Bean also starred at the plate for Hohenfels, rapping a two-run triple among her two hits on the day.
The fourth-seeded Tigers won two straight pool-play games after opening the tournament with an 11-4 loss to Naples. But they’re not satisfied with just a cameo appearance on Saturday.
“Our goal is just to win it,” Chandler said. “That’s what everybody came for.”
Naples 18, Ansbach 3: The Wildcats enjoyed a stress-free Friday, blasting Baumholder 23-2 in the morning and crushing the Cougars in the afternoon. But nobody had as much fun as Erin Dromerhauser.
The Naples junior recorded two remarkable highlights on Friday. She recorded a triple play against Baumholder, snagging a line drive from her position at shortstop, tagging a passing runner and throwing to first to pick off another Buc and abruptly end the inning. Then she launched a two-fence-clearing home run against Ansbach that nearly plunked the unsuspecting Aviano outfielder manning right on the adjacent field.
Those plays were just the latest memorable moments in what has been a happy transition from Memphis, Tenn., to Naples.
“They’re a huge family, and they took me in,” Dromerhauser said. “I’m having a blast.”
Vicenza 17, Ansbach 1: The top-seeded Cougars will head into the semis with momentum and a growing intimidation factor.
Vicenza allowed just three total runs over its three pool-play games. The Cougars shut out SHAPE 22-0 and beat Sigonella 7-2 on Thursday before dismantling Ansbach on Friday.
Twitter: @broomestripes
