Senior Jessica Blackston returns to a Kubasaki team whose only loss was in the Far East D-I final in penalties against American School In Japan. (Dave Ornauer/Stars and Stripes)
CAMP LESTER, Okinawa — Teams from Okinawa that came out on top, or near it, during the last spring sports season are working hard to stay in position to make more title runs.
Kadena’s boys soccer team went undefeated last season and captured the Far East Division I Tournament title, while the Panthers’ girls softball team made it two straight D-I titles and welcome back two crown-jewel players to try for three in a row.
Just a few miles away, Kubasaki’s girls soccer and baseball teams, which just missed in their respective Far East championship games, are pushing hard to take that final step.
The seasons begin in earnest this weekend, with baseball and softball hosting Yokota. Then on Wednesday, Kubasaki entertains Kadena in boys and girls soccer.
Elijah Whipp, Bryce Federico and Kadena's boys soccer team has to replace 83 goals that either graduated or left the team for other reasons. (Dave Ornauer/Stars and Stripes)
Boys soccer
Much of the burden may end up falling to junior midfielder Elijah Whipp and senior defending Derek Vade for Kadena.
The Panthers lost seven seniors, along with promising midfielder Jelani McGhee to Japanese club ball. All told, the Panthers lost 83 goals to graduation and other reasons.
“We’ll need to find a way to replace those goals,” said sixth-year Panthers coach Abe Summers. Kadena has finished second and first in back-to-back years since Far East tournaments returned from the COVID shutdown.
“Other players will need to step up and fill holes,” Summers said. “I think we’ll still have a competitive team, but a lot of that depends on how we grow together this season.”
The growth curve may be a bit steep for Kubasaki’s boys, who also graduated seven seniors and have a team of mostly freshmen and sophomores.
Robert Barrett becomes the Dragons’ third coach in three seasons. Senior defensive midfielder Izik Ramirez and sophomore keeper Elijah Marrero are two of a small handful of experienced players.
Senior Sydney Pontious is in her fourth season with Kadena. (Dave Ornauer/Stars and Stripes)
Senior Solares Solano scored 18 goals last season for the D-I runner-up Dragons. (Dave Ornauer/Stars and Stripes)
Junior Brooke Brewer is beginning her third season with the Panthers. (Dave Ornauer/Stars and Stripes)
Girls soccer
The Dragons could spend time dwelling on what might have been during that fateful PK shootout in the D-I soccer final on Guam.
But sixth-year coach Chris Eastman said Kubasaki isn’t thinking of that much and is instead keeping an eye on what’s to come.
The Dragons return seven players who scored a total of 44 goals last season and Eastman feels his team has a good chance to make it two D-I titles in three years.
“We have a lot of the same crew from last year,” Eastman said of a group of returners led by senior Solares Solano, who had 18 goals last season. “I think we’re more focused on this season. Spirits are high.”
Senior Sakura Lopez and junior Amaya Schaffeld also return at striker, while seniors Haley Stoudamyre and Jessica Blackston man the midfield.
The Panthers are also strong in the midfield, with senior Sydney Pontious in her fourth season at Kadena. Senior Emmah Strong and junior Brooke Brewer anchor the defense, while Suni Mauricio (senior) and Kyla Donovan (junior) are back at goalkeeper.
But Kadena must replace eight seniors and two transfers and must find at striker.
Senior Jessica Petruff returns after missing all of last season for Kadena with a torn ACL. (Dave Ornauer/Stars and Stripes)
Softball
The Petruff sisters spent more time off the field last season than on it. Pitcher Julia and infielder Jessica were each lost to long-term injuries, Julia to a non-throwing elbow ligament tear and Jessica to an ACL tear.
Julia did pitch a couple of games last season, including the D-I title-clinching game. She returns on the mound as does Jessica at first base. Daniel Lynn takes over as the head coach.
Last season’s ace right-hander, senior Nao Grove, lends depth to the pitching. The team’s leading batter last season, sophomore Jada Wolfgang, returns at shortstop. Senior Eunha Walker takes over behind the place for the graduated Emaleigh Appleton.
“We’re feeling all right,” Lynn said. “We just have to keep them all healthy.”
Kubasaki also welcomes a new head coach, Jeanne White, and has but one senior returning, shortstop Cadence Vandentop.
It’s a junior-laden Dragons team, featuring Sam Diaz behind the plate and Hailey Brassard and Una Freeman at the corner infield spots. Isabel Pennington will divide time between second base and left field.
“We’re a young, burgeoning team,” White said.
Sophomore Kai Redden is one of a handful of returners to a Kadena baseball team with no seniors and two juniors on the roster. (Dave Ornauer/Stars and Stripes)
Baseball
One thing the Dragons did over the winter months was stay active on the diamonds, with off-base club teams in the Japan Winter League.
Four Kubasaki players saw innings with three of the four JWL ballclubs. Dragons senior ace left-hander Luka Koja and sophomore infielder Ethan Ferch played for the Blaze, senior infielder Lukas Gaines for the Rocks and sophomore infielder Asher Romnek for the Strings.
Romnek played the most innings, 117 over 10 games, and said he and the rest learned quite a bit from their Japanese counterparts, even when not on the diamond.
“They’re way more focused. They master the little things and they’re a lot more respectful,” Romnek said. “I love it.”
Ferch played last year for Kadena then transferred to Kubasaki over the winter. “I wasn’t expecting this,” Ferch said. “I feel good. I like the school. It’s a good opportunity.”
The team Ferch left behind is a young Panthers team with not a single senior and just two juniors, Hajime Reed and Ty Lujan.
One thing the Panthers are not is short of pitching. Sophomores Kai Redden and Waioni Mandac will see time on the mound, along with Lujan and Reed, second-year coach Frank Macias said.
“I’m pretty pleased with those four arms,” Macias said. “We’re developing. We’ll see how it does.”
