Royals retain stranglehold on large-school softball

KAISERSLAUTERN, Germany – Ramstein cemented a Royal dynasty Friday, capturing its fourth-straight DODEA-Europe Division I softball championship after a 7-2 victory over the Lakenheath Lancers.

In what Royals senior Kelsey Moya described as a “pitcher’s game,” both teams faced tough competition in the circle as she and Lakenheath freshman Addison Brown dueled throughout the championship matchup.

In the opening inning, Ramstein quickly retired the Lancers’ top three batters behind a combination of strong defensive plays and a strikeout from Moya.

Lakenheath had little time to settle in as the Royals were hungry for an early lead in the bottom half of the inning. Freshman Kendall Randolph won a lengthy at-bat against Brown before reaching on a bouncing ball to shortstop that resulted in an error, giving Ramstein an early lead.

Sophomore Mariah Redmond followed with an RBI single, bringing Randolph home to cap the Royals’ two-run opening inning.

While the second inning remained scoreless thanks to strong defensive play from both teams, the Lancers broke through in the top of the third. Senior Ariel Cannon, who reached on a single, came home on a deep RBI double from Brown, bringing the score to a one-run deficit.

Lakenheath’s run was quickly answered in the bottom half of the inning as junior Adysen Johnston used aggressive baserunning to help the Royals regain their two-run cushion.

“We’ve been going over the base running since the beginning of the season,” Johnston said. “I think it’s really helped us put runs on the scoreboard because we’re not scared to get down.”

Ramstein junior Kelsey Moya runs to first base after a hit during the DODEA-Europe Division I championship on May 22, 2026. (Lydia Gordon/Stars and Stripes)

Ramstein freshman Kendall Randolph throws a ball to first during the DODEA-Europe Division I championship on May 22, 2026. (Lydia Gordon/Stars and Stripes)

The Ramstein Royals celebrate a 7-2 win over the Lakenheath Lancers in the DODEA-Europe Division I championship game on May 22, 2026. (Lydia Gordon/Stars and Stripes)

Lakenheath sophomore Knellasia Studstill throws a ball to first during the DODEA-Europe Division I championship on May 22, 2026. (Lydia Gordon/Stars and Stripes)

Lakenheath sophomore Isabelle Laubach swings at a pitch in a game against the Ramstein Royals during the DODEA-Europe Division I championship game on May 22, 2026. (Lydia Gordon/Stars and Stripes)

Ramstein senior Ilana Johnson stands on base in the DODEA-Europe Championship game on May 22, 2026. (Lydia Gordon/Stars and Stripes)

The Lancers mounted one final push in the fifth inning. After reaching base on a hard grounder to the Royals’ shortstop, Applewhite put pressure on the Royals defense with back-to-back steals before Brown drove a line-drive RBI double to left field to cut Ramstein’s lead to one run.

Lakenheath continued to threaten with runners on base, but a strikeout and a key catch in left field by Royals senior Ilana Johnson halted the rally and preserved the Royals’ advantage.

In the bottom of the sixth inning, the tight 3-2 contest swung firmly back in the Royals’ favor.

A string of baserunners set the stage for nearly identical hits from senior Olivia Neely and Johnston, both driving balls to center field as the Royals appeared to finally crack Brown’s rhythm in the circle.

Neely’s RBI double and Johnston’s two-run hit, followed by a sacrifice-fly RBI from Kendall Randolph, pushed Ramstein to a 7-2 lead that held through the final inning.

Tournament MVP Kelsey Moya and her catching partner, Johnston, commended the Lancers for the challenge they presented throughout the championship matchup.

“There was a bunch of competition. Everybody wanted to have first place today,” Moya said. “(Brown) pitched a great game, but we got a hold of the ball.”