Royals circle the bases to remain unbeaten

KAISERSLAUTERN, Germany – It only took an inning Saturday in a matchup between DODEA-Europe crosstown rivals Kaiserslautern and Ramstein to show how things were going to go on the softball field.

The Royals jumped out to a 10-0 advantage on 11 hits and five walks in a wild first inning in the first game of a doubleheader.

After 19-3 and 17-2 losses, the Raiders ended the day still in the hunt for their first wins of the season but showed some flashes of promise with their bats to avoid a shutout in both games.

Ramstein, meanwhile, was relentless running the bases, taking base after base – many times on errant pitches – to remain undefeated.

The mercy rule – which comes into effect partly when one team leads another by at least 15 runs after three innings – ended play after three innings in the opener.

It wasn’t close.

The dust flies when Ramstein’s Inara Johnson slides into home plate during the second game of a DODEA girls’ softball doubleheader between Ramstein and Kaiserslautern on Saturday, April 18, 2026, at Kaiserslautern High School in Germany. (Jennifer H. Svan/Stars and Stripes)

Ramstein’s Kendall Randolph, pictured on the mound, shared pitching duties for the Royals with Kelsey Moya during the DODEA girls’ softball doubleheader against Kaiserslautern on Saturday, April 18, 2026, at Kaiserslautern High School, Germany. Ramstein won both games, 19-3 and 17-2, to remain undefeated this season. (Jennifer H. Svan/Stars and Stripes)

Kaiserslautern’s Ornella Taylor pitched in both games for their Raiders in a DODEA girls’ softball doubleheader on Saturday, April 18, 2026, at Kaiserslautern High School, Germany. Ramstein won both games, 19-3 and 17-2, to remain undefeated this season. (Jennifer H. Svan/Stars and Stripes)

Kaiserslautern and Ramstein DODEA girls’ softball teams shake hands after their doubleheader on Saturday, April 18, 2026, at Kaiserslautern High School in Germany. Ramstein soundly defeated Kaiserslautern in both games but the Raiders were able to spark some offense against a strong Ramstein pitching duo. (Jennifer H. Svan/Stars and Stripes)

But Kaiserslautern settled down in the second game, enough to keep the first two innings close, with the Royals only up 4-1 headed into the third.

Ramstein proceeded to put eight runs on the board then, though, en route to a four-inning victory.

“We’re both young teams and we’re both learning to find that sweet spot of working together,” Ramstein coach Kris Mihalic said of her team and the Raiders.

Mihalic complimented Kaiserslautern pitcher Ornella Taylor, who was on the mound for the first game and started the second game before being relieved by Omarah Butler.

It was Taylor’s first back-to-back pitching effort, in her first year at the position. She’s playing out of position to help out the team.

“It is a lot of pressure, because I usually play shortstop …,” she said.

Taylor fared better on offense, with a pair of hits in the doubleheader, including an RBI triple in the second game.

The Royals were patient at the plate and took advantage of Taylor’s wildness on the mound. They walked 18 times in the first game alone.

Mihalic singled out Olivia Neeley, who got to base on every at-bat, and Inara Johnson for her hustle, and pitchers Kendall Randolph and Kelsey Moya for their strong performances on the mound.

“We’re still trying to figure out which combinations work best,” Mihalic said, noting the team has a lot of new players this year on a quest to defend their three straight Division I titles.

Kaiserslautern coach Lindsay Arnold said she was encouraged by the Raiders’ bats and ability to spark some offense against Ramstein’s strong pitching.

“They’re making improvements every game,” she said of the Raiders.