Perry’s Laney Mullins and King’s Aryn Willoughby are hoping to vault to the highest of the D-II ladder. (Dave Ornauer/Stars and Stripes)
MARINE CORPS AIR STATION IWAKUNI, Japan – Wrestling season didn’t finish the way in which Maia Minton wished, dropping within the 118-pound last of final month’s first Far East match for women.
So, Minton has turned her consideration to softball – and the Matthew C. Perry junior pitcher-outfielder acquired off to a flying begin over the weekend in her quest to safe a championship, as a substitute of arising simply brief.
“I’m so angry,” stated Minton, a candid, frank type of one who is sort of given to talking her thoughts. “I wanted to be the best (in wrestling), but I wasn’t the best, so I want to be the best here.”
Minton most actually did loads of speaking along with her bat and toes in 4 video games this weekend, going a mixed 9-for-13 with two doubles, three triples, a house run, 12 RBIs and 10 stolen bases.
The Samurai went 3-1 on the weekend and as a bunch, they’re hoping to take the final step towards what’s been an elusive Far East Division II Tournament title. Perry reached and misplaced within the last two of the final three years and took third place in 2024.
“I’m hungry. Very hungry,” Minton stated. “I won’t tolerate any mistakes, even my own.”
While the previous few Japan spring seasons have seen repeat champions in numerous sports, the help-wanted shingle could be discovered outdoors coaches workplaces far and huge all through the district.
Spring season started simply two weeks after basketball and wrestling concluded, with snow nonetheless on the bottom at Misawa, forcing Robert D. Edgren’s groups to observe indoors, and biting chilly elsewhere.
Far East tournaments on the diamonds are slated for April 22-25 and soccer beginning the subsequent Monday, working for three days.
Right-hander Lillie Gyorkas transfers to Kinnick from Maryland. (Erick Chedd Ricardo/Special to Stripes)
Summer Martinez, sliding, and Alex Altig, tagging, are gamers on D-II softball title hopefuls Edgren and Perry. (Dave Ornauer/Stars and Stripes)
Charlotte Muhammad and Edgren softball are hoping to make a D-II title connection. (Dave Ornauer/Stars and Stripes)
Keri Edeyaoch is a brand new addition to Perry’s infield. (Dave Ornauer/Stars and Stripes)
Gabby Martens returns on the mound for Perry. (Dave Ornauer/Stars and Stripes)
Maia Minton is hoping her softball season for Perry has a happier ending than her wrestling season. (Dave Ornauer/Stars and Stripes)
Nanami Crump and King are taking purpose at their first D-II title prize. (Dave Ornauer/Stars and Stripes)
Softball
After successful the final three D-II match titles, Yokota is just about beginning over, with solely second baseman Gracie Kenney, who batted .603 in 2025, coming back from final season’s beginning lineup.
The remainder of the roster options principally first-year gamers, coach Steven Cruz stated. “Our focus will be on development, fundamentals and establishing a new core of players who can grow together,” Cruz stated. “We’ll seemingly take some early lumps as we modify, however we must always change into extra aggressive because the season progresses.
Another workforce that acquired out of the blocks shortly was Zama. Seniors Sofia Olson and Evangeline Nelson plus junior right-hander Kira Herring return. They opened with a 16-4 win Friday at Nile C. Kinnick.
The Trojans additionally welcome some underclassmen who’ve matriculated within the base’s youth softball program.
“We expect some big things from our freshman class,” assistant coach Parish Jones stated, including that with Yokota dropping most of its massive weapons, “the pressure is off everybody else. They have some big shoes to fill.”
E.J. King can be relying on a core of veterans, particularly junior infielders Kaia Ties and Nanami Crump. Senior Mila Nishimura-Reed returns because the workers ace. Juniors Eliana Lachica and Katelyn Rheaume and sophomore Miya Benavente are of their second seasons as Cobras.
Robert D. Edgren went 2-1 on the weekend at Iwakuni. The Eagles welcome again three core seniors – Teniya Nelson, Summer Martinez and Keira Marrero – and usher in switch infielder Aubrey Francois from Zama. Junior Kaiya Pasion helps anchor the outfield.
The district’s lone Division I workforce, Kinnick, is senior laden, with Red Devil veteran infielders Isabella Marhetti, Teora Miyashiro, Emily Kitts, Isabelle Hernandez and Carell Zaraga returning. Sydnee Walker returns behind the plate. Maryland switch pitcher Lillie Gyorkas can be a senior.
After residing most of his life at Iwakuni, Taisei Shimakura and his household transferred to Sasebo and Shimakura’s first project in Cobras uniform was dealing with his previous workforce. (Dave Ornauer/Stars and Stripes)
Junior Jayden Arocho is considered one of King’s workers ace pitchers. (Dave Ornauer/Stars and Stripes)
Zama shortstop Aiden Fredericks transferred from Cincinnati; Toro McClendon is a holdover from the Trojans’ championship seasons. (Dave Ornauer/Stars and Stripes)
Baseball
Once shortly, a switch finally ends up dealing with his previous workforce proper off the bat at the beginning of the next season.
That was the case with Taisei Shimakura, a junior right-hander who went to Iwakuni colleges most of his life till he and his household moved from Perry to Sasebo Naval Base, the place he has donned E.J. King crimson, white and black. In his season debut, he misplaced 3-2 to his previous Samurai.
“It was pretty hard,” Shimakura stated. “I never thought I’d ever play against people whom I went to elementary school with. It was definitely different. I gave up some walks I shouldn’t have.”
His previous teammate, Aira Fujinuma, a senior lefthander, returns to the Samurai together with senior outfielder Hiyoshi Oliver and juniors Akiro Hiromoto and Dylan DeGuzman, amongst others.
“We had to take control early” in opposition to Shimakura, Fujinuma stated. “If he took control, it would definitely be hard for us to beat him.”
King’s workers is anchored by three-year veteran Jayden Arocho, a junior, together with junior catcher David Armstrong. Sophomore Musashi Niitani enters as a pitcher and infielder on a workforce that has no seniors.
Shimakura and his sophomore brother Kosei are available together with freshmen Michael and Andrew Doomer. “It looks promising for the future, if we can keep them,” Cobras coach Matthew Carl stated.
Can Zama make it 4 consecutive D-II titles? The Trojans weren’t anticipated to make it three a season in the past when many of the roster turned over, however coach Lawrence Ungar sounded hopeful of a roster that includes sophomores Spencer Hughes and Brody Kuchera and senior Toro McClendon. Shortstop Adrian Fredericks strikes in from Cincinnati.
Edgren, whom the Trojans beat in final 12 months’s D-II last, is all the time a piece in progress on account of practising indoors. But a roster heavy in underclass gamers together with Liam McDonald and Charles Richardson has what coach Brett Lehner calls “the pieces to be successful.” Seniors Ethan Wong and Haruki Jones additionally return.
Yokota’s roster endured some turnover, however coach Barry Oxendine returns a bunch of eight gamers with at least two years expertise, plus stateside switch pitcher Thomas Martin. Infielder Mark Segura and pitcher Takumi Iwazaki-Chung are of their third seasons.
Longtime Red Devils coach Chad Stark brings in a member of his household, freshman Bunsei Stark, to hitch one other freshman, pitcher Kaiden Conley, and returning seniors Dale McNamara – a submarining left-hander – and catcher Noah Berhow and infielder Keanu Serban.
Jayden Horton and Kinnick have their eyes on their first D-I title in three years; Aiden Greer and Jack McAlroy are attempting to spice up Yokota to its first D-II boys soccer title at school historical past. (Jeunei Bodnar/Special to Stripes)
Liam DeMarsico-Birkland and Perry are hopeful of their first D-II title in 10 years and seventh whole. (Dave Ornauer/Stars and Stripes)
Freshman Maximus Navarro is being tried in internet by Perry. (Dave Ornauer/Stars and Stripes)
Romeo Alfandor-Corrales and E.J. King are just about beginning over following their 2025 D-II title marketing campaign. (Dave Ornauer/Stars and Stripes)
Senior Kobo Awesso and Kinnick’s boys soccer workforce hope to regain the D-I title they final gained three years in the past. (Dave Ornauer/Stars and Stripes)
Boys soccer
Another workforce that’s beginning over is defending D-II champion E.J. King, which misplaced All-Far East gamers Damian Perez and Amin Alipourkashki. Third-year senior Rafael Beccerill and junior midfielder Elijah Rene are again together with senior Gabe Leak and sophomore Daniel Leak.
But the training curve may very well be steep. Mitzi Andrew takes over as coach.
In what he says is his last season, Mark Lange is hopeful that his Samurai can seize their “seventh star,” or their seventh D-II title. Perry has loads of firepower returning in seniors Ren Spinosi and Jaley Cooley and junior Noah Charles.
“It’s been awhile” since Perry gained a D-II championship, Lange stated; its final one was 10 years in the past. “I want to go out on a good note.”
Regarding his workforce’s finest participant, senior striker Koboyo Awesso, Kinnick coach Tim Rippeth stated “every team is going to put two (players) on him.” A small however skilled core of veterans returns for the Red Devils, together with Esteban Diaz and Elias Venetsanakos.
Junior twins Aidan and Luke Lehner assist anchor a younger Edgren squad. The Eagles acquired some assist off the switch airplane in freshman Lee Culala from the States and Jayden de Asis from Perry. Senior Ethan Young returns at goalkeeper. Brian Johnson is the fourth coach in 4 years.
The PCS Plane additionally benefitted Zama, which acquired freshman Eugene Han in from Texas. The Trojans are a younger group, with sophomores Adrian Venable Jr., Conner McCale and Syan Phillips, freshman Sean Grady and junior keeper Joseph Stroud.
Yokota hopes to rebound and return to the D-II last, which the Panthers misplaced in 2024. Senior Ethan Horne returns in internet, whereas juniors Liam Kirby, Luke Harbert, Aiden Stedelin, Ryunosuke Roesch and Kysiem Banks are additionally again. David Horne and Fred Riley are the brand new coaches.
Bianca Duerkop, with ball, and Kinnick hope to win their first D-I title in seven years; Kendall Cole and Yokota are aiming for their second D-II title in three years. (Ciara Marie Galvez/Special to Stripes)
Alyssa Staples, proper, proven battling Yokota’s Hailey Smith for the ball, led Kinnick with 43 objectives final season. (Ciara Marie Galvez/Special to Stripes)
Valentina Sacca, proper, returns to bolster Kinnick’s high-powered offense; Giselle Estrada transfers from Texas, the place she scored 30 objectives final season. (Ciara Marie Galvez/Special to Stripes)
Rosie McGrath and King’s women soccer workforce hope to rise again into D-II title competition. (Dave Ornauer/Stars and Stripes)
Junior Ai Kina will assist maintain issues down defensively for King. (Dave Ornauer/Stars and Stripes)
Junior Aniah Little is considered one of King’s major striker choices. (Dave Ornauer/Stars and Stripes)
Sophomore Maddison Michaud is being tried in internet by Yokota. (Dave Ornauer/Stars and Stripes)
Senior Samantha “Skully” Kouzu-Ballard is considered one of two goalkeeper hopefuls for Zama. (Dave Ornauer/Stars and Stripes)
Girls soccer
Winding up the procession of reigning Far East D-II champions hit laborious by transfers is Perry’s women, which misplaced 116 whole objectives both to the PCS Plane or commencement. George “Tige” Tarleton is again as coach for the primary time in eight years.
Poised to rise is a Zama workforce returning Hunter sisters Bella and Jessie, who scored 17 objectives every final season. Charlotte Callicott, a senior, strikes in from Hawaii. But the large query is in internet; three-year starter Keisha Steele-Loli graduated. Zama is making an attempt sophomore Mia Fulton and senior Samantha “Skully” Kouzu-Ballard in purpose.
King may additionally contend within the D-II ranks. The Cobras are junior heavy, with striker Aniah Little and defender Ai Kina anchoring middle spots. Sophomore Shanell Reyes Hernandez can rating. Senior Eileen McKown is being tried in internet.
Some are saying for Kinnick, it’s now or by no means, because the Red Devils’ prime gamers are principally seniors – Alyssa Staples, Victoria Justice, Valentina Sacca and Rachael Vite mixed for 76 objectives final season. Senior Julia Blackwell returns on protection for a Kinnick workforce that’s simply missed the previous few years.
The PCS Plane gifted Yokota a junior from Texas, Giselle Estrada. She joins a Panthers unit with sophomore Maddison Michaud new within the internet and seniors Giselle Pinard and Cami Cort again at midfield. Sophomore Angela Velez-Soto additionally helps anchor the center.
Edgren has its third coach in three seasons, Robbie Riddle. The Eagles return seniors Saige Whitmore and Nadiah Miller on protection, Kaleiana Alonzo up entrance and junior Danni Waldo in internet. Edgren’s prime scoring possibility is Reise Redmond, who had eight objectives final season.