Dodos Walk-Off Opening Day
After the rain washed out last week's opening day celebration, the Royals and Dodos played the first game of the Spring 2016 PCBL Season with an early 9:00am start at East Valley High School. A thick, slow infield and the lack of outfield fences would play a role for both squads in this one.
Leading off the first, Greg Falk picked up right where he left off last summer - singling in his first plate appearance. Kyle Tillack followed with his first hit as a Royal - a bunt single down the third base line, highlighting the speed that made him the team's first round pick this season. Unfortunately, the rally would fall short, and the Dodos escaped without damage.
Craig Erickson took the hill for the Royals, but walked the bases loaded before he finally settled down. However, 2 runs scored and the Royals found themselves trailing 2-0 after 1.
A Phillip Gerber double (his first hit as a Royal) was all the offense in the 2nd inning, but the Royals looked poised to break things open in the 3rd. After walking the bases loaded, the Dodos found themselves facing cleanup hitter Mike Miller, who hit a sharp grounder up the middle. However, the second baseman had him perfectly positioned, and turned an easy double play to get out of the jam. The Dodos scored again in the bottom of the 3rd, taking a 3-0 lead.
Fast forward to the 6th inning, where Daniel Kahn took over on the mound for the boys in royal blue. He worked around a pair of hit batsmen, aided by a Gerber-to-Falk-to-Apperson double play, sparking some momentum for the Royals.
Leading off the top of the 7th, Greg Falk and Kyle Tillack each singled again, and Zach Sloane walked, bringing up Miller with the bags full again. This time, he'd lift a sac fly to left center, but the runner on second got caught drifting too far off the bag, and after a Jason Bolding hit, the Dodos escaped allowing only a single run, now leading 3-1.
But the momentum shifted, and the Dodos' bats started to show some life. A triple to deep left, followed by an inside-the-park home run to deep right, and the Dodos owned a 5-1 lead heading into the 8th.
The Royals aren't ones to roll over, and their persistance showed this inning. Phillip Gerber led off the frame with a walk, and Daniel Kahn soon followed getting hit by a pitch on the foot. He'd be lifted for pinch runner Craig Erickson, and rookie Jake Romo singled (his first hit as a Royal) to load the bases. After an infield fly, back-to-back walks to Kyle TIllack and Zach Sloane plated a pair, bringing up Mike Miller for the third straight at bat with the bases loaded. He too walked, but not before a wild pitch robbed him of another rbi. The Dodos again escaped the jam without any more runs scoring, but held a slim 5-4 lead.
After a quiet bottom of the 8th, the Royals would need another rally to keep the game alive. With 1 out, Craig Erickson made this most of his only plate appearance lining a double down the right field line (first hit as a Royal.) After a Jake Romo ground out moved him to 3rd, Greg Falk (controversially) beat out a slow roller to short to plate the tying run. Kyle Tillack tried to keep the inning alive with another hit of his own, but heading into the bottom of the 9th, the score was knotted 5-5.
The Dodos didn't roll over either, and 2 batters later, walked off with a big triple to straight away center to take the opener in dramatic fashion.
After such an exciting opening game, the Royals can't wait to face the Dodos again in early May. Congrats to the Dodos, and to all the Royals who got their first hits for the franchise (Craig Erickson, Phillip Gerber, Jake Romo and Kyle Tillack.)
Pitching
Craig Erickson - 5IP, 3ER, 2H, 4K, 7BB, 2HBP
Daniel Kahn - 3+IP, 2ER, 6H, 2K, 0BB, 2HBP
Batting
Kyle Tillack - 3-4, RBI, 2BB
Greg Falk - 3-5, R, RBI, BB
Craig Erickson - 1-1, 2B, 2R
Phillip Gerber - 1-4, 2B, R, BB
Jake Romo - 1-4, R, BB
Jason Bolding - 1-5
Mike Miller - 0-2, RBI, 2BB, SACF
Zach Sloane - 0-3, RBI, 2BB
Daniel Kahn - 0-3, HBP
Steve Apperson - 0-3, HBP
Justin "Juice" Born - 0-0
2015 PCBL A-Division Fall Championship
The 2015 Single A Fall Championship game featured the Royals and the Lookouts, both high scoring offenses with solid defenses. The weather was perfect for a fun day of baseball, and both squads came ready to battle. In 2 regular season games this fall, the Royals led in both games early until the Lookouts rallied late both times to sweep the season series. Both squads would be playing short-staffed, with the Lookouts missing their top hitter and starting catcher and having only 8 men, while the Royals were missing their leadoff hitter and starting pitcher. With both teams eyeing their first championship, today’s game would have a lot at stake.
The Royals led off the top of the first with Phil Acosta reaching on an error. Rick Valdez walked, and after both men moved up on a passed ball, league batting champion Stephan Ohayon singled home the pair, giving the Royals an early 2-0 lead.
Back came the Lookouts in the bottom of the inning. With 1 out, Isaac Axelrod reached on an error, and Michael Craig doubled him home. Craig would get caught stealing on a controversial call at third to end the inning, with the Royals holding a 2-1 lead.
Both Royals’ starter Daniel Kahn and Lookout’s starter Evan Haskell pitched quietly through the second inning, combining for 25 pitches and 3 strikeouts in the frame.
Leading off the 3rd inning, the Royals’ Phil Acosta walked, and 2 pitches later, scored on a Rick Valdez home run to deep right. The Royals now held a 4-1 lead.
In the bottom of the 4th, the Lookouts would make their move. With 1 out, Michael Craig reached on a fielder’s choice. David Langstaff doubled to deep center, but Jason Bolding hit cutoff man Eric Walbridge with a perfect throw, who delivered a strike to catcher Rick Valdez to cut down Craig at the plate. But after Travis Samuel reached on an error, Evan Haskell doubled him home, David Rocha singled home another, and Matt Stock singled home another, tying the game at 4. It would have been even worse if not for some good acting from first baseman/cut-off man Mike Miller, who tricked the runner on 3rd to run into the 3rd out with a pseudo-hidden ball trick.
The Royals responded immediately in the top of the 5th. Dennis King led off with a walk, then took second on a passed ball, scoring one pitch later on a ground-out/errant throw off the bat of Phil Acosta. Rick Valdez walked, and pinch runner Acosta swiped second. Stephan Ohayon singled him home, giving the Royals a short-lived 6-4 lead.
The momentum would shift towards the Lookouts in the bottom of the frame. After 2 quick outs, manager Isaac Axelrod walked, and with a full count, Michael Craig doubled him home. David Langstaff popped up to the infield, but the ball dropped. Instead of ending the inning, the Lookouts would be given new life and took full advantage. Travis Samuel walked to load the bases, chasing starter Daniel Kahn. Michael Schofield entered for the Royals, and with a 1-2 count, gave up a grand slam to Evan Haskell. The Lookouts now led after 5 innings – 9-6.
The Royals offense wouldn’t give in, and manager Mike Miller took over in the top of the 6th. After he singled to right, he took both second and third on passed balls, then scored on a balk, cutting the lead to 9-7.
But the Lookouts still had the momentum. Matt Stock led off the bottom of the inning with a walk, and after back-to-back singles from Matt Meyerowitz and Isaac Axelrod, Michael Craig drove in 2 with a single of his own. Back-to-back errors led to another run, and the Lookouts had a solid 12-7 lead after 6.
With only 9 outs to go, the Royals knew they’d need to score some runs fast. After 2 quick outs, Stephan Ohayon doubled to left-center. League MVP Eric Walbridge singled him home, and Ryan Elliott singled to put men on the corners. Mike Miller hit an opposite-field single to plate Walbridge, and Jason Bolding reached on an error to plate another, cutting the lead to 12-10.
Schofield finally calmed down on the mound, working a quiet bottom of the 7th. With 2 outs in the top of the 8th, Rick Valdez walked, and pinch runner Phil Acosta scored from first on Stephan Ohayon’s fourth hit of the day – another double to left-center, cutting the lead to 12-11.
Another quiet inning from Schofield, and the Royals entered the top of the 9th trailing 12-11. The Royals would turn to a few veterans to stave off another heartbreaking championship loss. Mike Miller led off the inning with an infield single – his third hit of the day. He made way for the fresh legs of Daniel Kahn, who narrowly swiped second on a ball in the dirt. That brought up Jason Bolding, who was hitless in 4 at bats. Bolding worked the count to 1 ball, 2 strikes, before blasting a double to the wall in center to tie the game. With 2 outs, Dennis King II came up with his biggest at bat as a Royal – hitting a ground ball up the middle that was booted by the second baseman, allowing Bolding to score the go ahead run.
Unfortunately for the Lookouts, Michael Schofield was locked in, striking out the side in the bottom of the 9th and ending the Royals' 13 year PCBL championship draught.
Congrats go out to the Lookouts on a great season, and an amazing championship game. With a full squad (or at least 9 players), the results would likely have been very different. But this day belonged to the Royals – after 406 games over 26 seasons in the league, they finally brought home the trophy!
Royals
Stephan Ohayon - 4-5, 2-2B, R, 4RBI (co-MVP)
Rick Valdez - 1-2, HR, 4R, 2RBI, 3BB (co-MVP)
Mike Miller - 3-5, 2R, RBI
Daniel Kahn - 4.2IP, 0ER (8R), 6H, 3K, 2BB
Lookouts
Michael Craig - 3-4, 2-2B, R, 4RBI, HBP
Evan Haskell - 2-5, 2B, HR, 2R, 5RBI
Isaac Axelrod - 2-4, 3R, BB
Redbirds Outlast Royals 8-6
The Royals played a rare split-doubleheader on Sunday, facing the Redbirds at Brookside Park after their morning game in Glendale. Heading into game 2 tired and against an upper-division opponent, the Royals showed a lot of heart as they narrowly missed the upset.
Nick Green took the mound for the Royals and struck out 2 men in the first. The Royals offense would stay hot in the bottom of the inning. Zach Sloane led off with a single, and after a Brett Kahanowitch hit by pitch and a Rick Valdez single, Eric Walbridge singled home 1 and Ryan Elliott singled home 2 to give the Royals an early 3-0 lead.
The game would get chippy after that, with the Redbirds putting up 3 runs in each of the next 2 innings, then a high spike on a play at the plate would knock out Green and get benches warned. Brett Kahanowitch came in to finish the frame, but the damage would be done, and the Redbirds led 7-3.
The Royals added one in the bottom of the inning. Ryan Elliott reached on a hit by pitch, moving into scoring position on a Phil Acosta single. One out later, Dennis King II got his first hit of the season - an rbi-single to make it a 7-4 game.
The Redbirds tacked on 1 more in the top of the 5th off Kahanowitch, but the Royals answered right back. Daniel Kahn walked and Zach Sloane and Brett Kahanowitch each got hit by a pitch. Rick Valdez hit a sac fly, and Mike Miller singled home another to make it 8-6.
Brett Kahanowitch pitched shutout ball the rest of the way, but unfortunately, so did the Redbirds staff, and the game would end 8-6.
Pitching
Nick Green - L, 3.2IP, 7ER, 6H, 4K, 4BB, 2HBP
Brett Kahanowitch - 4.1IP, 1ER, 2H, 6K, 2BB
Batting
Rick Valdez - 2-2, R, RBI, BB, SACF
Zach Sloane - 2-3, 2R, HBP, SB
Phil Acosta - 2-3, BB
Ryan Elliott - 1-3, R, 2RBI, HBP
Dennis King II - 1-3, RBI
Eric Walbridge - 1-4, R, RBI
Mike Miller - 1-4, RBI
Daniel Kahn - 0-2, R, BB, SB
Brett Kahanowitch - 0-2, 2HBP
Nick Green - 0-2, BB
Jason Bolding - 0-4
Royals Down Naturals 19-5
The Royals, fresh off their first loss of the season, were looking for a bounce back game, and unfortunately for the Naturals, they were next on the schedule. The Royals put up 19 runs on 15 hits in the victory, with Eric Walbridge doing most of the damage on his own (4 hits and 6 rbis.)
Mike Miller took the mound for the Royals, working a quiet first (with the help of catcher Zach Sloane, throwing out a potential base stealer.) In the bottom of the first, After Brett Kahanowitch reached on a hit by pitch, Stephan Ohayon and Eric Walbridge hit back-to-back doubles to plate 2.
Michael Schofield would take over on the mound for the Royals, giving up 2 runs in the top of the 2nd, but the Royals offense really got going after that. After a quick out, Schofield walked, stole second and moved to third on a Nick Green single. Green stole second, and after Daniel Kahn walked, Jason Bolding singled home one with his brand new maple Easton. Zach Sloane singled home a pair, and Bolding and Sloane completed a double steal. With 2 outs, Stephan Ohayon walked and Eric Walbridge singled home a pair. Mike Miller brought home another on a line drive to second that made it through for an error, and after Ryan Elliott reached on an error to load the bases, Phli Acosta took one for the team for another RBI. All in all, 13 men came to the plate as the Royals put up 7 runs and took a 9-2 lead.
Schofield worked a quiet top of the 3rd, and the Royals did more damage in the bottom of the inning. Nick Green led off reaching on an error, and Daniel Kahn was hit by a pitch. Jason Bolding doubled home one, and Zach Sloane singled home a pair. Brett Kahanowitch was hit by his second pitch of the day, and after Stephan Ohayon walked to load the bases, Eric Walbridge singled home a pair. Mike Miller hit a sun-aided single to center, and Ryan Elliott brought home one with an rbi-fielder's choice. After 3 full innings, the Royals led 15-2.
Daniel Kahn came on to relieve, and allowed 2 runs in the top of the 4th, but the Royals answered right back. Michael Schofield walked, and Nick Green singled. Kahn helped his own cause, tripling home the pair, and scoring on an rbi-groundout by Jason Bolding. After 4 innings, the Royals led 18-4.
The Naturals put up 1 run in the top of the 5th, but the Royals got it right back. Stephan Ohayon singled to lead off the bottom half of the inning, and scored on Eric Walbridge's rbi double (his 6th rbi of the game.)
Ohayon came in and worked a quiet 6th, and the Royals got the victory 19-5.
Congrats to the Naturals on playing hard, even though they had a few bad bounces/sun-aided hits go against them.
Pitching
Mike Miller - IP, 0ER, H
Michael Schofield - W, 2IP, 2ER, 3H, 3K, BB
Daniel Kahn - 2IP, 3ER, 4H, 2K, 3BB
Stephan Ohayon - IP, 0ER, 2K, BB
Batting
Eric Walbridge - 4-4, 2-2B, 2R, 6RBI
Stephan Ohayon - 2-2, 2B, 3R, RBI, 2BB
Jason Bolding - 2-3, 2B, 2R, 3RBI, SB
Zach Sloane - 2-3, 2R, 4RBI, BB, SB
Nick Green - 2-3, 3R, SB
Daniel Kahn - 1-1, 3B, 3R, 2RBI, BB, HBP
Ryan Elliott - 1-4, RBI
Mike Miller - 1-4
Brett Kahanowitch - 0-2, 2R, SB, 2HBP
Michael Schofield - 0-2, 2R, 2BB
Phil Acosta - 0-2, BB, HBP
Dennis King II - 0-1
Royals Outgunned by Arsenal, 12-7
With completely identical records (including runs scored and allowed), this game turned out to be everything it was billed as. A 2-run game heading into the bottom of the 8th, the Arsenal had a big inning and put away the Royals in their first meeting of the fall.
The Royals came out of the chute hot. Zach Sloane led off the first reaching on an error, and Stephan Ohayon singled him to third. Eric Walbridge lined the second pitch he saw over the center fielder's head for a 2-run double, and Mike Miller singled him to 3rd, but the Arsenal got out of the inning without any further damage.
Michael Schofield got the start for the Royals, and went 3 innings in his first start in nearly a year, allowing 1 run in the bottom of the third, and leaving with a 2-1 lead.
In the top of the 4th, the Royals struck again. Ryan Elliott reached on an error, and scored on a David LeBreche triple to deep left. LeBreche would score one batter later on a Phil Acosta ground out, giving the Royals a 4-1 lead.
The Arsenal would fight back against reliever Daniel Kahn, plating 1 in the 3rd and 3 in the 4th to tie the game at 4.
Leading off the 5th, Michael Schofield walked, Zach Sloane was hit by a pitch and Stephan Ohayon singled to load the bases. After an infield fly, Mike Miller hit a sac fly to right to plate one, but the Arsenal again avoided a big inning, with the Royals leading once again 5-4.
In the top of the 6th, the Arsenal scored 3 times, taking the lead, and put up another 5 in the bottom of the 8th, chasing Kahn from the game. David LeBreche relieved, and in his first action on the mound in 10 years, struck out a pair and got out of the jam.
Heading into the top of the 9th and trailing by 7, the Royals knew they'd need a big inning. With 1 out, Zach Sloane and Stephan Ohayon each singled. Eric Walbridge followed up with his 4th hit of the game - a 2-run double - but that'd be all the offense the Royals could muster, and the Arsenal would walk away with a 12-7 victory.
A playoff preview for sure, it'll be exciting to see the Arsenal again in early November as the regular season winds down.
Pitching
Michael Schofield - 3IP, ER, H, 2K, 5BB, HBP
Daniel Kahn - L, 4IP, 8ER, 12H, 4K, BB
David LeBreche - IP, ER, H, 2K
Batting
Eric Walbridge - 4-5, 2-2B, 4RBI
Stephan Ohayon - 3-5, 2R
Phil Acosta - 2-4, RBI
Zach Sloane - 1-4, 2R, HBP
David LeBreche - 1-4, 3B, R, RBI
Mike Miller - 1-4, RBI, SACF
Ryan Elliott - 1-5, R
Michael Schofield - 0-2, R, BB
Al Garcia - 0-3, HBP
Jason Bolding - 0-4
Daniel Kahn - 0-1
Royals Rally Late, Win 8-4
After spotting the Blitzkrieg 4 runs in the top of the 2nd, the Royals offense decided to take most of the day off. But in the bottom of the 8th, rookie Daniel Kahn would start the rally, and rookie Eric Walbridge would finish it, with the Royals hitting for the cycle in the inning and taking home an 8-4 win over a surprisingly tough Blitzkrieg squad.
Mike Miller took the mound in the 104 degree heat, working a quiet first inning.
The Royals loaded the bases in the first, but the Blitzkrieg got out of it without allowing any runs.
Blitzkrieg scored one and loaded the bases against Miller in the 2nd, and Brett Kahanowitch came in to stop the bleeding. Unfortunately, an error in the infield kept the inning alive, and after all was said and done, the score was 4-0 Blitzkrieg.
All was quiet the next few frames, as both pitchers were getting in and out of trouble - Kahanowitch struck out 7 of the first 12 batters he faced, while the Royals went 1-2-3 in back to back innings.
The Royals offense finally woke up in the bottom of the 4th. Brett Kahanowitch led off with a double to shallow right. Stephan Ohayon singled him to third, and Eric Walbridge walked to load the bases. Ric Valdez grounded out to first, plating one, followed by a Zach Sloane rbi-single. Mike Miller followed by having an extra-base hit stolen by a great diving catch in left, but took a sac fly instead. After 4, the Blitzkrieg still led 4-3.
The Royals defense was strong all day, and they answered with some glove work of their own. With no outs in the top of the 5th and a man on first, David LeBreche caught a sinking line drive in right, firing to first baseman Miller for the ever-common 9-3 double play. After that, Kahanowitch would hold the Blitzkrieg to 3 baserunners the rest of the way, striking out 5 of the final 15 hitters he faced.
Heading into the bottom of the 8th and still trailing 4-3, the Royals sent up pinch hitter Daniel Kahn, who worked a walk. Armando Mesa followed with a walk of his own, and Brett Kahanowitch took matters into his own hands, tying the game with an rbi-single. Stephan Ohayon skied a ball to deep right center for a triple, giving the Royals their first lead all day. After a pitching change, Eric Walbridge lined the second pitch he saw out of left for a 2-run home run, giving the Royals an 8-4 lead. Mike Miller doubled with 2 outs (completing the team cycle for the inning), but was stranded at 2nd base.
As everyone was exhausted from the heat, the Royals defense allowed a single baserunner in the 9th, so Kahanowitch was forced to strike out the final batter with a man on third, preserving his 8 innings of 0 run relief and capping off his best pitching performance as a Royal.
Congrats to the Blitzkrieg for a great game - after both teams combined to score 42 runs in week 1, who knew this game would be 4-3 for the first 2 1/2 hours!
Finally, congrats to Eric Walbridge on his Royal debut, going 2 for 3 with a home run and a walk, scoring twice and knocking in 2 runs.
Pitching
Mike Miller - IP, 2ER, 4H, K, BB, HBP
Brett Kahanowitch - 8IP, 0R, 2H, 12K, 6BB, HBP
Batting
Eric Walbridge - 2-3, HR, 2R, 2RBI, BB
Stephan Ohayon - 2-3, 3B, 2R, 2RBI, BB
Brett Kahanowitch - 2-3, 2B, 2R, RBI, HBP
Armando Mesa - 1-2, 2B, R, 2BB
Mike Miller - 1-3, 2B, RBI, SACF
David LeBreche - 1-3
Zach Sloane - 1-4, RBI
Daniel Kahn - 0-0, BB, R
Rick Valdez - 0-4, RBI
Phil Acosta - 0-3
Jason Bolding - 0-4
Royals Cage Ironbirds, Win 17-1
The Royals started their fall season where their summer left off, putting up 17 runs against the Ironbirds. Every Royal starter scored - in fact, the only player who didn't score had an rbi in his last plate appearance. A pair of rookies led the charge, with David LeBreche going 4-4 and Daniel Kahn throwing a 6-inning, 3-hit complete game.
With one out in the first, Stephan Ohayon singled to center. Brett Kahanowitch and Mike Miller walked to load the bases, and Michael Schofield brought home one with an rbi-ground out off the pticher.
Daniel Kahn strike out the first man he faced, working a 1-2-3 first.
With one out in the top of the 2nd, David LeBreche began his Royals career with a double to dead center. After Kahn walked, LeBreche swiped third and came home on an errant throw. Zach Sloane singled, with Kahn scoring on another error. Stephan Ohayon walked, and Brett Kahanowitch brought home 1 with a sac fly. Mike Miller singled home another, and after a Michael Schofield walk, both Mikes would move up 90-fett on a passed ball. Al Garcia singled home the pair, and score himself after Phil Acosta and LeBreche each singled. At the end of 2 1/2 innings, the Royals led 11-0.
The Ironbirds singled with 2 outs in the bottom of the 3rd to temporarily break Kahn's rhythm, but he'd strike out the next batter to get out of the inning unharmed.
Latecomer (and #10 on the Royals all-time games played list) Ryan Elliott walked with 1 out in the 4th. Zach Sloan walked, and after a Stephan Ohayon single, Brett Kahanowitch singled home Elliott to make it 12-0.
After an 11 pitch, 2 strikeout bottom of the 4th, the Royals were at it again in the 5th. Michael Schofield led off with a double to deep center. Phil Acosta walked, and David LeBreche was hit by a pitch to load the bases, and with 2 outs, another latecomer - Dennis King II - walked to bring home another run, giving the Royals a 13-0 lead.
But the Ironbirds finally got to Kahn, scoring a run in the bottom of the 5th on a double, wild pitch and a sac fly, bringing the score to 13-1.
In the top of the 6th, Zach Sloane led off by reaching on an error. Stephan Ohayon walked, and Brett Kahanowitch singled to load the bags for Mike Miller, who promptly hit a sac fly to center to plate 1. Michael Schoefield walked to load the bases again, and Al Garcia was hit by a pitch to bring home another. Phil Acosta singled home his first rbi as a Royal, and David LeBreche capped off his big day with an rbi-single, giving the Royals a 17-1 lead.
Daniel Kahn worked around a single and an error in the bottom of the 6th, keeping the mercy intact and finishing his first complete game victory as a Royal.
Congrats to the Ironbirds for fighting all the way to the end. And finally, congrats to all the Royal rookies - Daniel Kahn, Phil Acosta and David LeBreche - on their opening day performances. Welcome to the team!
Pitching
Daniel Kahn - W, CG, 6IP, ER, 3H, 6K
Batting
David LeBreche - 4-4, 2B, R, RBI, HBP, SB
Stephan Ohayon - 3-3, 3R, RBI, 2BB
Brett Kahanowitch - 2-3, 2R, 3RBI, BB, 2SB, SACF
Mike Miller - 2-3, R, 3RBI, BB, SACF
Phil Acosta - 2-3, R, RBI, 2BB
Zach Sloane - 2-4, 3R, RBI, BB
Michael Schofield - 1-2, 2B, 3R, RBI, 3BB
Al Garcia - 1-4, R, 3RBI, HBP
Dennis King II - 0-1, RBI, BB
Ryan Elliott - 0-1, R, BB
Daniel Kahn - 0-4, R, BB
The Royals ended their streak of 3 straight championship game appearances with a sub-par 5-13-1 season, a lot of that due to injuries and players simply quitting on the team. But things are looking up for the boys in royal blue, as they won 4 of their last 7 games, averaging more than 10 runs scored per game.
Congrats go out to Ryan Elliott (MVP, team leading 22 runs and 26 rbis), Greg Falk (Cy Young, team leading .487 batting average, 37 hits and 16 stolen bases), Mike Miller (team leading 10 walks) and Rick Valdez (team leading 3 home runs.) These 4 guys were also the Royals' all-star representatives (along with Dominic Archey), showing that they led the team all season long. Great job guys!
Royals Go Out With A Win, 11-7 Over Warhawks
The Royals would end the regular season with a game against the Warhawks (aided with a few Arsenal players looking for another game.) With neither team heading to the post-season, but both coming back next season, this could be an early match-up of playoff-bound teams in the fall.The Royals would set the tone early, batting around in the first. Brett Kahanowitch singled and stole second, scoring on Rick Valdez's double. One out later, Mike Miller lined a single to center to plate one - his 400th career hit! Ryan Elliot followed with his team-leading 5th hit by pitch, and Dennis King II singled to load the bases. Steve Apperson singled home a pair, and after Royal rookie Al Garcia got hit by a pitch to load the bases again, Jason Bolding singled home one and Blake Butterfield tripled home 3 to give the Royals an early 8-0 lead.
Mike Miller returned to the mound after 4 months of injury rehab, giving up an unearned run on an error and 2 hits. After a quiet top of the second, Blake Butterfield relieved Miller and worked a quiet inning.
Leading off the top of the 3rd, Butterfield walked and stole second. Kahanowitch doubled to shallow left-center plating one, and Rick Valdez brought home a run on an error. Richard Lizarraga singled, and one out later, Ryan Elliott singled home another run, giving the Royals an 11-1 lead.
But the Warhawks plated 5 in the bottom of the 3rd, forcing the Royals to go with rarely-used Richard Lizarraga on the mound. Lizarraga pitched a solid 2 2/3 innings, allowing only 2 runs, but the Royal offense still had some life in it (despite the 110 degree ground temperature.)
Leading off the top of the 4th, Al Garcia, Jason Bolding, Blake Butterfield and Brett Kahanowitch all singled, plating 1 and loading the bases for Rick Valdez. Valdez reached on an error, bringing home another run, and Richard Lizarraga singled home another. It must have been career milestone day at Glendale High School, as this was Lizarraga's 200th career hit as a Royal! Mike Miller followed with a sac fly to center, and the Royals extended their lead to 15-6.
The Warhawks would put up a run in the 5th and the 6th, but with time winding down and the temperature moving up, the game was called and the Royals would come out victorious 15-8.
Congrats go out to Mike Miller and Richard Lizarraga - that's a lot of base-running for league's slowest first base tandem :-)
Pitching
Mike Miller - IP, 2H
Blake Butterfield - W, 1.1IP, 4ER, K, 5BB
Richard Lizarraga - 2.2IP, 2ER, 5H, 3BB, HBP
Ryan Elliott - IP, 2ER, 2H, 2BB
Batting
Brett Kahanowitch - 4-5, 2B, 3R, 2SB
Blake Butterfield - 2-3, 3B, 2R, 4RBI, BB, SB
Jason Bolding - 2-4, 2R, RBI
Rick Valdez - 2-5, 2-2B, 2R, 3RBI
Richard Lizarraga - 2-5, RBI
Dennis King II - 1-2, R, 2BB
Mike Miller - 1-3, R, 2RBI, SACF
Ryan Elliott - 1-3, R, RBI, HBP
Steve Apperson - 1-3, R, 2RBI, HBP
Al Garcia - 1-3, 2R, HBP
Royals Hunt Down Cubs, 11-7
With only 2 games to go, the Royals were looking for some momentum heading into the fall season. Another game of big offense was on the horizon as they faced the Cubs - one of the few teams they managed to defeat the first time through the season.Brett Kahanowitch hit a solo home run in the first inning, which ended on a Ryan Elliott ground out (more on this very soon.) But the Cubs came back with 2 runs of their own AGAINST Kahanowitch, giving them an early 2-1 lead.
Dennis King II led off with a solo home run of his own. Jason Bolding followed with a walk, taking second on a passed ball, stealing 3rd and taking home on an errant throw. The Royals loaded the bases with 1 out, but the Cubs ended the inning with a smooth 6-4-3 double play. The Cubs would score again in the bottom of the second, tying things up at 3-3 after 2 innings.
Dominic Archey, Brett Kahanowitch, Richard Lizarraga and Mike Miller would start the 3rd with 4 consecutive walks, but Ryan Elliott would ground into a run-scoring triple play.
In the top of the 4th, Jason Bolding reached on an error, stole second and scored on Steve Apperson's single. Blake Butterfield plated him with a home run to straight-away center, giving the Royals a 8-3 lead.
Kris Ludwig led of the top of the 5th with a hit by pitch, moving to second when Kahanowitch got hit, and scored on an errant pick off throw, making it 9-3 Royals.
The Cubs scored 1 in the bottom of the 5th, but the Royals answered right back. Ryan Elliott reached on an error, eventually scoring on a steal of home.
But again, the Cubs would respond, scoring 1 in the bottom of the 6th.
The see-saw game continued in the 7th. Blake Butterfield walked and stole second, scoring later on Dominic Archey's single. After a quiet bottom of the 7th, the Royals held an 11-5 lead.
Mike Miller reached on an error to start the top of the 8th, and Ryan Elliott grounded into a double play. Normally I'd leave this out of a write-up, but this play gave Elliott an infamous stat - he grounded into a solo out, a double play, and a triple play in the same game. I'm not sure if I'd call that "hitting for the cycle" or not, but it's definitely noteworthy...
Onto the bottom of the 8th - with time expiring, the Cubs put up a pair of runs, but Brett Kahanowitch completed the complete game victory, striking out 8 over 8 solid innings.
Pitching
Brett Kahanowitch - W, CG, 8IP, 6ER, 13H, 8K, 3BB, 2HBP
Batting
Steve Apperson - 2-3, R, RBI
Brett Kahanowitch - 1-2, HR, 2R, RBI, BB, HBP, SB
Dominic Archey - 1-3, R, RBI, BB
Dennis King II - 1-4, HR, R, RBI
Quincy Smith - 1-3
Mike Miller - 0-2, RBI, 2BB
Richard Lizarraga - 0-2, 2BB
Jason Bolding - 0-2, 2R, BB, 2SB
Ryan Elliott - 0-4, R, SB
Kris Ludwig - 0-1, BB, HBP
Nathan Wyms - 0-2, BB
