Royals Win - On The Juice!

 

Poor defense (7 errors) and even worse pitching control (11 walks) led the Royals to nearly lose a critical playoff seeding game.  But the bottom of the lineup came through, and the man they call Juice led them to a thrilling walk-off win.

 

Jake Romo started on the hill for the Royals and worked around a pair of walks for a quiet first.  In the bottom of the inning, Zach Sloane led off with a walk.  Stephan Ohayon walked, and Trevor Nathanson singled home Sloane.  Dylan Pereira doubled home another, and Ryan Schappery grounded into an rbi-force out to take a 3-0 lead.

 

Mike Miller took over on the mound and gave 1 back in the top of the 2nd.  But the Royals' bats weren't done yet.  Miller led off the second with a walk, and Michael Schofield followed with the same.  With 2 outs, Zach Sloane singled home 1.  Danny Platt walked, and a pair of balks plated Schofield and Sloane, giving the Royals a 6-1 lead.

 

After a scoreless top of the inning, Ryan Schappery led off with a single.  He moved to second when Ryan Elliott reached on an error, and Michael Schofield loaded the bags with a dropped fly ball/error.  Jake Romo walked to bring home Schappery, and the Royals led 7-1.

 

The wheels fell off the defense in the 4th.  After a walk, a bad fielder's choice and an error led to 2 runs.  After a ground ball out (what likely should have been the 3rd out of the inning), Miller walked 3 straight batters and was chased from the game.  Zach Sloane came in and stopped the bleeding, but the Expos had trimmed the Royals lead to 7-4.

 

Sloane cruised through the next 2 innings, as did the Expos' pitcher.  In the bottom of the 6th, Michael Schofield walked with 1 out.  Jake Romo singled, and Justin "Juice" Born laid down a perfect bunt to load the bases.  Zach Sloane walked to bring home Schofield, and the Royals led 8-4.

 

But the Expos came back in the top of the 7th.  3 runs scored on a single, a double and 2 walks.  Sloane struck out 2 in the frame, but the Royals lead was down to 8-7.

 

In the top of the 8th (the final inning, due to time), Ryan Elliott took the hill.  2 hits and a walk (along with a lone strikeout) tied the game and put runners on the corners.  The Royals brought in their closer-of-the-day, Michael Schofield, to keep things close.  With 2 strikes, the Expos lead-off hitter laced a one hopper off the field umpire for a dead-ball single, scoring the go-ahead run.  Schofield limited the damage to that, but heading into the bottom of the 8th, the Expos led 9-8, with the Royals 7 thru 9 hitters due up.

 

But we've seen this show before.  The Royals love their drama, and today was no exception.  Ryan Elliott led off the inning with a walk.  After stealing second, and Mike Miller ready to sacrifice him to 3rd, Miller was hit by a pitch.  Elliott stole 3rd on the following pitch, and designated runner Ryan Schappery swiped second (his first stolen base as a Royal - possibly EVER!)  With a new pitcher on the mound for the Expos, Michael Schofield walked for the 3rd time on the day to load the bases.  Jake Romo came up, and took a pitch square between the numbers to tie the game.  With the bases loaded and the winning run 90-feet away, Justin "Juice" Born walked on 4 straight pitches to bring home the victory.

 

It's really amazing what the Expos have managed to do in just 9 games - going from an easy win to a nearly devastating loss.  Good luck the rest of the season, and we'll be looking forward to more great games next season!

 

Pitching

Jake Romo - IP, 0R, 2BB

Mike Miller - 2.1IP, 3ER, 2H, 3K, 5BB

Zach Sloane - 3.2IP, 3ER, 2H, 4K, 3BB

Ryan Elliott - .1IP, 2ER, 2H, K, BB

Michael Schofield - BS, W, .2IP, H, K

 

Batting

Royals Outlast IronBirds 12-6

The Royals' deep bullpen and strong bats extended their league-leading win streak to 3 games as they outlasted the IronBirds 12-6.

 

As usual, the Royal offense got going fast.  In the first, Danny Platt doubled, moved to third on a Stephan Ohayon single, and eventually scored on a Rick Valdez rbi-walk.

 

The Ironbirds got the run back in the bottom of the inning off Royals' starter Michael Schofield.

 

In the top of the second, Ryan Elliott reached on an error, and Mike Miller singled him to 3rd.  Elliott scored on a wild pitch, and with 2 outs, Zach Sloane singled home Miller to make it 3-1.

 

In the top of the third, Chris Dyer led off with a double down the left field line.  Dylan Pereira singled him home and swiped second, scoring on a Ryan Elliott two-out single, pushing the score to 5-1.

 

The Birds got 1 back in the bottom of the third, then tied the game in the bottom of the 5th.  The Royals responded right away.

 

Leading off the top of the 6th, Mike Miller walked and scored 2 pitches later on a Michael Schofield double.  Zach Sloane doubled home Schofield, and after Danny Platt singled and Stephan Ohayon walked to load the bases, Chris Dyer hit a sac fly to plate Sloane.

 

With the Royals now leading 8-5, manager Mike Miller channelled his inner "Dave Roberts" and brought his closer in for a 12-out save.  Chris Dyer was easily up to the task, striking out 9 over the final 4 frames while allowing just 1 unearned run.

 

Meanwhile, the Royal offense was far from finished.  In the top of the 8th, Zach Sloane led off with a "double" (air quotes implied.)  Danny Platt then reached on an "infield single" (again with the air quotes.)  Stephan Ohayon loaded the bases with a ground ball error, and Chris Dyer singled home Sloane.  With 2 outs, Jason Bolding came through with another rbi-single, and the Royals led 10-5.

 

In the top of the 9th, Mike Miller led off with a walk, and designated runner Ryan Elliott stole second.  Michael Schofield singled him home, scoring a few plays later on a Stephan Ohayon single.  That capped off the scoring, and the Royals went home with a 12-6 victory.

 

Good luck to the Ironbirds, as they hold a 1.5 game lead for the final playoff spot with 3 games to play in the season!

 

And congrats go out to the entire Royal nation, as this win clinched a postseason berth for the team!  Way to go guys!

 

 

Pitching

Michael Schofield - W, 5IP, 5ER, 5H, 3K, 2BB, HBP

Chris Dyer - S, 4IP, 0ER, 6H, 9K

 

Batting

Royals Tame Lions 19-7

Fresh off a tough walk-off victory, the Royals faced a Lions team that played them tough in their last meeting.  This one wasn't meant to be for the Lions, as the Royals' offense came through with 19 runs on 19 hits (including 8 doubles) and their pitching kept the Lions from attaining any momentum in a 19-7 victory.

 

The Royals started off strong in the first, where Justin "Juice" Born, batting leadoff for the first time all season, reached on an error.  Danny Platt singled him to third, and Zach Sloane hit a sac fly to bring him home.  If not for a great play at the plate by the Lions, there would have been more damage, with Trevor Nathanson reaching on an error and Dylan Pereira doubling later in the inning.  But the Royals would have to be content with an early 1-0 lead.

 

Veteran Mike Miller took the hill for the Royals.  He worked around a single in the first, bringing the Royals back up to lead off the second.  Ryan Elliott doubled, and Miller followed with an rbi-double of his own.  Michael Schofield walked and fill-in Colton Patey got hit by a pitch to load the bases.  Justin "Juice" Born brought home 1 with a single, and Danny Platt brought home 2 more with a double.  Zach Sloane hit a sac fly to plate another, and Trevor Nathanson double home yet another.  Dylan Pereira singled home one more, and with 2 outs, Ryan Elliott hit his second double of the inning, plating the 8th run of the frame and giving the Royals a 9-0 lead.

 

Miller worked in and out of trouble in the second, with runners reaching on an error, a fielder's choice, and a single, but the score remained 9-0 heading into the 3rd.

 

Michael Schofield and Colton Patey each walked to lead off the 3rd, and Justin "Juice" Born grounded into a fielder's choice/error to load the bases.  Danny Platt hit a sac fly to bring home 1, and after a Zach Sloane walk, Trevor Nathanson walked to bring home another.  With 2 outs, Jason Bolding walked (his first of the season) to bring home the 3rd and final run of the inning, giving the Royals a 12-0 lead.

 

Miller ran into trouble in the 3rd.  After 2 quick outs, the Lions loaded the bases on 2 walks and a single.  But Miller induced a pop-up to short to end the inning and keep the Lions off the board.

 

Zach Sloane took over pitching the 4th, and allowed 2 unearned runs before striking out the final batter.  The Royals got those runs right back in the 5th.  Justin "Juice" Born led off with a walk, and moved to 3rd on Danny Platt's second double of the day.  Trevor Nathanson loaded the bases on a hit by pitch, and with 2 outs, Jason Bolding hit a 2-run single to make it 14-2.

 

Michael Schofield relieved Sloane, and gave up 2 runs in the bottom of the 5th, making it 14-4.

 

Neither side scored in the 6th, and Ryan Elliott relieved in the 7th and worked a quiet frame.

 

Leading off the 8th, Mike Miller doubled to the wall in left center.  Michael Schofield walked, and Justin "Juice" Borne singled to load the bases.  Danny Platt singled home 1, and with 2 outs, Dylan Pereira singled home another.  Jason Bolding followed with his second 2-run single of the game, giving the Royals a 19-4 lead.

 

To reward him for his efforts (and his walk), Bolding came in and threw a quiet 8th inning, handing the ball off to Trevor Nathanson to close out the 9th.  The Lions were able to put up 3 runs on 4 hits in the 9th, but it was too late for a comeback, and the Royals took home a 19-7 victory.

 

Good luck to the Lions, as they find themselves just 1.5 games out of a playoff spot with 4 games to go!

 

 

Pitching

 

Mike Miller - 3IP, 0R, 2H, K, 3BB

Zach Sloane - W, IP, 0ER, H, K, BB

Michael Schofield - 2IP, 2ER, 4H, 2K, 2BB

Ryan Elliott - IP, 0R, BB, HBP

Jason Bolding - IP, 0R, K, BB, HBP

Trevor Nathanson - IP, 3ER, 4H

 

 

Batting

Royals Split DH vs. Berserkers

The Royals and Berserkers have played some tight games in the last few years, and this season's doubleheader was no exception.  Both games went down to the wire, with each squad coming away with a victory.

 

The Royals sent Rick Valdez to start game 1, and he pitched well.  6 earned runs over 7 innings kept the boys in royal blue in the game, but their bats just never fully woke up.  Dylan Pereira, Zach Sloane and Mike Miller each had 2 hits, but they combined for only 2 runs and 3 rbis.  The rest of the team didn't fare much better, going a combined 5 for 25 and scoring just 3 runs.  In the end, the Royals fell 7-5.

 

Game 2 was another battle, as the aces from both teams matched up.  Chris Dyer threw 5 for the Royals, allows his first career run in the bottom of the 5th, giving the Berserkers a 1-0 lead.  Jake Romo relieved and allowed 5 earned over the next 2 frames, keeping the game close until the Royal bats could pick things up.  Jumping to the bottom of the 6th, Trevor Nathanson, Chris Dyer and Ryan Schappery led off with back-to-back-to-back walks, loading the bases.  Ryan Elliott hit a grounder to short that turned into a 2-run error, and Mike Miller singled off the pitcher's glove to plate another.  In the bottom of the 8th and trailing 7-3, Chris Dyer and Ryan Schappery led off with back-to-back singles, and Ryan Elliott singled home one.  Jason Bolding hit a sac fly to plate another, and Ryan Elliott took home on a passed ball to cut the lead to 7-6.  Schappery came in for the last 2 innings on the mound, keeping the score 7-6 into the bottom of the 9th - just in time for some Royal magic.  Danny Platt walked and swiped second to lead things off, scoring 1 pitch later on a Dylan Pereira single and tying the game.  Pinch hitter Jake Romo singled to right to put the winning run on 2nd, and Trevor Nathanson took a pitch in the back to load the bases.  Chris Dyer wasted no time lacing a single to right-center to walk off with the 8-7 victory.

 

Congrats to the Berserkers on a great day of baseball - the games couldn't have been any closer than they were.  See you in the postseason!

 

 

 

Pitching - Game 1

Rick Valdez - L, 7IP, 6ER, 9H, 5K, 2BB, 2HBP

Ryan Schappery - IP, 0R, K

 

Pitching - Game 2

Chris Dyer - 5IP, ER, 4H, 6K, BB

Jake Romo - 2IP, 5ER, 5H, 2BB

Ryan Schappery - W, 2IP, 0R, 2K

 

 

Batting - combined

Royals' Defense Stays Home in 21-8 Loss

The Royals, normally built on solid defense and pitching, lacked a little of everything on Sunday as they fell to the Lookouts 21-8.  7 errors, 10 walks and 2 hit batsmen led to the Royals demise, while their offense did what it could to stay in the game.

 

Jake Romo started for the Royals, but lasted on 2/3 of an inning.  8 runs scored (although only 2 were earned) on 3 hits, 1 walks and 2 errors.  Mike Miller was called on early to stop the bleeding, and after surrendering a walk and hit of his own, got the boys in blue back into the dugout.

 

In the bottom of the first, Danny Platt led off with a single.  After Zach Sloane walked, Stephan Ohayon singled to load the bases.  Rick Valdez hit a sac fly to center, but Sloane was thrown out at home trying to score a second run on the play.  Dylan Pereira reached on an error to bring home another, and after 1, the Royals trailed 8-2.

 

Miller worked a 6-pitch second frame, but the Lookouts capitalized on more shaky defense in the 3rd, scoring a run on a walk and 3 errors.  The Royals responded in the bottom of the inning.  Steve Apperson led off with what we can only assume was the first infield single of his life.  Jake Romo, running for Apperson, took 2 bases on an errant pick off throw and scored on a Danny Platt ground out.   Zach Sloane and Stephan Ohayon each walked and moved into scoring position on a passed ball, and Rick Valdez grounded out to plate another.  After 3 innings, the Royals trailed 9-4.

 

With 1 out in the 4th, the Lookouts looked like they were in business with a pair of singles.  But after a strikeout, Miller seemed to crush the rally by inducing a ground ball to third.  Unfortunately, it was booted, and 2 hits later, Miller was chased from the game.  Michael Schofield was met with a 2-run double, and after 3 1/2, the Royals now trailed 14-4.

 

But you can never count the Royals out (something the Lookouts remember all too well from last fall's championship game.)  In the bottom of the 4th, Ryan Elliott led off with a double, and after moving to 3rd on a Jason Bolding single, scored when Mike Miller grounded into a double play.

 

After a quiet top of the 5th, Phillip Gerber led off the bottom of the inning with a single.  Danny Platt doubled him to 3rd, and Zach Sloane singled home a run.  Stephan Ohayon singled home another, and Dylan Pereira plated another with an rbi-ground out.  After 5 in the books, the Royals had cut the deficit to 14-8.

 

But the Lookouts scored a run in the 6th, and 6 in the 7th (only 3 of the final 7 runs were earned) to run away with the victory.  The Royals are looking forward to exacting a little revenge in late October when these teams meet again.

 

 

 

Pitching

Jake Romo - L, .2IP, 2ER, 4H, K, 2BB

Mike Miller - 3IP, 0ER, 5H, K, 2BB, HBP

Michael Schofield - 3IP, 3ER, 4H, 5K, 4BB

Phillip Gerber - .1IP, 0ER, 0H, K, 2BB, HBP

 

Batting

Royals' Offense Continues to Impress, Sweeps Expos

The Royals continued their offensive onslaught, plating 29 more runs in 2 games against the Expos.  But the pitching staff wouldn't let the hitters take all the credit, as they pitched 15 innings without allowing an earned run, while striking out 19 in the doubleheader.

 

Game 1 marked the return of Chris Dyer, who missed the post season and first week of fall, but fell right back into form.  3 solid innings and 6 strikeouts later, Dyer had a successful season debut on his hands.  The rest of the game would be handled by the dominant Royals' bullpen.  Today, it was Ryan Schappery for 2 innings (0ER, 4K), Zach Sloane for 2 innings (0ER, K) and Ryan Elliott for 1 (0ER, K.)

 

On offense, there were too many fireworks to list.  Every Royal scored a run, and all but one had a hit.  Chris Dyer, Dylan Pereira and Trevor Nathanson had 3 hits each, and Nathanson and Zach Sloane each scored 4 runs.  Pereira led the team with 3 rbis.

 

 

Game 2 featured more dominance on the mound, with Jake Romo starting.  Without his best stuff, Romo pitched 3 innings of 3-run ball, although none of the runs were earned.  He struck out 5 before turning the ball over to Ryan Elliott, who knuckled his way to 2 strikeouts and no runs over the final 4 innings of the day.

 

The offense again was dominant, although tired after playing for nearly 6 hours in triple digit heat.  Mike Miller, making up for his 3 strikeout performance in game 1, led the team with 3 hits in game 2.  Miller, Dylan Pereira and Jason Bolding each scored 2 runs, and 6 different Royals knocked in a run in the victory.

 

Congrats go out to Ryan Elliott, who reached a milestone in game 2 with his 100th run batted in.  He's now 9th on the Royals' all-time list!  And also, congrats to Trevor Nathanson, who started the season reaching base safely in 10 consecutive plate appearances - the second longest streak all-time as a Royal!

 

 

Pitching - Game 1

Chris Dyer - 3IP, 0R, H, 6K

Ryan Schappery - W, 2IP, 0ER, H, 4K, 2BB, HBP

Zach Sloane - 2IP, 0ER, H, K, 2BB

Ryan Elliott - IP, 0R, 0H, K, BB

 

Pitching - Game 2

Jake Romo - 3IP, 0ER, 2H, 5K, 4BB

Ryan Elliott - W, 4IP, 0R, 2H, 2K, 2BB

 

Batting - combined

Royals' Offense Flattens Ironbirds 24-5

The Royals were looking to get off on the right foot in fall and make up for a lackluster spring championship performance, while the Ironbirds were looking to avenge their walk-off 6-5loss to the Royals in the first round of the spring playoffs.  Scoring early and often, the Royals batted around in 2 separate innings and put up 24 runs to start the season on a high note.

 

With both of their starting pitchers out of town, the Royals bullpen would have to shoulder the load in game 1 of the Fall 2016 season.  Mike Miller took the hill and worked around a single and an error in the top of the first, bringing up the Royals offense.

 

Danny Platt singled in his first at bat as a Royal and moved to second on a Zach Sloane walk.  Last fall's batting champ Stephan Ohayon singled home Platt, and rookie Trevor Nathanson singled home Sloane.  Rookie Dylan Pereira grounded into a fielder's choice to plate Ohayon, and eventually scored on Jason Bolding's single.  After 1 inning, the Royals led 4-0.

 

In the second, the Ironbirds took advantage of Miller, who didn't have his trademark control.  2 walks followed by 2 singles plated 2, and after a quiet bottom of the inning, a walk and 3 singles by the Birds tied the game at 4.

 

In the bottom of the 3rd, the Royals struck back.  Trevor Nathanson walked, and Dylan Pereira grounded into his second fielder's choice in as many at bats.  Ryan Elliott and Jason Bolding loaded the bags on back-to-back singles, and Mike Miller plated Pereira on a fielder's choice.  Phillip Gerber came up with a 2-out single to bring home Elliott, and the Royals led 6-4 after 3.

 

Phillip Gerber relieved Miller in the top of the 4th, and the leadoff man proved to be his only blemish on the day.  After a walk, a stolen base and a wild pitch, he'd score on a balk, cutting the Royals' lead to 6-5.  That would be as close as the Ironbirds would come, as Gerber and Michael "My Arm Won A Championship" Schofield allowed no hits over the final 4 innings.

 

Meanwhile, the Royals' offense was just getting started.  In the bottom of the 5th, Danny Platt led off with a walk, swiped second and moved to 3rd on a passed ball.  Zach Sloane followed with a deep sac fly to center, bringing home Platt.  Stephan Ohayon walked, Trevor Nathonson singled and Dylan Pereira walked to load the bases (his first NON-fielders-choice as a Royal!)  Ryan Elliott walked to bring home Ohayon, and Jason Bolding hit a sac fly to left to plate Nathanson.  After a Mike Miller walk, Phillip Gerber walked to bring home Pereira and chase the Ironbirds' pitcher.  Michael Schofield walked to bring home Elliott, and the Royals had an 11-5 lead after 4.

 

In the bottom of the 5th, Zach Sloane led off with a single, moving to second on a Stephan Ohayon walk.  Trevor Nathanson singled to load the bases, and Ryan Elliott knocked in Sloane with a fielder's choice.  Elliott, known more for his glove than his speed, executed a perfect double steal with Ohayon, who was on third, to make it a 13-5 Royal lead after 5.

 

In the bottom of the 6th, Phillip Gerber singled, and with 2 outs, pinch hitter extraordinaire Justin "Juice" Born singled him to 3rd.  Not to be outdone, Danny Platt brought out his big boy bat and smashed a triple to deep center, knocking in both runs and giving the Royals a 15-5 lead after 6.

 

Heading into the bottom of the 7th, the Royals were still leading by 10.  Stephan Ohayon led off with his 3rd walk of the day, and rookie phenom Trevor Nathanson doubled him home.  Dylan "Fielder's Choice" Pereira doubled home Nathanon (we'll get him a new nickname soon), and one out later, Jason Bolding singled to put runners on the corners.  With 2 outs, Phillip Gerber walked, and Michael Schofield singled home one.  Justin Born got hit by a pitch to knock in another, and Danny Platt got a home-team bounce at second to knock in a pair with an error.  Zach Sloane did his best Juice impersonation, getting hit by a pitch, and Stephan Ohayon singled to knock in Born.  Trevor Nathanson (fast becoming a household name) singled home a pair with his 5th hit on the day - what a Royals' debut, becoming just the 12th Royal ever to record 5 or more hits in a single game!  After 7 innings, the Royals led 24-5.

 

Unfortunately, the field worker at Kennedy stopped the game several minutes early and prevented any further fireworks, but the Royals' would finish the day with 24 runs on 19 hits.  The Ironbirds will definitely have their sites set on revenge when these teams meet again in mid-October.

 

Congrats to all of the Royals making debuts - Trevor Nathanson (5 hits, 2 runs, 4 rbis), Danny Platt (2 hits, 3 runs, 2 rbis) and Dylan Pereira (1 hit, 4 runs, 2 rbis.)  Every Royal either got a hit, scored a run or knocked in a run (and most players did all 3), so this was a great team victory!

 

 

Pitching

Mike Miller - 3IP, 4ER, 6H, 2K, 3BB

Phillip Gerber - W, 2IP, ER, 0H, 2K, BB

Michael Schofield - 2IP, 0R, 0H, 3K, BB

 

Batting

2016 PCBL AA-Division Spring Championship

August 21, 2016 @ CSUN
Royals (10-7-1) -vs- Pirates (14-3-1)
Photos
 

 

Sunday morning was sunny and clear - perfect for the 2016 Double A Spring Championship game between the Pirates and the Royals.  These long-time rivals were the two of the top teams in the league in most runs scored and least runs allowed, and they always tend to place close games.

Micah Dunham took the mound for the Pirates and worked a quiet first inning.  Will Chapman started for the Royals and returned the favor, leading to a 0-0 score after 1.
 

In the second, the Royals' Zach Sloane tripled with 1 out.  Ryan Elliott singled him home 1 pitch later, giving the Royals an early 1-0 lead.

Fast forward to the bottom of the 3rd, where the Pirates offense began to wake up.  Travis Reed walked, but was erased on a John Smith ground out.  The Royals botched the double play, leaving Smith on first.  Manager Gio Smith and Dan Oh both walked, loading the bases and chasing Chapman from the game.  Jake Romo entered, quickly striking out one and getting another ground out to escape the jam.  After 3 innings, the Royals led 1-0.

Dunham continued baffling the Royals' hitters, working a quiet 4th before the Pirates offense finally came through.  Jesse Hirdler led off the inning with a sharp ground ball to third, reaching on a fielding error.  But aggressive baserunning and an errant throw moved him to second base with nobody out.  After a ground out moved him to third, he scored on a wild pitch, tying the game.  Micah Dunham followed with a walk, and with 2 outs, Travis Reed blasted an rbi double to give the Pirates the lead.  Zach Handy looped a single to center to plate another, and after 4 innings, the Pirates led 3-1.

Both pitchers worked a quiet 5th before Romo ran into more trouble in the bottom of the 6th.  With one out, Jesse Hirdler walked and Chris Norton singled.  Royals' closer Brett Kahanowitch entered the game, and after striking out his first batter, got out of the jam with a pop-up to short.

Meanwhile, Micah Dunham was on cruise control until the top of the 8th inning.  Royals' manager Mike Miller led off the inning with a walk, giving way to designated runner Jake Romo.  With 1 out, Greg Falk singled, and with 2 outs, Kahanowitch came up with a big rbi-single to make it a 3-2 game.

But the Pirates came right back in the bottom of the inning.  Jorge Leon led off getting hit by a pitch, and moved to second on a Dan Oh single.  Both runners advanced on a wild pitch, and Chris Oliver walked to load the bases.  Zareh Sobhatian got hit by a pitch to bring home 1, and Jesse Hirdler hit a sac fly to left to bring home another, leaving men at 2nd and 3rd with 1 out.  Kahanowitch settled down to strike out the next two batters, but the damage was done - heading into the 9th, the Pirates led 5-2.
 

The PCBL Royals never give in, just like their MLB counterparts, and today would be no exception.  After 2 quick outs, the Royals were staring down the end of their season when Will Chapman singled.  Jason Bolding walked before Mike Miller came up and worked the count full against a tired Dunham.  He'd hit a slow roller between first and second, narrowly beating it out while colliding with the first baseman.  With the bases loaded and 2 outs, Phillip Gerber lined a single to left to plate 1 and put the tying runs in scoring position.  The next batter worked a full count, but Dunham had his eyes set on a trophy, and struck out the final batter to escape the jam and bring home the title.
 

Congrats to both teams on a well-played game - they don't get much closer than that.  But most of all, congratulations to the 2016 Double A Champion Pirates for finishing strong and bringing home their first PCBL title!

 

 

 

Pirates
Micah Dunham - 4-5, 2-2B, R, 4RBI (Championship Game MVP)
Travis Reed - 1-2, R, RBI, BB
Daniel Oh - 1-3, R, BB
Zack Handy - 1-1, RBI, BB

Royals
Will Chapman - 2-4, R
Zach Sloane - 1-3, 3B, R
Phillip Gerber - 1-2, RBI
Mike Miller - 1-3, R, BB

Royals Hang On In Semis

Round 2 in the playoffs was another nail biter, as the two top scoring teams in the league faced off.  Both teams had allowed 117 runs in the regular season, and their only meeting this season ended with a walk-off win for the Dodos.

 

The Royals offense got things going quickly.  Greg Falk walked, then moved to 3rd on passed balls.  1 out later, Brett Kahanowitch and Rick Valdez each walked, and Zach Sloane got hit by a pitch to bring home 1.  But the Dodos escaped the bases loaded jam and trailed 1-0.

 

Will Chapman took the mound and worked a quiet first inning.  In the top of the 2nd, the Royals offense kept up the pressure.  With 1 out, Jason Bolding was hit by a pitch and Mike Miller walked.  Greg Falk singled to load the bases, and Kyle Tillack hit a ground ball to first.  The first baseman came home with the ball to get the runner, but the return throw sailed down the first base line plating 2, and giving the Royals a 3-1 lead.

 

The Dodos offense got on the board in the bottom of the inning, plating 1 on 2 hits and 2 walks, but Zach Sloane slowed their momentum by throwing out a runner at 3rd from right field (perhaps his new starting position?)  After 2 innings, the Royals led 3-1.

 

More Dodos offense would occur in the bottom of the 3rd, with 2 runs scoring to tie up the game.  But in the top of the 4th, the Royals would come through in a big way.  With 1 out, Greg Falk walked and Kyle Tillack reached on an error.  After Brett Kahanowitch singled to load the bases, Rick Valdez walked to plate 1, and Zach Sloane singled to plate another.  With 2 outs, Ryan Elliott singled to bring home one more, and the Royals led 6-3.

 

Chapman worked his way through the bottom of the 5th, striking out 2 more for 6 Ks on the day.  He would give way to Brett Kahanowitch, who tip-toed out of trouble in the 6th before the Dodos came up big in the 7th.  2 runs scored on 2 hits, a walk and an error - all with 2 outs - to make it a 6-5 game.  Kahanowitch struck out the final hitter in the 7th with men on 2nd and 3rd.  In the 8th, the Dodos loaded the bases again, but Kahanowitch struck out the side to escape another jam.

 

With the Royals offense quiet, the defense would have to finish this one off.  Kahanowitch worked through the heart of the Dodos order in the 9th, and the defense played clean ball to slip by the Dodos with a 6-5 victory, sending the boys in royal blue back to the championship game for the 5th time in 6 seasons.

 

Congrats to the Dodos on another great game!  This game couldn't have been any closer, and we look forward to many more in the seasons to come!

 

 

 

Pitching

Will Chapman - W, 5IP, 2ER, 5H, 6K, 3BB

Brett Kahanowitch - S, 4IP, 0ER, 4H, 5K, 4BB

 

Batting