Royals Stroll to Victory Over Naturals
 

A patient Royal lineup took full advantage of the wild Naturals pitching staff, walking an amazing 18 times in their victory on Sunday.  All 11 players scored multiple times and knocked in at least one run in a true team effort.

Rick Valdez led the charge for the Royals offense, going 4 for 4 with 4 runs, 2 rbis and a walk.  Ryan Elliott (3 for 3, 4 runs, 1 rbi) and Phillip Gerber (2 for 2, 2 runs, 3 rbis) were also perfect on the day.  Steve Apperson put up the best stat line of the day, going 0 for 1 (lining into a double play) and walking 4 times, scoring twice and knocking in 3 rbis.  Greg Falk and Jason Bolding were the only Royals without a free pass.

Zach Sloane got the start and went 2 innings, allowing 2 runs while striking out 3.  Daniel Kahn worked an inning of relief, allowing 4 runs, though only 1 was earned as the defense obviously went home early.  Jake Romo worked 2 solid innings of relief as well, striking out 3 and allowing only 2 hits (the only men to reach base off him.)

Pitching

Zach Sloane - W, 2IP, 2ER, 3H, 3K, BB

Daniel Kahn - IP, ER, 2H, 2K, 3BB, HBP

Jake Romo - 2IP, 0ER, 2H, 3K

Batting

Royals Walk Plank, Fall to Bucs
 

The Royals' high-powered offense met its match on Sunday as the Pirates league-leading pitching held them in check all day,  While the Pirates only out-hit the Royals 9-8, they managed to string their hits together in 1 big inning, while the Royals only saw 4 runners reach scoring position all day in the loss.

Daniel Kahn started on the mound for the Royals, and found himself in trouble in the 2nd inning.  The Pirates scored 5 times on 5 hits and a walk (3 of those hits with 2 outs), and that was pretty much the difference in the game.  Kahn let another run score in the 3rd, then settled down and worked through the 6th.  Craig Erickson worked 2 innings of relief and gave up a pair of runs in the 7th, but it wouldn't matter as the Royals offense was mostly invisible all day.

Jason Bolding, injured and pulled from the field after the 2nd batter of the first inning, led the way (limping) going 2 for 3.  Steve Apperson scored the only Royals' run, and Greg Falk knocked him in.

Both teams played excellent defense, with the only error coming on an over-throw on a stolen base attempt.  The game was played in 2 hours 10 minutes.

These two teams meet again just before the All-Star break, where the Royals will look for redemption.

Pitching

Daniel Kahn - L, 6IP, 5ER, 7H, 3K, 3BB, HBP

Craig Erickson - 2IP, 2ER, 2H, K, BB, HBP

Batting

Royals' Defense Falters Late in 11-11 Tie
 

The Royals, who once had a 10-3 lead in the 5th inning, committed 3 errors in the final 4 frames and had a runner cut down at the plate to tie the Berserkers in another great game between the two squads.

The first half of the affair was all Royals, as the offense batted around 3 times in the first 4 innings.  Zach Sloane and Ryan Elliott each had 3 hits in the win, while Phillip Gerber and surprise batting average leader Jason Bolding each collected 2 hits.  Kyle Tillack continued his amazing rookie season, going 1 for 3 with 3 walks and 2 stolen bases.

On the mound, Craig Erickson had another great start, allowing 3 earned over 5 innings while striking out 3.  Daniel Kahn was the recipient of some bad luck, giving up 8 hits (though only one was hit hard.)  The poor defense, especially 2 errors in the final inning, capped off his day.

The Berserkers' bullpen pitched well, with their last pitcher allowing only 2 runners over the final 3 innings, stalling the mighty Royals' offense in its tracks.  The two squads don't face each other again until the final weekend of the regular season, with plenty of playoff implications (and a tiebreaker) at stake.

Pitching

Craig Erickson - 5IP, 3ER, 8H, 3K, 3BB, HBP

Daniel Kahn - 4IP, 4ER, 8H, K, 3BB, HBP

Batting

Royals Naturally Win
 

Picking up where they left off last week, the Royals' league-leading offense stayed as hot as the weather, collecting 20 more hits in a 14-4 victory over the Naturals.  Not the be outdone, the bullpen was outstanding and showed up as possibly the biggest strength for the Royals, as 7 different pitchers took the hill, with 5 of them working scoreless relief.

Chris Powell, who made the drive from Oregon for the game, went 3 for 3 and scored 4 times, including scampering for the first triple in his Royals career!  He also was hit by a pitch for the 24th time in 60 games (maybe the sting made Mr. Go run a little bit faster!)  Jason Bolding also had a perfect 3 for 3 day, knocking in a team-leading 4 runs.  Brian Rapf hit his first home run of the year - a shot to right center that he had to leg out for an inside-the-parker, and Craig Erickson kept up his perfect 1.000 season batting average with a single and triple.

Erickson also started the game on the hill, and after 2 of the first batters he faced scored in the first, worked a quiet second.  Daniel Kahn relieved him and faced the minimum over 2 innings (including his second pick off of the season.)  Mike Miller followed with a 7 pitch inning, giving way to Chris Powell and his perfect inning.  Jake Romo worked a quiet 7th, and Jason Bolding gave up a pair of runs in the 8th (but struck out the first batter he saw on 3 pitches and picked another runner off 2nd base - not bad for an outfielder!)  Zach Sloane closed the door with a perfect 9th, and the Royals cruised to their second straight victory.

The Naturals played better than the score showed, as they managed to avoid the big inning on defense after a 5-run first chased their starting pitcher.  These squads meet again in the beginning of May, and revenge will certainly be on the minds of the Naturals.

Pitching

Craig Erickson - W, 2IP, 0ER, 3H, 2K, HBP

Daniel Kahn - 2IP, 0ER, 2K, BB, PO

Mike Miller - IP, 0ER

Chris Powell - IP, 0ER, K, BB, PO

Jake Romo - IP, 0ER, 2BB

Jason Bolding - IP, 2ER, 2H, K, BB, HBP, PO

Zach Sloane - IP, 0ER
 

Batting

Royals Maul Lions 23-5
 

After leaving 15 men on base last week, the Royals were looking to take out their offensive frustrations on someone.  Unfortunately for the Lions, they were next on the schedule.

It was all Royals in the inaugural meeting between these two squads.  Their pitching staff was on point, allowing just 3 hits over 7 innings of work, with starter Daniel Kahn leading the way with 3 innings of 1-hit ball.  Rookie Jake Romo followed with 2 innings of 1-hit relief (though his defense forgot what they were doing and allowed 3 unearned runs.)  Zach Sloane followed with an inning of 1-hit relief, while veteran Ryan Elliott had his best ever inning on the mound, closing the game striking out 2 with what's been called "the best knuckleball in the PCBL."

On offense, every Royal had at least one hit and one run scored.  Leading the way was Jason Bolding, who was 3 for 4 with a stolen base (a home run short of the cycle), and Rick Valdez, who was 3 for 6 with 4 rbis.  Zach Sloane also had 4 rbis, while Bolding, Kyle Tillack, and Justin "Juice" Borne each scored 4 times.  Brian Rapf got his first (and second) hit in a Royal's jersey, driving in 3 runs in his debut with the club.  And in the category of "that probably won't happen again", Daniel Kahn hit a triple and Mike Miller stole a base - in the same game!

While the Lions are just starting their journey in the PCBL, the Royals look forward to seeing how improved they'll be later this season!  Great job, everyone!

Pitching

Daniel Kahn - W, 3IP, 0ER, H, 3K, 0BB, PO

Jake Romo - 2IP, 0ER, H, 2K, BB

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

Ryan Elliott - IP, 0ER, 0H, 2K, 0BB
 

Batting

Justin "Juice" Borne - 1-1, 4R, RBI, SACF

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

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 3^rd 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 4^th, 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 3^rd to run into the 3^rd out with a pseudo-hidden ball trick.

 

The Royals responded immediately in the top of the 5^th.  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 6^th.  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 7^th.  With 2 outs in the top of the 8^th, 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 9^th 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 9^th 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!

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Congratulations to the 2015 A-Division Champion Royals!

 

 

                    Royals    2   0   2   0   2   1   3   1    2     13     11     7  

               Lookouts    1   0   0   3   5   3   0   0    0     12     11     4   

 

Pitching Stats:

WP Michael Schofield (Royals)   4.1IP, 2ER (4R), 5H, 3K, BB, HBP

LP   Evan Haskell (Lookouts)   CG 9IP; 10ER (13R), 11H, 5K, 5BB

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

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 - 4-5, 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