After trailing most of the day, the Royals showed some signs of life in the 9th inning, only to come up short against the Threshers.

 

With half their roster on the IL, sub Carlos Reyes got the start and looked pretty solid over the first 3 innings, before running out of gas in a 5-run 4th.  Luis Valencia came in to relieve and pitched 3.2 solid innings, before handing the ball off to new Royal closer Justin Peters, who tossed 2 scoreless.

 

At bat, Matthew Guererro, Tony Suarez and Horacio Zamaraipa all had 2-hit games.  Jeff Boersma led the scoring with 2 runs in, Peters had a 3-run double in the 9th, and Gio Smith swiped 3 bags in the loss.

 

Next week, the Royals face off with the Bats at 9:45am at Verdugo Hills High School.

The Royals chances looked slim Sunday, missing their top 3 arms and their top 3 catchers, but managed to keep it to a 2-run game until the Rangers' final at bat, eventually falling 16-8 in 7 innings.

 

Steve Mangurten got the start, but struggled with his control early, walking 7 in 1 frame.  Matthew Gurerro came to the rescue, holding the Rangers to 5 runs over the next 5 innings, while striking out 6.  His brother, Chris Guerrero, came in to relieve the 7th, but the Ranger bats were ready for him, and along with 2 fielding errors, the game got away from the Royals.

 

At the plate, Alex Contreras had the hot stick, going 2 for 4, scoring twice and knocking in 1.  Horacio Zamaraipa also had 2 hits and an rbi, and Chris Guerrero had a perfect day, going 1 for 1 with 3 walks.

 

Next week, the Royals face the Threshers - 10am at El Cariso Park.  These teams have never met before, so another new rivalry begins...

In what turned out to be perfect baseball weather, the Royals played their best game to date, but a couple big innings for the Mariners kept their first win at bay.  Ric Pozo started and allowed 6 earned on 10 hits and 5 walks.  Randy Guerrero relieved and allowed 2 earned while striking out 3.  Chris Guerrero and Tony Henriquez closed the final 2 frames, allowing only 1 earned in that span.

 

Offensively, the Royals' bats continued to shine - to the tune of 13 hits.  Unfortunately, the timeliness of those hits were the problem, as they left an incredible 14 runners on base.  Michael Green, Mike Miller, Alex Contreras, Gio Smith and Tony Henriquez all had 2 hits, while Smith scored twice and Miller knocked in a pair.  Henriquez stole the lone bag for the boys in royal blue.

 

Next week, the Royals play a split doubleheader at El Cariso Park - 10am vs the Doinks and Dingers, followed by 2pm vs the Valley Kings.  These teams have never met before, so time for new rivalries to be born!

The Barons had a big 2nd inning against the Royals and never looked back, taking their first meeting of the year 21-8.  Mike Miller took the loss for the boys in blue, working a quiet first before falling apart in the 2nd.  Ric Pozo pitched 5 solid innings of relief, and Matthew Guerrero looked great in his first 2 innings on the mound this season.

 

The Royals bats continue to impress, pounding out 13 hits in the losing effort.  Alex Contreras, Tony Suarez, Randy Guerrero and Gio Smith had 2 hits a piece, while Smith, Miller and Contreras each scored twice.  Randy Guerrero and Horacio Zamaraipa each had a pair of rbis, while Zamaraipa and Jeff Boersma got their first hits of the season.

 

After a week off for the Easter holiday, the Royals come back to face the Mariners 4/7 10am at Poly High School.

The Royals came out swinging in their second game of the season, taking an early 8-2 lead over the Jokers.  But poor defense, paired with the relentless Joker bats, ultimately led to their second straight loss.

 

Randy Guerrero took the mound and pitched a solid 3 innings before running into trouble in the 4th and 5th.  3 errors led to 5 unearned runs, and innings that ran longer than necessary.  Mike Miller and Ric Pozo came in late to stop the bleeding, but the damage was already done.  On a positive note, the Guerrero brothers (Matthew and Chris) turned a pair of double plays, and nearly had a 3rd (in 7 innings of defense.)

 

On offense, rookie Michael Green had a pair of singles and a pair of walks, scoring once and knocking in a pair.  Chris Guerrero went 2 for 3 with a double and a pair of runs scored, and Gio Smith knocked in a pair.  Matthew Guerrero, Miller, Alex Contreras and Tony Suarez all had hits as well.

 

Next Sunday, the Royals take on the Barons, 10am at College of the Canyons.

The Outlaws stole the show on Opening Day, running away with an 18-4 victory over the shorthanded Royals.  Royals starting pitcher Steve Mangurten took a batted ball to the face 5 batters into the game, altering the game plan for the boys in blue.  Mike Miller pitched 2 frames of solid relief before hitting the wall, and Ric Pozo was rusty in his first game on the bump this season.  At the plate, Chris Guerrero walked 3 times and scored twice, while Miller walked, was hit by a pitch, and had a 2-run single to lead the offense.  On a quiet day with the bats, rookie Tony Suarez had the team's only other hit - an rbi-single that knocked in Miller.  Pozo also walked twice, and cleanup hitter Alex Contreras reached base 3 times (a walk and 2 errors.)

 

Next Sunday, the Royals take on the Jokers, 10am at Poly High School.

2019 Spring Season (and possibly final) Wrap-Up

 

In what may very well be the end of a franchise, the Royals were knocked out of the first round of the playoffs vs. the Wailers after being swept 19-5 and 19-7 over the weekend.

 

For the season, the Royals were anchored by AAA Cy Young award winner Brett Kahanowitch, who led the team in every meaningful pitching category, including starts (11), complete games (11), wins (6), innings pitched (109.1), strikeouts (96) and ERA (3.29).  On offense, Kahanowitch also led the team in hits (27), doubles (7) and stolen bases (12), while Alex Baer led in runs (20), triples (3), home runs (2), walks (15) and rbis (15).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Starting in Spring 2003, the PCBL has had the Royals in one of their weekend divisions for 33 straight seasons.  Fall 2019 will mark the end of an era.  While they may come back together in the future, the franchise currently sits at 259-244-16, with a 21-25 record in playoffs, including a 2-7 record in championship games.  Thanks to all 270 players who dedicated part of their weekends and proudly wore some shade of blue over the years!

 

The Royals finish their 32nd season in the PCBL in the Major division for just the 3rd time ever.  Leading the way was league MVP award winner Alex Baer (2nd straight league MVP) and team Cy Young winner Randy Guerrero.

Baer led the team with 15 hits, 15 runs scored, 11 rbis, 3 doubles, 2 triples, 4 home runs and 11 stolen bases.  Marty Martinez took home the team batting title with a .391 average, and Jay Wasserman led the team in walks.  And even though he was only here for 4 games, Will Chapman led the team with 3 hit by pitches!

Guerrero led the team with 34.1 innings pitched and 33 strikeouts.  Alberto Flores led the team with 2 wins, a 2.57 ERA and 1.24 WHIP.

As usual, the team had a few memorable moments this season.  Mike Miller got career hit 500, and Jay Wasserman became just the 14th Royal to reach 100 hits.  Jason Bolding scored his 100th career run.

#goRoyals

 

The Royals finish their 31st season in the PCBL with 11 wins, their most since Spring 2016.  Leading the way was league MVP award winner Alex Baer and team Cy Young winner (and league runner-up) Brett Kahanowitch.

Baer led the team with a .520 batting average, 21 runs scored, 25 hits, 11 extra base hits, 5 doubles, 5 home runs (leading the entire PCBL, and 3rd most ever in a season by a Royal), and 24 rbis.  Marcell Patterson Jr led the team with 5 doubles and 17 stolen bases, while Jason Bolding (somehow) led the team with 11 walks and Ryan Elliott (as usual) led with 3 hit by pitches.

Kahanowitch led the team with 52.1 innings pitched, 59 strikeouts (, a 2.24 ERA and 1.11 WHIP, while Randy Guerrero led with 4 wins and newcomer Alberto Flores had the teams' only save.

While the team had a few memorable moments this season (3rd most ever in a season by a Royal) Randy Guerrero's no-hitter and Brett Kahanowitch's 19 strikeout performance come to mind), next season should produce some more, as Mike Miller and Jay Wasserman both are within reach of career hit milestones!

#goRoyals
 

Bad Inning Costs Royals vs Dodos, 6-3

 

Brett Kahanowtch was cruised through the first 5 innings, allowing just a single hit.  But 7 hits and an error in the 6th, plating 6 runs, was all the Dodos needed to hang on for a 6-3 win.

 

In another epic battle between these longtime rivals, neither team showed any signs of letting up.  At the end of 5, the Royals had 3 hits to the Dodos 1, and neither team had sniffed the plate.  But after their big 6th inning, the Dodos looked poised to run away with things.  The Royals' Randy Guerrero doused any Dodos' hopes of more runs, finishing the game with 2.2 innings of hitless relief.

 

On offense, the Royals finally got on the board in the 8th inning.  Ryan Elliott led off with a single, and Mike Miller walked.  With one out, Jay Wasserman, Michael Citro and Randy Guerrero were issued back-to-back-to-back walks to plate 2, but a double play limited the damage.

 

In the top of the 9th, Phillip Gerber and Jason Bolding led off with back-to-back walks, and slugger Alex Baer singled home Gerber, but a double play ended that threat as well (their 4th of the day), and the Dodos escaped with the win.

 

Congrats go out to Mike Miller on a Royals' milestone.  His walk in the 8th inning was the 200th of his career - way to go!

 

Pitching

Brett Kahanowitch - L, 5.1IP, 5ER (6R), 8H, 4K, 3BB

Randy Guerrero - 2.2IP, 0R, 0H, 2K, BB, HBP

 

Batting

Mike Miller - 1-2, R, BB

Randy Guerrero - 1-2, RBI, BB

Jason Bolding - 1-3, BB

Ryan Elliott - 1-4, R, SB

Alex Baer - 1-4, RBI

Brett Kahanowitch - 1-4

Phillip Gerber - 0-1, R, BB

Michael Citro - 0-2, RBI, BB

Jay Wasserman - 0-2, BB

Chris Charles - 0-3, SB

Steve Apperson - 0-3