Royals Outlast Berserkers 14-12

 

Facing the team that knocked them out of the playoffs last fall, the Royals came up big with 14 runs, then survived a bases-loaded jam in the last inning to win 14-12 against the Berserkers.

 

Alex Baer finally made his mark on the lineup, going 4 for 4 with a pair of home runs and a pair of doubles.  He also scored 3 runs and drove in 4.  Jason Bolding, Ryan ELliott, Jay Wasserman, Randy Guerrero and Michael Citro each had 2 hits as wel.

 

Guerrero went the distance, giving up 12 hits while striking out 4 and walking 5.  On defense, Manoj Chitabathina continues to improve, turning his first career double play and catching a pop up in shallow right field to end the game.

 

 

Pitching

Randy Guerrero - W, CG, 8IP, 8ER (12R), 12H, 4K, 5BB

 

Batting

Alex Baer - 4-4, 2 HR, 2 2B, 3R, 4RBI, SB

Michael Citro - 2-3, R, 2RBI

Ryan Elliott - 2-4, 2 2B, R, 4RBI, BB

Jason Bolding - 2-4, 2B, 3R, BB, SB

Randy Guerrero - 2-4, 2B, 2R, RBI

Jay Wasserman - 2-4, R

Phillip Gerber - 1-3, 2B, R, RBI

Manoj Chitabathina - 1-3, R, BB

Chris Charles - 1-4, RBI, SB

Stever Apperson - 1-4, R, RBI

Mike Miller - 1-4

Justin "Juice" Born - 0-1

Royals Beat Up Shorthanded Bats 19-1

 

With their season finally turning the corner, the Royals' hot bats continued on Sunday against the 8-man lineup from the Bats.

 

Nearly every Royal had multiple hits, with Alex Baer (2-4, triple and home run), Ryan Elliott (3-3, double and 2 singles), Steve Apperson (3-3, 3 singles and 3 runs scored) and Manoj Chitabathina (3-3, 2 doubles and a single) leading the way.

 

Not to be lost in all the offense was another stellar pitching performance from Randy Guerrero, who went 6 innings and alllowed just 2 hits and 1 run.  Brett Kahanowitch closed the door with a quiet inning of relief.

 

 

 

Pitching

Randy Guerrero - W, 6IP, 1ER (1R), 2 H, 8K, 2BB

Brett Kahanowitch - IP, H, K, BB

 

Batting

Ryan Elliott - 3-3, 2B, R, 4RBI, SACF

Manoj Chitabathina - 3-3, 2-2B, wR, 2RBI

Steve Apperson - 3-3, 3R

Jay Wasserman - 3-4, RBI

Alex Baer - 2-4, HR, 3B, 2R, 4RBI

Mike Miller - 2-4, 2R, 3RBI

Phillip Gerber - 1-1, R, HBP

Jason Bolding - 1-3, 2B, 2R, 4RBI, BB, SB

Brett Kahanowitch - 1-3, 2R, SB

Justin "Juice" Born - 1-3, 2R

Randy Guerrero - 1-4, 2R

Michael Citro - 0-4

Royals Have Historic Day in Sweep

 

The Royals saw a pair of historic performances on the mound as they swept both games of the doubleheader from the Hitmen.

 

Game 1 featured Randy Guerrero on the hill, and he was dominant from the start.  He threw the first no-hitter in Royals' history (and there have been nearly 500 games played since the Royals entered the PCBL in 2003.) He struck out 10 and walked 2 in the victory.  Offensively, Mike Miller led the way with 2 hits, 2 runs and 4 rbis.  Also of note, Marcel Patterson Jr went 2 for 3 with 3 runs and 4 stolen bases, Jason Bolding singled and walked 3 times and Jay Wasserman walked 4 times in the 6 inning affair.

 

Game 2 was the Brett Kahanowitch show.  While let down when he gave up a hit in the 4th inning, it was one of only 3 hits allowed all day.  However, he was dominant in an entirely different fashion, striking out a Royals' record 19 batters over his 9 inning complete game victory - breaking Randy Casey Jr's previous record of 16 strikeouts set last October.  Interesting bit of trivia - third on the list is Tom Farrell, who struck out 13 batters (including current Royal Justin "Juice" Born") back in 2003 - and he will likely be the opposing pitcher facing the Royals in next week's game!

 

 

But back to game 2 - the bottom of the lineup came alive for the Royals in this one.  Justin "Juice" Born went 3 for 4 with a double, a run scored and 4 rbis, and Steve Apperson went 2 for 4 with a double, a run and an rbi.  Jay Wasserman went 3 for 4 with 3 runs scored, and Manoj Chitabathina went 1 for 4 with a run, an rbi and the most unique stolen base you'll ever see.

 

Congrats go out to the Hitmen, who made both of these games a lot closer than the final scores show.  Good luck the rest of the season!

 

And finally, congrats to Marty Martine and Chris Charles, who both received their first hits as Royals!

 

 

Pitching

Randy Guerrero (game 1) - W, CG, 6IP, 0R, 0H, 10K, 2BB - NO-HITTER

Brett Kahanowitch (game 2) - W, CG, 9IP, 1ER (1R), 3H, 19K, 0BB, HBP (Royals' record)

 

 

 

 

Batting (both games)

Jay Wasserman - 3-4, 4R, RBI, 4BB

Justin "Juice" Born - 3-6, 2B, 2R, 4RBI, BB

Marcel Patterson Jr - 3-7, 3B, 4R, BB, 4SB

Mike Miller - 3-7, 2R, 5RBI, BB

Jason Bolding - 2-4, 5R, RBI, 4BB, SB

Chris Charles - 2-4

Alex Baer - 2-5, 2B, 3R, RBI, 2BB, HBP, SB

Steve Apperson - 2-5, 2B, R, 2RBI, SACF

Michael Citro - 2-7, 2B, 2R, 3RBI, BB

Brett Kahanowitch - 1-4, 3B, R, 2RBI, SB

Manoj Chitabathina - 1-4, R, RBI, SB

Randy Guerrero - 1-6, R, 3RBI, BB, SACF

Marty Martine - 1-6, R, RBI, SACB, SB

Royals Can't Climb Out of Early Hole

 

Shaky defense on a difficult field put the Royals in an early hole that they never fully climbed out of, falling to the Smokies 6-5.

Brett Kahanowitch through a complete game in the loss, going 8 innings while allowing 6 hits and striking out 8.  But a 4-run (all unearned) second inning proved to be the difference.  He allowed 2 more in the 3rd, then faced only 5 over the minimum in his list 5 innings.

Offensively, the Royals welcomed back leadoff man Marcel Patterson Jr, who led the team going 4 for 5 with a double, 2 runs scored and a stolen base.  Kahanowitch had 2 hits as well, along with 3 stolen bases.  Jay Wasserman, Phillip Gerber, Michael Citro, Ryan Elliott and rookie Alex Baer collected the other 5 hits.

 

 

Pitching

Brett Kahanowitch - L, CG, 8IP, 2ER (6R), 6H, 8K, 5BB, 2HBP

 

Batting

Marcel Patterson Jr - 4-5, 2B, 2R, SB

Brett Kahanowitch - 2-4, 2B, RBI, BB, 3SB

Phillip Gerber - 1-3, 2B, R, BB

Alex Baer - 1-3, HBP, 2SB (first career hit)

Ryan Elliott - 1-4, R, 2RBI, HBP

Jay Wasserman - 1-4

Michael Citro - 1-4

Mike Miller - 0-3, R, BB

Marty Martine - 0-4

Steve Apperson - 0-4

Manoj Chitabathina - 0-0

Justin "Juice" Born - 0-0

8 Men Out - Royals Fall to Outlaws

 

 

Perhaps the last few weeks of rain dampened the enthusiasm of Opening Day, but only 8 Royals showed up (7 prior to game time), and the boys in royal blue fell to the Outlaws in a short-squad 7-inning game.

 

Not to take anything away from the Outlaws, who looked sharp early.  After a quiet top of the first, Randy Guerrero took the mound for the Royals and immediately found himself in trouble.  A pair of walks followed by a dropped fly ball (in a 2 man outfield), followed by 2 more walks and a single gave the Outlaws a quick 5 run lead.  Guerrero stopped the bleeding by eventually striking out the side.

 

After another quick Royals half, the Outlaws came on strong in the second with a pair of lead off singles.  A stolen base, sac fly and a single brought home 2 more, and the rout was on!

 

But Guerrero settled in and kept the Outlaws quiet over the next 3 frames.  Meanwhile, the Royals' offense finally showed some signs of life.  Leading off the top of the 4th, Brett Kahanowitch walked, and moved to second on a ground out.  WIth 2 outs, Phillip Gerber walked, and Jay Wasserman brought home Kahanowitch with booted ground ball, putting the Royals on the board.

 

In the top of the 5th, after an automatic out (only 8 men in the lineup), Jason Bolding walked.  Brett Kahanowitch and Mike Miller each singled to load the bases, and after a line out to center, 4 straight walks to Phillip Gerber, Jay Wasserman, Steve Apperson and Justin "Juice" Born plated 4 runs.  The automatic out ended the inning, cutting short a promising rally, and leaving the bases loaded with the Royals now trailing 7-5.

 

Brett Kahanowitch came in and threw 2 solid innings, though his defense let him down in the 7th, allowing 2 unearned runs.  The offense scrapped together another run in the 6th, with Kahanowitch (walk), Miller and Guerrero (back-to-back singles) putting together a rally, but that was all the scoring the Royals would muster.

 

Congrats to the Outlaws for hanging on and putting up a W.  And finally, congrats to Randy Guerrero for getting his first hit and rbi as a Royal!

 

 

Pitching

Randy Guerrero - 5IP, 4ER (7R), 6H, 8K, 6BB

Brett Kahanowitch - 2IP, 0ER (2R), H, 2K, BB

 

Batting

Mike Miller - 2-4, R

Brett Kahanowitch - 1-3, 3R, 2BB

Randy Guerrero - 1-4, RBI (first career hit and rbi)

Phillip Gerber - 0-0, R, RBI, 4BB

Steve Apperson - 0-1, RBI, 2BB, HBP

Justin "Juice" Born - 0-2, RBI, 2BB

Jay Wasserman - 0-3, RBI, BB

Jason Bolding - 0-4, R, BB

 

After 2 straight Fall championships, the defense and hitting this season weren't quite as strong and led to an early postseason exit.  We'll definitely look to retool in the Spring.   Congrats go out to team MVP Stephan Ohayon (team leading 11 hits, .536 SLG, 4 doubles, 10 rbis and 7 walks) and team Cy Young Randy Casey Jr (team leading 1 win, 32 innings pitched, 39 strikeouts, 4.78 ERA, and 1 save.)  Team leaders also included Ryan Elliott (.450 batting average, .593 OBP, 1 save), Jason Bolding (9 runs, 7 stolen bases), and Mike Miller (11 hits, 1.53 WHIP.)

 

Royals Championship Streak Ends at 2

 

 

After winning the past 2 fall championships, the Royals streak ended this year as they fell 2-1 to the Berserkers.  Even with their best pitching performance of the year, their bats were silent all afternoon and their defense (the teams' Achilles heel this year) failed them in the loss.

 

With 1 out in the top of the first, Ryan Elliott narrowly missed a home run, settling for a double.  But that was all the Royals' offense could muster in the inning. 

 

Randy Casey Jr took the hill for the boys in royal blue, and worked around a pair of hit batsmen in the first to keep the score at 0-0.

 

Aside from a Michael LaCafta single in the 3rd and a Mike Miller walk in the 4th, the Royals couldn't get anyone on base.  The Berserkers put together a rally in the bottom of the 3rd, loading the bases with 2 outs, but Casey Jr struck out the 3-hitter to end the threat.

 

The Royals threatened in the top of the 5th.  Michael Schofield singled, and Jay Wasserman reached on a fielder's choice/error, putting 2 men on with 1 out, but a hard hit double play ball ended the threat.

 

The Royals struck first blood in the top of the 5th.  With 1 out, Joey Gerber walked and Ryan Elliott singled him to third, then swiped second himself.  Gerber scored on a Stephan Ohayon ground out, and the Royals took a 1-0 lead. 

 

With a man on and 2 outs in the bottom of the 6th, Casey Jr hit his 4th batsman of the game, forcing the Royals to go to their bullpen.  Mike Miller answered the call and induced a ground out to get out of the inning, preserving the 1-0 lead.

 

In the top of the 7th, Connor Chambers reached on a 1-out single, but was quickly erased on another double play ground ball.

 

In the bottom of the 7th, the Royals shaky defense cost them.  WIth 1 out, a routine fly ball to right was dropped for a 2 base error.  After a ground out moved the runner to 3rd with 2 outs, a ground ball to 3rd was dropped, and a high throw to first pulled the first baseman and tied the game 1-1.

 

The Royals weren't done yet, and threatened again in the 8th.  With 2 outs, Michael LaCafta singled and Joey Gerber walked, but both runners were stranded.

 

Fast forward to the bottom of the 9th.  With the score tied and 1 out, a hit by pitch put the potential winning run on first.  A sac bunt moved him to second.  Still without allowing a hit, Miller induced a fly ball to left, potentially sending the game into extra innings, but the left fielder misplayed the ball and slipped trying to recover, plating the winning run in walk-off fashion.

 

Congratulations to the Berserkers on a great season and an amazing playoff game.  We owe you next time!

 

 

Pitching

Randy Casey Jr - 5.2IP, 0R, 4H, BB, 5K, 4HBP

Mike Miller - L, 3.1IP, 0ER (2R), 0H, K, HBP

 

Batting

Ryan Elliott - 2-4, 2B

Michael LaCafta - 2-3, SB

Connor Chambers - 1-3

Michael Schofield - 1-3

Joey Gerber - 0-2, R, 2BB

Mike Miller - 0-3, BB

Jay Wasserman - 0-3

Daniel Kahn - 0-3

Stephan Ohayon - 0-4, RBI

Randy Casey Jr - 0-4

Justin "Juice" Born - 0-0

Short-Handed Royals Fall to Crooks

 

The Royals early season woes continued, as the team was missing 4 starting fielders in an 18-5 loss to the Crooks.

 

Randy Casey Jr started for the Royals, but was met with immediate trouble.  A single and a fielder's choice set the stage, and a triple cashed in both runs in the bottom of the first.  A perfectly run hidden-ball trick slowed the Crooks' momentum temporarily, but another run in the second, third, and 3 in the fourth chased Casey Jr from the game trailing 7-0.

 

In the top of the 5th, Casey Jr singled to break up the Crooks' no-no, but a double play kept the score intact.

 

Michael Schofield took over in the bottom of the inning, and was greeted by 3 runs on 4 hits, with Daniel Kahn's outfield assist limiting the damage to that.

 

Finally, in the top of the 6th, the Royals' bats awoke from their 11-inning scoreless slumber.  Schofield led off with a single, and the red-hot Vivek Sarabu followed with a single of his own.  After Justin "Juice" Born reached on a fielder's choice, Jason Bolding singled home Schofield to put the Royals on the board.  Stephan Ohayon walked, and Rick Valdez grounded out, plating Born.  Now with 2 outs, Mike Miller grounded a ball up the middle to bring home Bolding and Ohayon.  Randy Casey Jr singled and swiped second, but that was all the Royals would put up in the 6th, now trailing just 10-4.  

 

The Crooks answered right back with 3 in the 7th and 4 in the 8th, extending their lead to 17-4, but the Royals weren't through yet.  Justin "Juice" Born laced a single to left, and took second on a wild pitch.  Jason Bolding grounded out, moving Born to third, and Stephan Ohayon singled him home, cutting the lead to 17-5.

 

But again, the Crooks answered back.  With Rick Valdez now on the mound, the Crooks plated their final run on the day, and finished the Royals off 18-5.

 

 

Pitching

Randy Casey Jr - L, 4IP, 7R (5ER), 8H, 6K, 2BB

Michael Schofield - 3IP, 10R (6ER), 10H, 3K, 3BB

Rick Valdez - IP, 1R (1ER), H, 2BB

 

Batting

Randy Casey Jr - 2-4, SB

Stephan Ohayon - 1-2, R, RBI, 2BB

Jason Bolding - 1-4, R, RBI

Mike Miller - 1-4, 2RBI

Justin "Juice" Born - 1-3, 2R

Michael Schofield - 1-3, R

Vivek Sarabu - 1-3

Rick Valdez - 0-4, RBI

Jay Wasserman - 0-4

Daniel Kahn - 0-4

Royals Don't Show Up vs Lookouts

 

The past 2 years, the Lookouts and Royals have split up their games, with the Lookouts sweeping the regular season and the Royals sweeping the postseason.  This year (so far) was more of the same, as the Lookouts offense scored early and often, while the Royals offense stayed home.

 

Short-staffed for the day, the Royals turned to veteran Mike Miller to take the mound.  But a hit batsman, wild pitch and a sacrifice fly put the Royals in an early 1-0 hole.

 

Leading off the bottom of the 1st, Jason Bolding singled and Ric Valdez walked.  Stephan Ohayon narrowly missed a home run, settling for an rbi-double, and Mike Miller walked to load the bases with nobody out.  But the Lookouts battled back to limit the damage to one run, and after 1 inning, the score was 1-1.

 

Miller worked a quiet second, but the Lookouts plated another run in the 3rd on a pair of singles and a sac fly to take a 2-0 lead.

 

In the top of the 4th, the Lookouts put men on 1st and 2nd with 2 outs, but a ground ball to 3rd kept the inning alive when the throw pulled the first baseman off the bag.  A double and a single plated 3 unearned runs and gave the Lookouts a 5-1 lead.

 

Randy Casey Jr took the mound for the Royals in the 5th and worked a quiet inning before the Lookouts offense came through again in the 6th.  A hit batsman, a single and 2 fielder's choices plated another run, giving the Lookouts a 6-1 lead.  And in the top of the 7th, the wheels really fell off the bus, as the Lookouts scored 7 runs on 6 hits, a hit batsman and 2 errors to take a 13-1 lead.

 

If you're wondering why I haven't mentioned anything about the Royals' offense after the first inning, that's because there wasn't much.  In the 3rd, Phillip Gerber reached on an error and Ric Valdez singled.  In the 5th, Jay Wasserman walked, and in the 7th, Mike Miller reached on an error.  And that was it.

 

In the end, the Lookouts earned the win 13-1.  Only time will tell if these two squads will face each other in a 3rd straight championship game...

 

 

Pitching

Mike Miller - L, 4IP, 5R (2ER), 6H, BB, 2K, HBP

Randy Casey Jr - 3IP, 8R (6ER), 7H, BB, K, 2HBP

 

Batting

 

Jason Bolding - 1-3, R, SB, CS

Stephan Ohayon - 1-3, 2B, RBI

Ric Valdez - 1-2, BB

Jay Wasserman - 0-1, BB

Mike Miller - 0-2, BB

Randy Casey Jr - 0-2

Manoj Chitabathina - 0-2

Justin "Juice" Born - 0-2

Phillip Gerber - 0-2

Michael LaCafta - 0-3

Daniel Kahn - 0-3

 

Royals Start Fall 10-7 Over Warriors

 

While Spring titles have proven elusive to the Royals, the took the field Sunday ready to #defendTheCrown after winning the past 2 Fall AA championships.  The Warriors (one of the many teams who've beaten the Royals in a championship game) were their first challenge.

 

2017 Spring AAA MVP Marcel Patterson Jr led off the game with a hit on the first pitch he saw.  Jason Bolding singled on the very next pitch, and Stephan Ohayon flew out to center.  Patterson Jr moved to third and scored when the throw sailed into the Warriors dugout.  Ryan Elliott singled home Bolding to give the Royals a 2-0 lead, in the process moving into a tie for 5th most hits as a Royal with BIG number 200!

 

Michael Schofield struck out the side in the first, and the offense came up big in the top of the 2nd.  Phillip Gerber singled, and Randy Casey Jr doubled him to third.  Vivek Sarabu lined a single down the right field line to plate the pair, and increase the Royals' lead to 4-0.

 

In the bottom of the 3rd, the Warriors' bats woke up, plating 2 runs on a double and 3 errors, but the Royals answered right back.  Phillip Gerber walked, and Randy Casey Jr and Vivek Sarabu singled to load the bases.  Marcel Patterson Jr hit a sac fly to left to plate Gerber, and the Royals led 5-2.

 

But the Warriors came back in the bottom of the frame, plating 4 runs and taking a 6-5 lead.  Not to be outdone, the Royals continued the see-saw battle.  With 1 out, Ryan Elliott and Mike Miller reached on back-to-back singles.  Michael LaCafta hit a ground ball to short that went through the shortstops legs, and Elliott scored to tie the game.  Unfortunately, this was a costly run, as Elliott went down hard as he crossed the plate with an ankle injury (x-rays were negative, but an MRI is being scheduled soon.)  Daniel Kahn singled home both Mikes, and with 2 outs, pinch hitter Manoj Chitabathina reached on an error to bring home Kahn.  At the halfway mark, the Royals led 9-6.

 

Schofield worked a quiet bottom of the 5th, and the Royals were back at it in the 6th.  Vivek Sarabu walked, and with one out, Jason Bolding singled.  Stephan Ohayon was intentionally walked to load the bases, and pinch hitter Michael Schofield was unintentionally walked to plate Sarabu and extend the Royals lead to 10-6.

 

At this point, the Royals went to their bullpen and brought out Randy Casey Jr, who worked around some shoddy defense to allow only 1 run over the final 4 frames and lock down the victory.

 

Congrats to the Warriors on a much-improved look over last season.  We'll see you guys in the playoffs!  And finally, congrats go out to Ryan Elliott on getting his 200th and 201st hits, joining Mike Miller (330), Matt Graham (227), Ben Fiandaca (210) and Richard Lizarraga (200) as the only members of the elite 200-hit club in franchise history!

 

 

Pitching

 

Michael Schofield - W, 5IP, 6R (4ER), 5H, 2BB, 5K

Randy Casey Jr - S, 4IP, 1R (1ER), 7H, 1BB, 3K

 

Batting

Randy Casey Jr - 3-4, 2-2B, R

Jason Bolding - 2-5, R, SB

Ryan Elliott - 2-3, R, RBI, SB

Mike Miller - 2-4, R, BB

Vivek Sarabu - 2-3, R, 2RBI, BB

Marcel Patterson Jr - 1-3, R, RBI, SACF

Stephan Ohayon - 1-4, BB, SB

Michael LaCafta - 1-5, R

Daniel Kahn - 1-4, R, 2RBI

Jay Wasserman - 1-4

Phillip Gerber - 1-1, 2R, BB

Michael Schofield - 0-1, RBI, BB

Manoj Chitabathina - 0-2, SB