Royal rolls over Granger

Pam Robel/Columbia Basin Herald <br>Kali Delgado pitches to a Granger batter in the first inning of Royal's game Thursday.

by Pam ROBEL<br>Herald Sports Editor
| March 31, 2006 8:00 PM

Lady Knights end game with 10-run shut out

ROYAL CITY — The Lady Knights played a mere five innings Thursday, holding Granger scoreless to win 10-0.

Mackenzee Brown came to the plate with two runners on and one out in the bottom of the fifth inning. On her first hit of the game, she doubled on a line shot to left and drove in Christensen and Gilbert for the 10-run win.

"It went very well today," said Royal head coach Bill Barker. "We were mainly looking at pitching. Kali had two innings with no base hits."

Royal started cracking the bats in the bottom of the second inning when Jill Piercy singled to right.

Kali Delgado took the ball for a ride to center for a single to advance Piercy. Delgado's single was followed by a walk for Jordelle Forester.

Alyssa Christensen came to the plate with three on and no outs. She singled, driving in Piercy and the courtesy runner for Delgado. The single also advanced Forester to third.

Forester came home on a wild pitch during Holly Gilbert's at bat and Christensen stole second and third. Gilbert struck out to give the Lady Knights their first out of the inning.

Royal did not score another run, going to the dugout up 3-0 on Granger.

The Lady Knight's defense kicked into gear in the top of the third, going three up, three down with Delgado striking out two.

In the bottom of the third, Royal loaded up the bases with their first three batters.

Joelle Herrud singled and was followed by a walk for Piercy. Delgado singled on a third base error.

With three runners on Forester was walked to force Herrud home.

Christensen then hit a single to drive in two runners and advancing Forester to third.

Arlene Delgado stepped up to the plate and hit a shot that sent Forester and Christensen home before she was tagged out at second.

"Our short stop, Arlene Delgado, did a nice job of picking up ground balls and throwing girls out at first," said Barker.

Royal went into the fourth with an 8-0 lead on Granger.

Morgan Yearout came is as a relief pitcher for Kali Delgado. Yearout and the Lady Knight's defense went three up, three down in the top of the inning.

In the bottom of the inning, Royal failed to get a batter to base for the first time in the game, going one, two, three in the line-up before taking the field for one more round of defense.

Granger, again, went three up, three down and Royal took to the batter's box in the bottom of the fifth looking for the 10-run win.

Christensen hit a line single to left to get on base and advanced to third on a line single to right by Darcie Dyer, who pinch hit for Gilbert. Gilbert reentered the game after Dyer's hit.

"Darcie Dyer came in and pinch hit for us," Barker said. "She got a nice, hard base hit."