Royal Knights baseball boys split tight Ki-Be double header

ROYAL CITY - The Royal High baseball team did something Saturday that's been hard to do - beat Kiona-Benton. The Knights won, 4-3, in the first game of a SCAC East doubleheader.

However, Royal came up flat to start the second game and fell, 9-2. The Knights gave up five unearned runs in two innings.

"Whenever you give up five early, it's always tough to get back in a ball game, especially against a quality club," coach Joe Avila said. "We fought to get back in it. We just couldn't find a way to get it done."

The first game was a championship performance for the Knights. Their pitching and defense were brilliant.

Aaron Johnson got the start on the mound and threw all seven innings while allowing two earned runs.

Sam Christensen went 2-3 with a walk and run scored. Aaron Johnson went 1-3 with a double and run scored. Kaden Jenks went 1-3. Teddy Mead was 1-3 with a run scored. Riley Lefler went 1-3 with a run scored.

The best of the hitting came in bottom of the seventh inning. Kiona Benton had a 3-1 lead.

With the tying run on third base, the bases loaded and two outs, pinch hitter Juan Niebla drew a walk, scoring Teddy Mead to make it 3-3.

Then Sam Christensen came to the plate with the winning run on third and drove a first pitch fastball into right centerfield to score Riley Lefler for the walkoff win.

"Aaron threw the ball extremely well, and the defense backed him every pitch," Avila said. "The bats were quiet, with only two hits heading to the seventh but came up big when it mattered most. These boys have a lot of fight, and anytime you can comeback and win a ball game like that, it's a good day."

In the second game, Kaden Jenks got the start, going five innings and giving up only five unearned runs. Sam Christensen went 1-2 with two walks. Teddy Mead reached base twice on two walks while Kai Jenks, Randy Dunn, Aaron Johnson, and Kaden Jenks each added a hit.

"Even though game 2 didn't go our way, it was good for us to walk away with a split, Avila said."