Royal Knights split home doubleheader with Connell
Shelli Worsham/courtesy photo
ROYAL CITY — The Knights and Eagles bats were lively as the teams combined for 26 runs in their twin bill in Royal City Saturday. Royal came back to beat Connell 7-6 in the opener, but failed to bring a runner across the dish in the second game and were shut out 13-0.
Game 1
“Connell came out of the gates quicker than us and went up 4-0. Sawyer (Jenks) started and did a great job battling to limit the damage,” coach Brandon Jenks said. “They hit the ball well and we struggled in the field the first few innings. We finally woke up in 5th.”
Royal actually posted one run in the bottom of the fourth and then added five in the home half of the fifth with two outs to go up top 6-4. The big blow of the inning was a 3-run dinger over the left field wall by Sawyer Jenks.
The Eagles posted a run in the top of the sixth and seventh innings to tie it 6-all. The Knights sealed it with a run in the bottom of the frame.
Jenks got the start and the win going 5 innings, giving up 6 hits, walking 4 and fanning 4. Freshman Kevin Reyes pitched two innings in relief.
“Kevin came in and closed the game pitching the 6th and 7th innings,” coach Jenks said. “He did a great job for his first league appearance closing this one out.”
Game 2
Connell held a 3-1 lead in the third inning and then exploded for 10 runs in the fifth to slam the door shut on Royal. The Knights only managed two hits in the ball game while committing three errors. Corbin Christensen got the start and gave up all 10 runs in 4-2/3s inning of work.
“Connell hit the ball really well and we helped them out a few times. Corbin pitched this game and battled, but we need to do a better job of helping our pitchers out,” Jenks said. “Mathew Kelly pitched for Connell and shut us down. He did a great job changing speeds and keeping our hitters off the ball. We’ll learn a lot from these games and work hard to continue improving week by week.”
Royal was back on the diamond in Peshastin for a game with Cascade High, but the results of the contest were not available at time of press.