The North Island Royals took three of four games from a Bantam AAA baseball weekend home stand in Campbell River. The rain held off for both doubleheaders at Nunns Creek Park.
On Saturday, the Royals split with the Victoria Red Eagles. They won the first game 9-8 on a two-out single by Jayden Saban that scored Adam McKillican from second base on a close play at home to win the game walk-off style in the bottom of the seventh. McKillican went 3-for-4 in the game while Liam Janzen went 3-for-3.
Victoria Red bounced back to take the second game 14-2 behind some good chucking by their starter.
Sunday’s first game was an 8-1 win for the Royals over Victoria Black Eagles. Starter Cory Bukauskas pitched a solid, complete game, giving up only one run in the top of the seventh. Jake Ingersoll had a good game at the plate, going 2-for-3 with a walk and two runs scored.
Game two was more of a challenge. The Royals trailed 8-2 going into the sixth when the bats came to life. Janzen led off the inning with a triple to the wall, and nine batters later McKillican drove in the tying run with a liner to centre on a full count and two out.
Williams Drewry went 2-for-4 and drove the nail in the Black Eagles’ coffin with a double in the sixth to bring home the ninth and 10th runs of the frame.
Ethan Brunton and Braxten Barnes came through with some clutch hits early on to keep the Royals in the game.
The Royals’ coaching staff (David Drewry, Todd Barnes, Lee McKillican and Ryan Chenard) was very happy with the boys’ come-from-behind win. “A real character builder,” they noted.
The three wins improved the Royals’ record to 9-9 and moved them into seventh place in the 14-team B.C. league.
Next action is May 25 in Courtenay at Bill Moore Memorial Park against the powerful Abbotsford Angels. Game times are 12 p.m. and 3 p.m.
– North Island Royals
