Dominating on Saturday. Dominated on Sunday.
That was the Jekyll-Hyde weekend for the North Island Royals Bantam AAA baseball team as they went 1-2 in a three-game homestand at Bill Moore Memorial Park.
The Royals got the weekend off to a strong start Saturday, defeating the Burnaby Braves 9-2. Great pitching by Bryce Stromquist was the key to victory as he chucked a complete-game four-hitter.
The Royals played error-free, stellar defence, including a highlight reel catch in right field by Courtenay’s Nolan Baker.
On Sunday, the sun was shining and the diamond glittering as the Royals hosted a twin bill with the TriCity Indians.
The visitors got a strong pitching performance from Jacob Doyle who went six innings and fanned seven in a 10-0 TriCity win.
The Indians wasted no time flexing their offensive muscles as Jordan Dray drilled an 0-2 pitch over the left field fence to lead off the game. Riley Engleson also went yard in the second for the first of his three hits on the day.
Game two looked as if it would be an instant replay of the opener as TriCity jumped to a quick 5-0 lead. But the Royals battled back with four runs in the bottom of the fourth and were threatening to take the lead only to strand runners at second and third.
The Indians then woke up and pounded in nine runs in the sixth to jump out to a 14-4 lead, which held up for the final score. Third-place TriCity improved to 10-2 on the season while the seventh-place Royals are now 6-8 in the 14-team BC Minor Baseball league.
The Royals are home again this weekend with a pair of doubleheaders at Nunns Creek Park in Campbell River.
They host the Victoria Eagles Red (5-10) on Saturday and Victoria Eagles Black (4-10) on Sunday. Games are at noon and 3 p.m. both days.
