The Save-on-Foods Parksville Royals wilted in the heat on Sunday, dropping both matches against the Abbotsford Cardinals.
The two teams, prior to Sunday, were neck and neck in the PBL standings with the Royals at 18-11 and the Cards at 19-10. The two teams split their previous encounter two weeks ago in Abbotsford.
Game 1 was an epic pitching duel. Starter Brady Radcliffe threw six strong innings and gave up one unearned run while striking out seven to lower his ERA to 1.73. Brodie Comerford came on in relief and did yeoman’s work, pitching an additional six innings and allowed no runs.
With good pitching and steady defence working well, it was the Royals’ offence that let them down as they left runners stranded.
In the 13th inning, Jaxon Ackerman took over the mound but the Cards hitters got to him as he gave up five earned runs without recording an out. Shae Verral came in to complete the inning but allowed yet two more runs to give the Cards seven runs in the frame. The Parksville bats exhibited late life and rallied for two runs in the bottom of the 13th inning but it wasn’t enough, losing 8-3.
Jacob Volkers got the start in game 2 and was victimized by the long ball as the Cards managed to get a double and a home run with men on base. Volkers worked for five innings and allowed seven earned runs before Brayden Baker took over. But he too wasn’t able to put out the fire as he allowed three earned runs over 1 1 /3 inning. The Cards went on to win 11-3.
Connor Hall led the Royals batting as he went 2-for-3 with one run while Thomas Green went 2-for-4 with one RBI.
Junior Royals carry hot bats in Kelowna
The Save-on-Foods Parksville Junior Royals played four games in Kelowna against the Okanagan Athletics over the weekend and the boys in purple came away with only one win. They lost 6-0, 6-5, and 6-4 but made a strong comeback in the fourth game to win 7-11.
In game one, starter Travis Frank allowed six runs on eight hits over four innings before Jaden Barr came on to throw two innings of scoreless relief. The Royals offense managed six walks and five hits including doubles from Max Kolopenuk and Nathan Lagos but somehow managed not score. Final score Athletics 6-0.
Game two started with a bang as the Royals led 3-2 after 1 inning and 5-2 after three innings. Starter Nolan Macdonald allowed two earned runs over five innings and struck out seven batters. The bullpen couldn’t hold on to the lead as Kevin Mulrooney allowed two runs in 1/3 inning and Jordan Dennis allowed another run pitching 1 2/3 innings.
The Royals lost 6-5 and the game marked the team’s seventh one-run loss with just less than half the season to play. At the dish, Lagos stayed productive with a double and an RBI while Kolopenuk hit a triple for his second extra-base hit of the day. Singles from James Ingersoll, Trevor Nicoll, and Laine Rogers rounded out the offense for Parksville.
The next day in game one, it was the Royals turn to mount a comeback as the Athletics jumped on starter Brier Pilon and some sketchy defense to lead 5-0 after three innings. Pilon pitched five innings allowing four earned runs while striking out five. Jacob Stockton pitched an inning of relief and gave up a run on two hits. The big bat of the game belonged to Nolan Macdonald who crushed his first home run of season in the top of the fifth inning to bring the score to 5-4. Ingersoll contributed two singles and Stockton, Rogers, and Nicoll each chipped in hits but it wasn’t enough as Okanagan got the win 6-4.
The final game was a wild affair with the teams combining to score 18 runs over seven innings of play. Starter Nathan Lagos went five innings and allowed three earned runs on seven hits. Laine Rogers pitched the sixth and gave up three more runs. Brett Wildeman pitched the seventh and allowed a run on two hits. The story for the game, however, was the offense. The Royals bats exploded for 11 runs on 12 hits to claim 11-7 victory.
Kolopenuk continued his hot weekend at the plate driving in five runs on the strength of a double and his first home run of the season. Ingersoll went 2-for-3 with a double and a triple, scoring four runs while Lagos was 2-for-4 and catcher Tyler Newby was 2-for-3 with an RBI.
Bantam Royals gracious hosts to Coquitlam
The Save-on-Foods Parksville Bantam Royals lost both ends of their double-header against the visiting Coquitlam Reds.
In game 1, Ethan Dean started and threw 4 innings allowing five runs on eight hits with five strikeouts and a walk. Ellis Vugteveen came on in relief and gave up two runs on two hits over three innings. The offense was powered by Austin Walper and Owen Crouse who each smacked doubles and drove a run a in. Owen Lagos, Elijah Oelke, and Vugteveen added singles. Final score Coquitlam 7-4.
Game two was a boat race with the Royals coming out on the wrong end of a 13-11 score. Parksville pitching had no answer for the Coquitlam sticks and the offense was good but not good enough to win on this day. The Bantam Royals are play in Courtenay on Saturday and then back home at Springwood Park on Sunday against the North Shore Twins.
