The Quality Foods Parksville Royals dropped their double-header this weekend to the Whalley Chiefs at home, losing 3-2 and 6-4 under the sun on Saturday.
Both games were closely contested, which has been a theme for the Royals this season. In the four games they played over the last two weeks against the Chiefs, three were decided by two runs or less.
While staying in the game, the Royals have had trouble finding wins.
“We’re right there with every game,” head coach Dave Wallace said. “This weekend was a perfect example of that. We played Whalley close and had chances to win both games. As a team, we just need to start feeling a little more confident out there.”
“Our pitching has been good, our defense has been good too, and we just need those bats to come around now. Once one guy starts to hit the ball well, the rest of the team takes notice and they start to feel confidence too from seeing that.”
Owen Kelly pitched six innings in game one, giving up two runs on 10 hits with seven strikeouts.
Hayden Scheck came on in relief and gave up one run in one inning of work, taking the loss in game one.
Colton Tuka got the start for the Royals in game two, pitching five innings and giving up three runs while striking out five.
Zack Senay would come on to finish the game for the Royals, throwing two innings and giving up two runs.
Errington’s Liam Ballance cranked his first home run of the season in the second game of the double-header, hitting it into orbit. It wasn’t enough for the Royals, however, as they would drop game two by a score of 6-4.
“It’s all about confidence,” Wallace said. “Hitting a baseball is a very difficult thing and lots of it is in between the ears. Our team hasn’t hit the ball well so far this season and with that happening, it’s very easy for players to get down.”
“But seeing Liam hit a ball the way he did, and he’ll be the first to let you know he’s been struggling, that gives a kid confidence. So we just need to have a little more belief in ourselves when it comes to hitting the ball and in time, it’s going to turn around.”
The Royals now have a busy week ahead as they’ll play five games, starting Wednesday night against the Nanaimo Pirates at Serauxmen Stadium in Nanaimo. Saturday the Royals will travel to Delta to take on the North Delta Blue Jays for a double-header. On Sunday, it’s off to Coquitlam to take on the Coquitlam Reds, another double-header.
“It’s going to be busy,” Wallace said. “Lots of playing time for everyone, especially being that it’s graduation season. We’ll have players in and out of the lineup all week, so we’re going to see lots of kids get lots of playing time.”
