Kettering Royals

On Tuesday the Boys in Blue we're supposed to meet up in their 3rd and final matchup of the regular season with the Miami Valley Thunder.  However Mother Nature added a little "Thunder" & Rain of her own and washed out the game.  The makeup is TBD at this time.  Stay Tuned for further Details.

The Kettering Royals faced off against the Dayton Astros on Thursday night in their first meeting of the season.  The game started off slow as the game was halted for a Monsoon Delay after the top of the first, but not before the Astros could plate the first run of the game.  However following the rain delay both teams really pulled together to uncover the dry dirt from under the wetness using cleats and boards.  Plus, luckily the Astros dugout was perfectly sheltered from the blowing rain, and happened to be filled with a dry dirt like substance that helped dry up some of the puddles.  So once the game resumed the game went back and forth before some the Royals batters out-lasted the Astros pitching.  Astros starter Garrent Copas had a good start, but had to throw a lot of pitches before leaving the mound.  The Royals were then able to plate a few more runs.  With a 9-3 lead entering the top of the 9th Royals starter Jason Holmberg looked to close out his first start in almost a month.  The Astros were able to make it interesting as they were able to plate 2 more runs before the Royals were able to finally record the last out on a sharply hit line drive to Left Center.  Great game to both teams, and also great job to get the field fixed up enough to continue despite the horrible down pour.

 Up next for the Royals, they will meet up with the Miami Valley Thunder on Tuesday night for their 3rd and final matchup.  Game time is 7:00 PM at Rotary Park.  Be sure to get their early to secure a seat to cheer on the Boys in Blue as they battle the Thunder in a Divisional Game.

Following the Kettering Royals 3 game losing streak, Mother Nature kept all teams off the fields with storms.  But the Boys in Blue have been back at it the last 2 weeks and they have made the most of it.  Last week the Royals faced off against the division leading Thunder looking to pickup a much needed divisional victory to keep pace.  The Royals sent Bryan Braswell to counter Thunder fireballer Matt Walters.  It was a pitching duel as Braswell and Watlers combined for 25 strikeouts in the game.  But with the game tied 1-1 in the top of the 8th the Royals were able to capitalize on a few hits and Thunder errors to eek out 3 crucial runs late in the game with the top of the Thunder lineup due up.  Braswell stayed in to try and finish the gem he had started and didn't disappoint.  After a leadoff walk he was able to retire the next 3 batters for the 4-1 CG victory.

 Following that exciting win against the Thunder, the "bare minimum" Royals looked to take the Dragons and their plethora of extras.  The Dragons showed the weekend wear after already playing 3 games on the weekend and sent any body and everybody to the mound.  The Royals offense exploded on the day belting 21 hits, 9 of which were doubles.  Royals catcher Mark Franklin and centerfielder Chris Jergens were each able to lift balls out of the park.  Frank Burgos started on the hill for the Royals, making his first start since he was beat up againts the Thunder in May, and showed some rust, but was able to throw 6 strong innings giving up only 3 hits.  Adam Thomas was also able to bounce back from his last trip to the mound as he needed just 4 pitches to close out the 20-7 victory over the Dragons.   On the day Royals veteran Kevin Reynolds picked up his first 2 hits of the 2010 season, and Franklin's Homerun was his first since 2006.

The Boys in Blue are off this weekend to celebrate our Independence, but will be back in action on July 8th as they will take on the Dayton Astros in their first matchup of the season.  The game will be played at historic Howell field and will start at 7:00 PM.  Please be sure to show up early to secure a good seat for the game. 

The Boys in Blue have had a tough 2 weeks.  After picking up 4 wins in their previous 5 games the Memorial Day Holiday Weekend was rough for the team.  They faced off in a divisional double header against the Dayton Rangers.  With limited numbers on the bench the team did what they could to battle the Rangers and the staggering heat and humidity.  They were joined by some former Royals, Jason Griffith, Ben Ailes, and Chris Heitker, who came out to play to help fill the empty spots in the roster.  They were able to fill the spots, but in the end were not enough as the Royals lost the pair to the Rangers.

This past Sunday they Royals were hoping to get back on track, but the voodoo hex placed on the Boys in Blue at West Carrollton was again in effect.  The last game the Boys in Blue played at WC they did not play their best suffering a mercy rule loss to the Thunder.  Sunday looked to be different as Chris Jergens and Jesus Velasquez roped back-to-back RBI hits before Drew Dobbins capped off the Royals first inning with a 3 run shot, his first hit in over a month.  However the Shockers were not just going to give the game to the Royals as they countered with a solo shot of their own off Allen's bat to end the first 5-1 Royals.  Both teams were held scoreless in the 2nd, and the Royals would add their final 4 runs of the game in the top of the 3rd highlighted by Dobbin's 2nd HR of the day.  With the score holding at 9-1, the Shockers cut into the lead with a 3 run 5th with a pair of homeruns.  From their the Shockers would continue to chip away at the Royals lead, plating 2 more in the 6th to cut the Royals lead to 2.  For the Royals though the WC hex would bite them in the bottom of the 8th.  Kevin Reynolds pitched well for the Royals going 6 2/3 innings striking out 3 and walking 0, but the game was turned over to Adam "Blackjack" Thomas in the 7th who has been untouchable so far this season.  But in the 8th the Shockers were able to get to Thomas and plate 4 more runs with the help a few walks, Royals errors, and timely singles to take the game from the Royals.  The Royals offense was again silenced in the top of the 9th for the 9-11 loss to the Shockers.  In the game the Royals not only lost, but they also lost their draft pick, DJ Swearingen, who suffered a broken finger, which also resulted in his nail being removed to relive the pressure, while fielding a ground ball late in the game.

The Royals will again be on the road this weekend as they will face off against the Miami Valley Cardinals, a team they last saw on Opening Day.  Game time is 1 PM, and the location will again be at West Carrollton.  The Boys in Blue hope to find a way to shake the hex as they will spend the majority of June playing at West Carrollton.  Fans please show up early to find a seat and cheer on the Boys in Blue as they look to get back into the win column.

The Royals were back in action this past weekend after losing their divisional game with the Miami Valley Dragons.  They played a pair of games, Saturday versus the new Camden Redlegs, and Sunday they had their second matchup with the Warren County Shockers.  1st up on Saturday the Boys in Blue were able to outlast the Redlegs for a 4-3 victory in the 10th inning.  Then on Sunday the played the Shockers at Kettering Fairmont High School.  The game had a slow pace as Royals Rookie starter Drew Dobbins and Shockers starter Jeff Cherry kept the hitters off balance.  However in the 6th inning the Boys in Blue were finally able to get to Cherry and plate a few runs to break away for the 7-4 victory.

For complete game recaps check out the game summary.  Up next for the Royals, they will play another key divisional game.   They will travel Northeast to face off with the Springfield Indians at Springfield Northwestern High School.  Game time is 1:00 PM, be sure to arrive early to secure a spot for another exciting game of baseball.