Kettering Royals

The Royals faced off against the Astros in their opening round series finale last night at Brandt Field.  Royals Rookie Frank Burgos started on the hill and the Astros countered with their ace Shawn Haffner.  The Royals were the visitors in the game and hit a few balls hard in the top of the first but left a runner stranded.  In the bottom of the 1st the Astros capitalized on some Royals errors and were able to plate 5 runs before the dust settled.  Down 6-0 going into the 2nd the Royals were able to get runners at 2nd and 3rd but Haffner got 2 back-to-back ground balls to end the Boys in Blue threat. The Astros added another run to their lead as Foster was able to belt a single into the outfield plating Evan.  In the top of the 3rd the Royals would finally begin to chip away at the 6-0 deficit.  Ubinger lead off for the Royals and was able to reach on a throwing error and Reynolds belted a single to get runners at the corners.  With 1 out rookie Chris Jergens belted a single to the gap that was able to plate Reynolds and Ubinger bringing Burgos to the plate.  Burgos belted a ball down the left field line but was thrown out trying to stretch a single into a double, but was able to move the runner from 1st to 3rd with Rudegeair due up.  Rudegeair knocked another single just over the shortstop in front of PJ Dobbins in center to score the 3rd run for the Royals cutting the Astros lead in half.  Burgos worked quickly through the bottom of the 3rd facing the minimum to bring the Boys in Blue back up to the plate.  In the top of the 4th the Royals would finally get to Haffner and would plate 5 runs off 5 hits and 2 walks to take the 8-6 lead.  The game would remain a nail-biting 8-6 for the next 3 innings.  In the top of the 7th Tim Peffley lead off for the Royals and legged out an infield single.  The Astros recorded their first out of the 7th as Jason Holmberg accidentally impeded Astros catcher on a sacrifice bunt down the 3rd base line.  With Peffley moved back to first after the interference Peffley moved from 1st to 3rd on his stealing his way into scoring position with 1 out.  With 2 strike's and Peffley at 3rd Tim Biedenharn knocked a deep fly to left that was able to score Peffley to increase the Royals lead to 9-6.  However the Astros are fighters and were not about to just give in and answered with a run of their own with an RBI single off Tony's bat before the Royals could close out the 7th.  Astros reliever Garrett Copas continued to handle Royals batters as he closed out the top of the 8th, and then helped his own cause in the bottom.  In the bottom of the 8th Copas belted a triple off the wall to plate the Astros runner from 2nd to cut the Royals lead to 1.  With 1 out and the tying run 90' away rookie Chris Jergens took the hill to close out the game.  Jergens was able to get a quick K for the 2nd out of the inning, but Sherrill was able to follow-up with a 2 out walk.  With runners on the corners for the Astros Sherrill moved closer stealing 2nd on the first Jergens pitch to Haffner.  Now with the tying and winning run within 180' of the plate Jergens bared down and got the K he needed to end the inning.

Entering the 9th inning the Royals held a slim 1 run lead with the heart of their inning due up looking to get an insurance run or two.  Copas entered the 9th inning after a scary warm-up hampered by some cramps, but dug deep and hung in there to end the top of the 9th holding the score at 9-8 Royals.  As the Astros headed to the plate in the bottom of the 9th down 1 run with hopes to pick up the win as the Royals have not had much luck in the close games this season, the Royals have lost 10 games this season by 3 runs or less.  Evan led off for the 'Stros and picked up the 4 pitch walk to get the tying run onboard with Foster due up.  Foster went right after Jergens swinging away, but on the pitch Evan broke for 2nd however was cut down by a perfect shot from Ubinger behind the dish for the big 1st out of the 9th.  With a 2-2 count Jergens was able to sneak another fastball passed Foster for the 2nd out of the inning.  Tony came up to the plate for the Astros looking to keep his team alive, but on this night Jergens would win the battle and recorded his 4th K to end the game sealing the Royals 9-8 victory.  At the plate 7 Royals recorded Multiple Hits in the victory, led by Jergens (3-5, 3 RBI), Burgos (3-4, 1 RBI), and Velasquez (3-5, RBI).

The Royals move into the playoffs after a rough 2 weeks.  After a 4 game win streak the Boys in Blue had a few too many errors to overcome in their last 4 games and were not so lucky.  The Royals begin playoff play this weekend.  They will face off against the Astros, a game that has happened in the finals the last 2 seasons.  Maybe this is foreshadowing that whoever wins the series will go on to take it all.  The teams play 1 game Saturday morning at 10 AM at Rotary Park.  Then they will meet up for games 2 and 3, if needed, on Sunday at 1 & 4 PM at West Carrollton High School.  Please come out to cheer on the Royals as they have a tough road ahead of them if they look to 3-Peat...

After a winless June (0-4), the Boys in Blue have bounced back in the month of July going 5-3 picking up wins in their last 3 games. The month of July has ended with a bang for the Royals as the picked up the double-header sweep of the Indians this past Sunday with 12-7 & 10-8 victories. In game 1 Tim Biedenharn had the game of his career going 4-4 with 4 runs scored, 3 RBI's, a double, and back-to-back homeruns in his final 2 at-bats. Falling only a triple shy of the cycle! In the game Jergens & Burgos also hit long balls. Royals Rookie Frank Burgos started on the hill and pitched a great game in front of his family. He threw a complete game striking out 5 in the game 1 12-7 victory.

During the brief intermission the Boys in Blue were re-energized with the help of a great picnic lunch supplied by the Reynolds family. In the nightcap Royals veteran Brenden Regan started on the hill. Mirror Burgos' start, Regan also pitched a complete game for a Royals victory. A few Indian long balls in the 7th and final inning made it interesting, but Regan was able to retire the final batter on an easy F4 for the 10-8 win. At the plate the Royals picked up key hits (and walks) off the Indians starter when needed. Highlights at the plate for the Boys in Blue included, Veteran Brian Duffy who hit a triple off the wall clear the bases capping off a 5 run second, Biedenharn stayed hot in game 2 going 0-0, with 1 run scored, 3 walks, and 3 RBIs, Kevin Reynolds plated 2 RBIs on 2 hits, Rudegeair was 2-2 with 3 runs, and Velasquez rebounded to go 2-3 scoring 2 runs in the 10-8 victory in the nightcap.

After a brief days rest the Royals were back in action Tuesday night at Rotary Park against 3rd place Shockers. The Shockers sent Jeff Cherry to the hill who has had the Royals number their last 2 meetings. For the Royals, Rookie left-hander Tyler Allen made his first start of the season. Allen had a rough start finding the zone in the first inning and with the help of the sun the Shockers were able to jump out to a quick 4-0 lead. In the bottom of the first the Royals were able to plate one as Biedenharn was able to score on a pass ball after reaching on a single and then moved over to third on a Jergens single. From there Allen worked inning after inning holding the Shockers at bay keeping the Royals in the game. Over Allen's final 5 1/3 innings of work he recorded 1 K, 8 Fly-outs, 6 ground-ball outs, and only gave up 4 hits. Down 4-1 the Royals were able to cut the lead in half as Biedenharn was again able to score on a pass ball after landing on third off his first triple of the year. In the 5th Reynolds got the Royals within 1 of the Shockers with a sacrifice fly that was able to plate Jameson from third. With a score sitting at 4-3 in favor of the Shockers in the top of the 6th, they were able to pickup an insurance run as the Shockers' Allen was able to score on a fielder's choice. However in the bottom of the 6th down 2 runs the Royals battled back off Shockers reliever Damon Barr. Rookie Chris Jergens led off the inning with a sharp single down the first base line, and after a quick K, veteran Jesus Velasquez III stepped up to the plate. Down 0-2 in the count, and his Mom and Daughter Savannah looking on, Jesus hit a clutch 2 run HR over the left field fence for his first of the year to tie the game at 5. In the 7th, Allen was replaced by Eric Jameson, coming on for his 2nd relief appearance, as the Shockers were able to get runners on 1st and 3rd with only 1 out. A quick pickoff play recorded the 2nd out of the inning, but Kuhn was able to move up to 2nd. With a Shocker runner still in scoring position Jameson was able to get the much needed flyout to end the threat. In the bottom of the 7th Barr worked quickly sitting the Royals down in order with the help of a 4-6-3 double play ball sending the game into extras tied 5-5. In the 8th Jameson mirrored Barr's performance and was able to pickup 3 quick outs bringing the Boys in Blue to the plate with the heart of their order due up. Biedenharn led off the inning for the Royals and was able to draw a key walk getting the winning run on base. However Biedenharn was unable to score as he was gunned down at the play by an excellent relay from the fence off a Jergens blast that fell a few feet short. With 1 out the Shockers were able to pickup the 2nd out of the inning with a short fly at the plate. With 2 outs, and 1st base open, the Shockers elected to intentionally walk Velasquez to setup the force anywhere. Following the velasquez's walk, Royals skipper Mark Franklin, was also able to draw a 2 out walk loading the bases. The Shockers still had a force at any base with 2 outs as Jason Holmberg stepped up to the plate. Not leaving anything to chance Holmberg jumped on the first pitch he saw and was able to hammer it between the Shortstop and Third baseman for the game winning walkoff single. Jameson recorded the victory as the Royals won 6-5, but Allen's 6 1/3 innings was key to keeping the Royals in it until the end.

I want to say thank you again to the Reynolds family for the picnic lunch between games Sunday, I truly think this helped us perform at the level needed for the victory in game 2 against the always tough Indians. Up next for the Royals, they have one more game this Sunday before the league breaks for the All-Star festivities. The Boys in Blue will face off at 4 PM in Springfield at Carleton Davidson Stadium, home of the Wittenburg Tigers. We hope that all the Royals family, friends, and fans can make it out to support the team. Be sure to check the locations page for a map if needed. We hope to see you at the ballpark.

The MVABL All-Star votes have been tallied and calculated.  Join me in congratulating Royals Rookie Chris Jergens & Veteran Kevin Reynolds as they will be representing the Boys in Blue in the 2009 MVABL All-Star Game.  Jergens will also be traveling to Columbus to represent the Royals in the Miami Valley All-Stars versus Columbus All-Stars to be played at Thomas Worthington High School Saturday August 8th.  Kevin and Chris are having great seasons.  Kevin is currently batting .303, leading the team in AB's, 2nd in Hits & Stolen Bases, and 3rd in Runs Scored.  Chris is also having a stellar year in his first year with the squad.  He is batting .441 and leads the team in 4 offensive categories, Hits, RBIs, Doubles, and Home Runs.

Also participating in the All-Star festivities, several Royals will be participating in the Home Run Derby.  Jergens, Frank Burgos, Tim Peffley (2008 Runner-up), and Tim Biedenharn and Jesus Velasquez who belted long balls this past weekend will also be taking their shot at the grand prize.  This years' derby winner will take home a Nintendo Wii.

 All All-Star festivities will be held at Athletes in Action on Sunday August 9th.  The Home Run Derby will begin at 1 PM with the All-Star game to follow starting at 4 PM.  Please come out and support the Boys in Blue as they represent the Royals on All-Star Weekend.

Be sure to checkout the game recap from the Royals thriller victory over the Indians on Sunday just posted!  Also all your Boys in Blue stats are updated through Sunday's game.  The Royals play a pair of games this Sunday against the Thunder, who got the best of the Royals in their final at bats of the 9th inning, at 10 AM and then an afternoon game in their first meeting with the newly reorganized South Dayton Slammers at 1 PM.  Both games are at Rotary Park, if any Royals parent or fan would like to grill between games I'm sure all players would be happy to partake as this will be a long day.  Both games will be 9 innings so be sure to pack your sunscreen...  See you at the ballpark!