ROYALS END SEASON ON A HIGH

After a very successful USA trip, the Royals 18U team ended their 2010-2011 season in style with two games against the Niagara Blue Jays. With all but four players playing their final game as a Royal, they made sure that their time as Royals ended on a positive note by winning the first game 8-4 and by tying the final game 5-5.
In the first game the Royals scored four runs in the top of the second to take a 4-0 lead after two innings. Arsene Pinguelo started for the Royals and continued his excellent pitching of late striking out 4 Blue Jays in his two scoreless innings. In his last 15 innings as a Royal Pinguelo allowed only two earned runs while striking out 13. J.D. Bryce was excellent over the next two innings keeping the Niagara team scoreless on one a single and two Ks. In the top of the fifth inning the Royals increased their lead to 5-0. In the top of the sixth the Royals scored three more runs to take a 8-0 lead heading into the bottom of the sixth inning. Joe Browne, who had relieved Bryce to start the fifth, pitched two innings and after a clean fifth, allowed 4 runs, 2 unearned, in the bottom of the sixth. With the score 8-4, Paul Anderson, who was outstanding during the American tour, pitched the seventh inning and secured the Royals victory keeping the Blue Jays to only a single.
The offense was lead by Logan Karse and Joshua Lee-Him. Karse, who with his hitting, speed and excellent defense was a big reason for the Royals success in the USA, continued to lead with a double, two singles, a run scored and an rbi. Lee-Him responded to facing his old team with two singles, a run and two rbi. Jeff Slasor, who this season has played second base, short stop and third base, played short stop this game and as usual did a good job defensibly and added a single, a run and drove in a run. Jonathan Del Pozo play at third continued to impress and he contributed offensively with a single and scoring a run. Andrew Bolton and Andrew Forrester contributed with a single each. Daniel Campos added a single and drove in a run.
With only three pitchers available for the second game and pitchers scheduled to go no more than two innings, the second game lasted 6 innings and ended in a 5-5 draw.
Dolan Dunigan who had lead the Royals with his bat in the USA got the start on the mound for the Royals final game of the season. After allowing two runs in the first inning, Dunigan came back strong in the second allowing only a walk and the Royals scored a run in the second and another in the third to tie the game at 2. Alex Mann took over in the third for Dunigan and after striking out two in a scoreless third inning, allowed three runs, 2 earned, in the fourth inning. The Royals scored two runs in the fourth and trailed 5-4 after four. The final two innings for the Royals were pitched by Kyle Flemington who did not allow a hit in his final appearance as a Royal. In the fifth inning the Royals tied the game on a triple by Logan Karse who drove in Daryl Taube. Lee-Him continued to swing a hot bat with a double, a single, a run and an rbi. Del Pozo and Forrester had singles. Matthew McCue contributed with a single and an rbi.
After the game, players, coaches, family members and the Royals President, Mel Swinton and V.P., Mike Swinton got together for some pizza and to congratulate all the players going off to universities and colleges in the USA and Canada.
Kyle Flemington was awarded the MEL AWARD. The award is named after the Royals President, Mel Swinton and it comes with a $1,000 cheque from the Royals organization. Flemington was a very deserving winner. After not beeing able to pitch for all of last year due to major shoulder surgery. Kyle worked and continues to work extremely hard and as a result he continues to improve which has earned him a scholarship at an American college.
Congratulations to all the Royals players moving on to colleges and universities all over North America. I am sure you will make us proud. Play hard and study even harder but never forget to have fun.