Vs. Saskatoon Smokin’ Guns
The Royals did not make things easy on themselves in their opening contest of the week, but did just enough to squeak out a 2-0 win over the Saskatoon Smokin’ Guns on July 9 in Saskatoon.
Thomas Lessmeister picked up the complete game three-hit shutout on the mound for the Royals, who did their part behind their second year pitcher, as they committed no defensive errors.
While the Royals’ pitching and defense did their part, it was their offense who lagged behind, as they were forced to scratch and claw for each of their two runs, managing just three hits.
A Cam Blair run scoring base hit in the fifth inning proved important for the Royals, as it gave the club a two-run cushion, which they were able to carry to the end.
“It’s a good thing Thomas Lessmeister was on his game in this one,” the Royals wrote on their website.
Vs. Saskatoon Outlaws
With heavy rain hitting the area, the Royals’ contest against the Saskatoon Outlaws on July 11 was postponed, due to wet fields.
Due to the postponement, the Royals enjoyed a couple of extra days off before their 100th reunion contest.
Vs. Saskatoon Stallions
In one of the most special games in their history, the Royals used a six-run sixth inning to get past the Saskatoon Stallions 7-2 on July 14 from Marysburg in the Royals’ 100th anniversary game.
Curtis Strueby, the Royals’ longest tenured current member of the squad, fittingly led the way offensively for the Royals as the more than 20 year vet finished the afternoon 3-for-4 at the plate with a stolen base, run scored, and run batted in.
Colin Bauml picked up the win on the mound for the Royals, as the Marysburg native pitched six innings giving up two runs, both earned, on just two hits and four walks, striking out six.
Nick Anderson came on in relief of Bauml, and pitched a shutout seventh inning giving up just one hit batter.
Playing in front of a large crowd, including many former players, the Royals came out firing early as Curtis Strueby led off with a double in the bottom of the first, advanced to third on a ground out by Luke Strueby and scored on a John Lawrence ground out to give the Royals a 1-0 lead just three batters into the game.
The game remained 1-0 in favour of the home side until the sixth inning, when the Stallions took their first and only lead.
Bauml, who had been rolling along heading into the sixth inning, started off the inning with a walk and a strikeout, but a mistake to the third batter of the inning gave the Stallions a 2-1 lead thanks to a two-run homerun.
That homerun seemed to spark the home side, who came alive in the bottom of the seventh inning.
The Royals pounded out four singles in a row to lead off the inning, scoring twice to regain their one-run lead.
A lineout, hit by pitch, and sacrifice fly scored another as the Royals extended their lead to 4-2.
Three more singles, all going for runs batted in, gave the Royals a 7-2 lead.
With the Royals comfortably in front Anderson came on to close out the game, pitching a clean seventh to give the Royals the 7-2 win, their tenth straight in league play.
Outlook
With the win the Royals improve their regular season record to 11-1 on the season, good enough for top spot in the Saskatoon Senior Baseball League, eight points clear of the second place Saskatoon Hoppers.
The Royals’ next scheduled action comes in Saskatoon for a rare Saturday night contest against the Dodgers on July 21.
