Kettering Royals

On Sunday the Royals played their first Divisional games of the 2013 Season. They met up with the Brick City Braves at Rotary Park for the doubleheader. In game 1 the Royals were the visiting team and it didn't take them long to get heated up. Brian Duffy got the first of the game and moved from 1st to 3rd off a double by Chris Jergens. Jason Holmberg cleared the bases changing places with Jergens with a double of his own for the early 2-0 lead. Neil Stafford was able to score Holmberg after hitting a scorching single bounced off the Braves pitcher's foot, and then Mark Franklin capped off the scoring in the first with a single to plate Matt Finster who reached base with the Free Pass. Royals crafty veteran Kevin Reynolds was on the hill for the Royals in game 1 with the early 4-0. Reynolds worked quickly and efficiently through Braves hitters. He got the Braves to go 1-2-3 to end the first inning. The Royals hot bats stayed hot, scoring runs in every inning of the game. Highlights from the 2nd inning, Jergens belted his 2nd Homerun of the season with a solo shot to left-center as the Royals plated 3 more runs for the quick 7-0 lead after one and a half. In the bottom of the 2nd the Braves were able to get on the scoreboard as Dan McMenamin reached on a single and then moved over to 3rd on an errant pickoff throw and a pitch in the dirt. Kris Sisco was able to sneak another single in there to plate the Braves only run as Reynolds shutdown their offense. The Royals continued to hit as they nearly batted around in the 3rd as they went on to score another 5 runs on 6 hits, again highlighted by Jergens 3rd homerun, 2nd of the game, a 2 run shot to straight-away center. With the 12-1 lead, Reynolds continued to work quickly on the mound the offense continued to score behind him. The Royals offense posted another 5 runs over the 4th and 5th to put the game out of reach for the Braves. Reynolds finished up 17-1 win with his 69th pitch of the game as he got the called 3rd stike to end the game after 5.

After a brief break the Royals would take the field as the home team, but with the empty bench and no subs Reynolds was still fresh and he took the mound again in game 2. The brief break and limited warm-up got to Reynolds a bit as the Braves were able to score 2 quick runs in the 1st as they sent 7 batters to the plate. The Royals would cut the Braves lead in half as Holmberg hit his 3rd double of the day to score Duffy from second. Going into the 2nd Reynolds got back into his groove, and baffled Braves hitters to get another 1-2-3 inning (6 out of 10 IP). And in the bottom of the 2nd the Boys in Blue got back on top as they were able to score 4 runs on 3 hits, but in the 3rd the Royals would put the game out of reach for the Braves. With the 5-2 lead the Royals would send 13 batters to the plate and scored 7 more runs highligted by a bases clearing triple off the bat of Jason Holmberg. The Royals would add 1 more run in the 4th to cap off the scoring as the rain would roll through and soak the field as the game was called securing the DH sweep with the 13-2 win. Reyonlds picked up his 2nd CG win on the day and pickedup another 8 K's in game 2.

Defense was what really shut the Braves down. Reynolds was perfect on the day getting the Braves to either put the ball in play or he picked up the strikeout. He didn't have 1 walk on the day and picked up 14 K's in 10 innings of work. The Defense played solid behind him to keep the Braves off the bases. However, at the plate it was an another offensive explosion for the Boys in Blue as they were able to score 30 runs on 33 hits. They have outscored their opponents 76-21 so far over their first 5 games of the season.

The bats are hot right now and they look to stay hot next Sunday as they play in their first matchup with the other new MVABL team, the Wright Knights, who are coming off the 3-1 win over the Braves. The game is scheduled to be played at Howell Field at 1:00 pm. Come out to cheer on the Royals as they look to remain perfect.

Offensive Highlights:
    Kevin Reynolds 5-9 //4 runs//2B//6 SB//3 RBI
    Brian Duffy 4-5 //5 runs//2B//3B/3 BB//4 RBI
    Chris Jergens 3-5 //3 runs//2B//2 HR's//3 RBI
    Jason Holmberg 5-9 //3 runs//3 2B//3B//5 RBI
    Neil Stafford 4-6 //5 runs//SB//3 RBI
    Mark Franklin 4-7 //2 runs//4 RBI

Defensive Highlights:
    Kevin Reynolds 2 CG Wins (10 IP//14 K's//0 BB//2 ER)

In Week 2 Royals Rookie Matt Koopman was the recipient of the Advocare Pitcher of the Week award.  Matt threw a 1 hit, 9 inning complete game against the top seeded Dayton Rangers for the Royals victory.  Matt racked up 8 strikeouts and had 0 earned runs in his first start as a Royal.

 In Week 3 veteran Short Stop Brian Duffy was honored as the Planet Smoothie Offensive Player of the Week.  Brian picked up the honor going a perfect 4-4 at the plate in the Royals victory of the Springfield Indians.  At the plate he showed his always keen eye for the strikezone picking up 2 walks, and belted his first triple of the season, which ALMOST turned into an inside the parker.  He also helped the scoring crossing the plate 3 times and picking up 5 RBIs.

Congratulations to both players on their Weekly League Awards.

The Royals met up with the Springfield Indians, former Division Rival, on the tail end of a split doubleheader undere the lights at Athletes in Action. Jason Holmberg took the mound for Boys in Blue and the Tribe countered with hard throwing Jeff Skaggs. Both pitchers worked quickly through the 1st inning of the game, but the Royalls were just getting warmed up in the cold night. They scored 1st in the 2nd as Matt Koopman belted an RBI single to play Jake Wilson from 2nd. That was the first of many runs to come as the Royals would score in each of the final 7 innings of the game, except the 5th. The Royals continued to light up the scoreboard, but trouble with the lights prevented them from putting the game away. Up 13-0 going into the 6th the Indians finally got to Holmberg who had only given up 4 hits over the first 5 innings picking up 3 K's, but in the 6th the Indians would threaten. They led off with 5 straight hits to score 4 quick runs. As the Royals bullpen was active hoping Holmberg could finish the inning, an error and another singled forced a pitching change. The Royals called upon Kevin Reynolds to close down the 6th, but misplayed towering flyballs allowed the Indians to plate 2 more runs. Reynolds was able to get out of the inning as he took control on an infield fly to complete the 6th. Although the defense faltered a bit the Offense was still working hard to keep the Indians down. Now up 13-6 in the 7th the Royals got 1 run back as Neil Stafford scored Mark Franklin from 2nd. Now up 14-6 going into the 8th the Royals were able to score 3 with Chris Jergens a 2 RBI single and he would come around to score on an Indians Error. With the score at 17-6 going into the bottom of the 8th the Indians were able to put another run on the board as Eric Becker was able to score on back to back Royals Errors. Up 17-7 entering the top of the 9th the Boys in Blue weren't done at the plate. Stafford started off the inning with his 2nd hit of the game coming in relief for Brad Koopman, and Shawn Rudigeair was hit by the pitch to bring around the top of the Royals order. Reynolds was able to score Stafford with a single, Brian Duffy scored Rudigeair with a single of his own, and Jergens scored Reynolds and Duffy as he belted a triple to left-center and would later come around to score on another Indians miscue. Entering the Indians final stand they had a tall feat in front of them, down 22-7, Joey Cherry started the inning working the 4 pitch walk and then moved to 2nd on a passball. Reynolds got a short flyout to Center for the 1st out, but Skaggs would put runners at 2nd and 3rd with a double, and then a deep fly to Jergens in centerfield would score Cherry. With the score sitting 22-8 Reynolds close the book on the game getting Eric Becker hit into the routine 6-3 for the final out of the game.

The end wasn't as clean as the Royals would've liked, but the were able to make up for those miscues on the Offensive side of the ball. The win is the 3rd straight for the Boys in Blue as they look towards next week where play the Brick City Braves in Sunday afternoon Doubleheader at Howell Field. Gametime is 1 PM, come out early to get your seat.

Offensive Highlights:

Brian Duffy: 4-4 // 3 runs // 3B // 5 RBIs

Chris Jergens: 3-6 // 4 runs // 3B // 7 RBIs

Shawn Rudegeair: 4-4 // 4 runs

The Boys in Blue faced off against Rangers who have held the MVABL #1 Spot in the Who's Hot list for the first two weeks of the 2013 Season. The Royals and Rangers historically play exciting games and this one would be no different. On a beautiful day for baseball the Royals sent Rookie Matt Koopman to the mound for his first start, and he wouldn't disappoint. Steve Marshall lead off the game for the Rangers and got what would later prove to be the Rangers only hit that grazed off Matt's open hand and rolled between the mound and 2nd base, but it was enough for Steve to reach 1st. The game moved quickly over the first 2.5 innings as both teams only combined for 3 hits. In the bottom of the 3rd the Royals would be the first to score as Duffy was able to scamper home after an errant throw from the outfield ended up in the Royals dugout. Matt continued to work quickly through Rangers batters, but in the top of the 5th the Rangers would tie the game at 1. Robert Riley was able to reach base as a hard "rug-burner" skipped off the end of Duffy's glove at short. Riley was able to come home to tie the game after a pair of walks and a HBP loaded the bases. Matt buckled down and got his 4th K of the game for the 1st out of the inning. With 1 out, game tied at 1, Matt was able to get the inning ending 6UA-3 Double Play to end the Rangers threat. That was as close as it would be for the Rangers as the Royals busted open the scoring in the bottom of the 5th. Chris Jergens belted a 2 run homerun to left center to put the Royals up 3-1. In the 6th the Royals would add 2 more off an RBI single by Mark Franklin and pass ball allowed Brad Koopman to score from 3rd. With a 5-1 lead going into the bottom of the 8th the Boys in Blue added a few more insurance runs highlighted by another 2 run homerun, but this time off the bat of Frank Burgos. Entering the top of the 9th with a 8-1 lead Matt Koopman looked to finish what he'd started. With 2 outs and facing Marshall who started the game with the Rangers only hit Matt was able to get his 8th K of the game to end it! It was a great victory against a tough Rangers team that has had the Royals number quite a bit over the last few years.

 With the win the Royals stay undefeated as they look forward to their matchup with Springfield Indians. The Royals will play under the lights this Sunday evening at Athletes in Action at 7pm.

As the snow comes and goes the Boys in Blue have been had at work in the cages preparing for the 2013 season. The Royals are returning 11 from their 2012 lineup to take another crack at the MVABL Championship. To fill some of the holes, and then some, the team management has pulled from a few different areas to help fully round out the roster. Their first new addition was their 2013 1st round draft pick Chas Roberds(Northmont). Roberds played baseball for Northmont and then had a brief stint the Urbana Blue Knights after his graduation. Roberds adds speed and versatility to the lineup as he'll roam the middle of the infield when he's not on the mound. Also new to the team this year is Bryan Murphy(Northmont) and Josh Shea(Wayne).  Murphy and Share are both currently playing baseball with Sinclair and will both join the team after their Spring season comes to an end. Murphy and Shea will help add some youthful depth to the Royals Pitching staff during the long hot summer. Murphy is a hard throwing righty and Shea is a crafty left-hander, they will make a good 1-2 punch on the mound. Also joining the team to join the Royals pitching staff is former Thomas More pitcher, and Goal Keeper, Matt Koopman. Matt will be joining his brother Brad on the team, making them the 2nd Brother Combo on the Royals roster joining Jake and Paul Wilson. Matt hasn't played in a few years, but is anxious to get back onto the mound and pick-up right where he left off in his 6-2 senior season with the Saints. Their final new additional is actually not a rookie, but former Royal and MVABL veteran Matt Finster. Matt last wore Blue with the Royals in 2010 for a little while before a job change ended his season. Finster was batting .421 before his season came to an abrupt end. He is very excited to get back onto the ball field and prove he's still a threat at the plate.

Helping guide and shape the new band of Royals rookies is a great group of Veterans. Some key players/highlights to watch out for in 2013 include Veteran pitcher Jason Holmberg who is looking to rebound from late season shoulder surgery that removed him from the mound to correct an ailment that has bothered him for the past few years. Pitching pain free for the first time in a long time Holmberg feels he is back to his college form. Shawn Rudegeair has been doing some serious Insanity and weight training this off season and has really "bulked up". Rudy is hoping to improve on his career best batting average .375, he had last season. Jake Wilson will be returning for his second season and looking to build on his great rookie season. Jake played in all 28 games and batted just under .400!! He finally found his groove late in the year and the Royals are hoping he picks up right where he left off. The Royals also hope Jake's brother Paul is able to return following his season with Sinclair. In only 18 plate appearances Paul batted .566, and showed blazing speed on the base paths. Also looking to pick-up where they left off is Kevin Reynolds. Reynolds heart and soul for the game help drive the team and he had his best year on the mound going 5-1 and leading the team in Innings Pitched (47) and a 2.11 ERA. At the plate Reynolds batted .410, and using his speed he led the royals in Stolen Bases(10) and Runs scored(31). Since moving into the leadoff role a few years ago he's proven to be a hard out each game. The other most difficult out on the team is the Royals Shortstop Brian Duffy. Duffy's season was shortened due to intense studying for the bar exam, but even though he was still able to post a batting average of .405 in 2012, 3rd on the team. And not to be forgotten is one of the best hitters in the league, Chris Jergens. Chris' presence in the field and at the plate are unmatched. With one throw or one swing he has the gift and ability to change the course of the game. Jergens led the offense again in 2012 batting a stunning .507 and led the team with Hits(37), RBIs(35), HR(4), and Slugging Percentage (.822).

These are just a few highlights to watch out for in 2013 as the Royals prepare for their Opening Day matchup against the Miami Valley Thunder on April 7th at Franklin High School.