Royals Win 2 More
By Nathan McShinsky

The Royal baseballers took their 4-3 home record on the road for the first time in the 2007 season to Thetford Academy to face the Panthers last Tuesday, May 8, and made an interesting game of it. The Royals had leads of 7-2 after two innings, 10-6 after four, and 14-7 after 5, only to let them all slip away as the Panthers forced extra innings, before the Royals finally did seal the deal, 15-14, in eight. 

The Royals had an off game, committing 13 errors that lead to 10 unearned runs, including all five of the runs in the seventh inning and six of the last seven runs that gave the Panthers the comeback. 

Dustin Parker started on the mound for the Royals and threw the first five innings. Nate McShinsky took over for the sixth inning and Tyrell Manning pitched in the seventh inning, before his cousin Tyler Manning took over to get the final out of the inning. The Royals’ offense kept the home plate umpire busy dusting off home plate. Tyrell Manning led SoRo, going 3-5 with four runs, three RBI's, and four stolen bases. Tyler Manning and Miles Ellis also helped the Royals, as they combined to go 4-8 with five runs scored, two triples, four stolen bases, and eight RBI's. McShinsky also helped the Royals’ cause with three runs scored, and Parker helped himself on the mound with four RBI's. 

Postponed Game

The Royals also took the trip to Orford to face CVL rivals Rivendell on May 10, but when the rain, thunder, and lightning came down, the Royals and Raptors were forced to the dugouts for the mandatory 30-minute wait in-between lightning strikes. After three more bolts, that reset the 30 minutes each time, the coaches and umpires all got together and had a meeting to see what they wanted to do.

After about a five-minute discussion the decision was to postpone the game to Wednesday, May 23. The game was in the top of the fourth and the Royals led 4-2 after Tyrell Manning and Ellis each hit home runs over the centerfield fence.

Win at Whitcomb

The Royals traveled to next-door rivals Whitcomb in Bethel on May 15 and kept their CVL record spotless as they improved to 5-0 on the season, winning 12-0. 

Parker threw a complete game one-hitter for South Royalton as he faced 22 batters, one more than the minimum you can face in a seven inning game, as he threw 89 pitches and struck out seven while walking one. Only two men reached base as Parker walked Joel Wright in the second before getting the double play to end the inning, and then Bethel's pitcher got a leadoff hit down the third baseline in the bottom of the fifth for the lone hit of the night for the Hornets.  

The offense was led by Tyler Manning and Miles Ellis, who both went 2-3, and McShinsky, who had a triple and five RBI’s.

The Royals (6-3) look to keep their two-game road win streak alive as they travel to Hazen on Friday and then host their Senior night, May 22, for five seniors, before they go back to Rivendell on the 23rd to finish up the postponed game. SoRo is at D-II Peoples Academy on May 24.

Just one quick note to all of you Royals fans: The Royals and Coach Marty Adams have not lost a regular season away game in the last four years and look to keep that streak alive!

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