The Hamilton Southeastern Royals took on the Yorktown Tigers in an important non-conference matchup. The Royals were standing at a record of 11-13 while the Tigers stood at a record of 11-11, the exact .500 mark. The top of the first inning wasn’t too eventful for the Tigers as Colin Goley got the first out with a ground ball. With one out down third baseman, Luke Sivak, throws to second baseman Maddox Bach, and then to first baseman Michael Hoog for an exciting double play. The Royals started off the game hot with a single from Alex Billman and after a wild pitch, Billman advanced to third. Kam Seitz stepped up and doubled off a fly ball to center field. Billman scores and the very next at bat Parker O’Steen singles, and this brings Seitz to home plate. Later in the bottom of the first Nolan Colbert grounds into a double play and brings O’Steen in to score. This run would cap off the inning with the Royals taking a 3-0 lead.
Going into the second the Tigers knew they had to heat up. After a single and a double, the Tigers scored off a ground into fielder’s choice, advancing a runner to home. After a pop out and a fielder’s choice play, the Royals ended the Tigers’ second inning with a ground out. The Royals had a less than eventful inning after one strikeout and two pop outs, although they still had the lead of 3-1 going into the third inning. Starting up the third inning the Royals went three up three down in the field to get right into the bottom of the third. The Royals also were quiet in the third inning only earning a single from Maddox Bach, but eventually flying out to center field to end the inning.
Yorktown’s scoring opportunity happened in the top of the fourth inning when they capitalized on a single which brought in two runners. This brought the score to 3-3 with the Royals awaiting the bottom of the fourth. To start off the inning for the Royals Luke Sivak singled, and then Alex Billman was hit by a pitch to get two runners on. Seitz went up to bat and hit a sacrifice fly ball to right field, advanced Sivak and courtesy runner Evan Haas. The next at bat O’Steen hits a ground ball and an error is made by first baseman that advanced Haas to score This made the score 5-3 and the Royals took the lead back once again.
The fifth inning was a short inning as the Tigers were struck out three times by pitcher Dylan Cope. The Royals didn’t do too much in the fifth inning at bat with a quick strikeout to start things off and two pop outs to cap things off.
The end of the game was approaching, and the Royals were in the field for the top of the sixth. This was a quick time out in the field for the Royals as they only let one runner on base along with a pop out and two ground outs to seal the top of the sixth. The bottom of the sixth was very eventful for the Royals as Seitz was hit by pitch and walked to first. The very next at bat, sophomore Parker O’Steen hit a deep home run into left field scoring himself and pinch runner Drew LaFleur. At this point the Royals took a commanding lead of 7-3. Back to the Tigers for the start of the seventh inning, and it couldn’t have gone better for the Royals. Michael Hoog ruined the Tigers hopes on coming back as he threw three straight strikeouts to finish the game off. The Royals won 7-3 and are headed into their next game with a full head of steam.
Nate McGrath put up a great game for the Royals as the righty gave up six hits and only three runs over four innings. Dylan Cope and Michael Hoog both came into this game in relief and they each threw shutout innings for the Hamilton Southeastern Varsity Royals. O’Steen also was a key part to this win as he went two of four batting with two runs and hit an impressive home run to really kill the hopes of the Yorktown Tigers winning. Billman, Seitz, and Sivak also helped the Royals on the road to victory as all three of them earned one hit and one run. Haas helped the Royals keep the lead also having one run on the game. Your Royals will be back in action Thursday, May 16th taking on Franklin Central High School.
