ROYALS OFF TO A GOOD START AT THE DEKALB INVITATIONAL

The Royals 18U team started their final tournament of the season with a 9-4 win over the DTA Wildcats of Illinois at the Dekalb Invitational in Dekalb, Illinois.
The Royals made it 1-0 with one out in the top of the first inning when Jordan Grant came in from third on a throw to second. With two outs and Edward Largy at second Mitchell came to the plate and on a one and two count hit a home run to right center field to give the Royals a 3-0 lead.
The Royals offense kept up the pressure on the Americans by bringing 10 hitters to the plate and scoring another four runs in the top of the second inning to make the score 7-0. It all started with 2 outs when Jeff Slasor walked followed by a single by Daniel Campos and the bases were loaded when Jordan Grant walked for the second time in as many innings. Edward Largy followed with a single that scored Jeff Slasor. With the bases still loaded clean up hitter Jahmal Brooks hit a two run single and was followed by a walk by Mitchell Mattarollo that loaded the bases once more. The fourth run of the inning was scored when Kyle Westwater walked scoring Largy.
The last runs scored by the Royals were scored in the 4th inning. With one out Jahmal Brooks hit a home run to make the score 8-1. Mattarollo followed with a double and after he moved to third on an error by the American pitcher he scored on a sacrifice fly by Kyle Westwater making the score 9-1 going to the bottom of the 4th inning. The Wildcats scored their second run in the bottom of the fourth and two more in the bottom of the fifth inning to make the score 9-4. The sixth and final inning was scoreless.
Philip Hinton pitched a complete game for the victory. He allowed four runs, three of them earned on 2 hits, 6 Ks and 7 bases on balls.
The Royals will play 2 games on Friday including one at Northern Illinois University.