ROYALS MAKE IT TO THE CHAMPIONSHIP GAME AT THE MIDWEST ELITE TOURNAMENT

After finishing first in their group with a 4-0 record the Royals 18U went back to the University of Toledo to face the Northern Stars from Lafayette, Indiana in the semi-final game in what turned out to be an extra innings nail bitting affair as the Royals continued to get outstanding pitching and defense.
The starting assignment for this all or nothing game went to right handed pitcher Arsene Pinguelo and he responded with one of his best performances as a Royal. Pinguelo went 6 2/3 innings allowing only one run on 6 hits, all singles, 1 walk and 4 Ks. Arsene, who had thrown 104 pitches was relieved by Brendan Ellingham. After one pitch by Ellingham the Northern Stars were called for an illigal substitution and the Roylas were out of the inning with the game tied at one. The Royals had taken a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the 4th inning when Del Pozo scored on a single by Logan Karse. The American team tied the game in the top of the 5th when with two outs the Lafayette batter hit an infield hit and then stole second before being driven in by a pop up that fell out of reach of the short stop and center fielder.
Ellingham retired the Northern Stars in order in the top of the 8th inning and in the bottom of the 8th after the American pitcher had retired the first two Royals, Kaleb Leff hit the ball to third base who threw the ball over the first baseman's head and two more throwing errors later Kaleb came all the way around to score the winning run and take the Royals to the Championship game. The Royals had a total of 7 singles with one each from Dunigan, Slasor, Del Pozo, Karse, Bolton, Leff and McCue.
After the eight inning semi-final in 43 degree celcius heat the Canadian team had 25 minutes to rest before facing the Indians from Mundelein, Illinois who had been resting since the end of their semi-final game, nearly 3 hours before.
Playing their sixth game in 3 very hot days the Royals were forced to use pitchers that were not rested and for the first time in the tournament the Royals pitching was not on,  that combined with an excellent pitching performance by the Indians pitcher, resulted in a second place finish in the tournment. The Royals managed 6 hits in the game. Slasor, Dunigan, Del Pozo and Karse all had singles. McCue singled twice. Brendan Ellingham who had finished the previous game started the final game and was followed by Dunigan, Mann and Browne.
Congratulations to all the players and coaching staff on a great tournament.
Ohio turned out to be a great place for the Royals organization as the 16U team won the 16U tournament. The Royals were the only Canadian teams in the Midwest Elite Tournament and won the 16U tournament and finished second in the senior group. The Royals 17U ended the tournament with a 2-2 record.