Winchester Royals: Game Recaps

Ryan Sullivan drove in 3 runs including a 2 run homer in the third inning to pace the Covington Lumberjacks to the win. The Jacks move on to face Rockbridge in the finals. Rockbridge upset the #1 seed in the Harrisonburg Turks.

Troy Barton shut down the Royals over 8 innings, giving up just one run on three hits and 8 strikeouts.  Alex Ademi pitched the 9th and earned the save.

Brady Wilson had 2 doubles for the Royals and scored the lone run.

Lincoln Rassi (3-1) pitched eight innings, giving up 3 runs on eight hits and striking out eight.

Royals 1-5-1

Jacks 7-7-0

WP Barton (2-2) Ademi save

LP Rassi (3-1)

Nathan Minnich's solo home run to lead off the 8th inning gave the Royals the 4-3 win.  Earlier, Matt Snyder had home runs in the 2nd and 4th innings. Snyder was intenionally passed in his last 2 at bats.

Matt Brazis got the win, going 2 innings in relief of starter Kellen Camus.

With the win, the Royals advance to the semi-finals. They will face the winner of the New Market/Covington game at Bridgeforth Field on Tuesday.

Matt Snyder ignited the Royals with a 3 run homer in the 4th and they went on to score 2 in the 6th and 3 more in the 9th. For Snyder, it was his 4th homer since joining the Royals 8 games ago.  Snyder, McKeithan and Nelson had 2 hits each.

Greg Welsh pitched 5 innings and ran his record to 7-1. Lincoln Rassi closed out the game earning his 4th save. The duo struck out 10 batters.

The Royals, using relief pitchers, were crushed by Haymarket 15-5 who stayed alive for the final playoff birth. Mike Snyder paved the way with 3 hits and 4 runs including 2 home runs.  McBroom amd Dowdill also homered in the rout.

The Royals used six pitchers with starter Matt Robin taking the loss. Gibby Broines had two of the Royals eight hits. Matt Snyder homered.

The Royals will sit the next 2 days  awaiting their opponent for Saturday's opening round of the playoffs. Game time will be 7PM at Bridgeforth Field.

In a game that saw all the runs scored in the first 4 innings, the Royals edged the Cards 4-3. With the game tied a 3 the Royals scored the winning run in the 4th as Gibby Broines scored from third as Brady Wilson reached on a error by second base.

For the game Brady Wilson had 1 hit and 3 rbis, Gibby Broines and Ben Hammer had 2 hits each.

Jacob Mayes got the win in relief of Lincoln Rassi. Jacob Smith pitched the 9th an earned the save.

Garrett Cortwright pitched a complete game for the Cards and took the loss. Ben Thoma had 3 hits.

The Royals rode a 6-0 lead after six behind starter Kellen Camus who ran his record to 4-0 with the win. The 7th and 8th were different stories as 2 Royals relievers gave up 5 runs. It took infielder Gibby Broines to come in in the 9th and after allowing a hit batter to reach base came close to allowing the tieing run to score. It took a game ending double play to get the win. After Nick Barnes grounded to third and was thrown out by Cory Nelson, pinch runner Conner Madden broke for the plate and was thrown out at home by Nathan Minnich. The DP ended the game.

Matt Snyder and Keaton Neeb had two hits each . Snyder homered in the 4th.

The Senators (17-24) kept their playoff hopes alive, rallying from a two-run deficit with two runs in the sixth inning and three more in the seventh to snap the Royals' four-game winning streak.

Winchester's Greg Welsh (6-2) took the loss, allowing three earned runs over five innings.

Gibby Briones went 3 for 4 with a run and an RBI, and Ben Hammer went 2 for 4 with two runs for Winchester (27-14).

The Royals took advantage of 5 Cardinal errors and 6  walks to take an early 7-2 lead on just 3 hits off starter Collen McGowen after 4 innings. The Cards would close to 7-5 on Matt Henricksen's homer in the 7th. Nathan Minnich's 10th home run with 2 on capped a 4 run 7th to close out the game.

Spot starter Alex Lakatos pitched 4 innings, giving up 2 runs on 4 hits. Stephen Cooke got the win, going 2 innings and giving up 2 runs on 2 hits. Lincoln Rassi pitched the last 3 innings to earn his 5th save.

The Royals travel to Haymarket Sunday and return home Monday for a 3 game set against division opponents. 

Ben Brooks - sports@nvdaily.com STRASBURG -- Winchester outfielder Brett Moreland had some memorable games playing for legendary Jefferson High School coach John Lowery. But Friday night's offensive output topped them all. The Frederick County (Md.) Community College product homered three times and drove in a season-high five runs to lead the Royals to a 17-1 Valley Baseball League pounding of Strasburg at First Bank Park. "I think I only hit four my entire high school career for coach Lowery," said Moreland, who went 4-for-6 while batting No. 9 in the order. "I was just seeing the ball well and my hands felt good." Moreland's homers came in the second, fourth and fifth innings. Moreland, whose playing time has increased in recent weeks because of injuries, nearly tied Mickey Kerns' franchise record with a four-homer game in the top of the seventh. He belted a line drive to right field that bounced off the base of the fence. "I thought it might have been gone," Moreland said. "I knew I hit it on a line, and I saw the outfielder starting to go back. I thought I might have had it." Lowery thought his former high school catcher might have hit the ball "too well." "He hit the ball on such a line," Lowery said. "If he'd gotten under it a little more, it would have gone out. You see the kind of power he has. When he makes contact, he can hit the ball hard." Moreland had plenty of company Friday night.

The Royals (26-13), who had already clinched the North Division title, batted around in each of the first two innings and bolted to a 12-0 lead against Strasburg starting pitcher Benjamin Verlander. Ben Hammer hit a three-run homer in the first inning and newcomer Matt Snyder blasted a grand slam in the second to help spearhead Winchester's 18-hit attack.

Lost in the offensive explosion was Sean Bouthilettte's stellar pitching performance. The Campbellsville junior right hander allowed just two hits and struck out 10 in seven innings of work. Friday was the second straight outing that Bouthilette has benefited from early run support. The Royals put five on the board in the first inning last week against New Market. "You just have to look at it as no matter what the score is you've got to go out there and play ball," said Bouthilette (4-1), who will likely get the Game 1 start when the Royals open the playoffs next week. "Our guys just came out and hit the ball really good tonight. Everybody did." While Bouthilette was cruising, the Express (13-26) used eight pitchers Friday night.

Verlander struggled from the start. Brady Wilson's leadoff triple down the right-field line was merely a sign of things to come. In 1 1/3 innings, the Old Dominion right hander was touched for seven hits and 11 earned runs. He also issued six walks. In addition to the home runs, Winchester got three-hit games from Wilson, Joel McKeithan, and Shenandoah University product Cory Nelson. Snyder, used as a designated hitter Friday, has been a welcome addition to the Royals' offensive attack and could be key as Winchester makes its playoff run. The Mississippi product and Washington Nationals draftee started this summer with Haymarket. He was hit in the face by a pitch in the season opener and eventually released by the club. Lowery heard that Snyder was fully recovered and looking for a place to play. "Any time you can get a player with that type of ability you feel good," Lowery said. "He put up some big numbers in the SEC against some quality pitching.

The Royals clinched the Northern Division with the win and Front Royals' loss to New Market.

The Royals opened the 2nd game by scoring eight runs in the first on 6 hits, 2 walks and a Jacks error. The Jacks made a mild rally in the 7th and it took Lincoln Rassi to come in with the bases loaded and strike out the side.

Stephen Cooke earned the win and Rassi earned his 4th save.

The Royals travel to Strasburg Friday and host Front Royal Saturday. 

Kellen Camus pitched 6 innings allowing the Jacks 2 run on six hits to run his record to 3-0. Lincoln Rassi pitched the 7th to earn his 3rd save.

Brett Moreland homered in the 2nd for the Royals 2nd run. Ben Hammer singled in the 4th and scored the Royals 3rd run on a wild pitch.

A win in the 2nd game could put the Royals in position to clinch the Northern division.

Greg Welsh suffered his first loss of the season and the Royals commited 9 errors contributing to the loss. The only bright spot for Welsh was he lowered his ERA to 1.47. Bandits starter Chris Devinski struck out 13 Royals batters but gave up 3 runs.

Keaton Neeb, Tyler Backstrom and Cory Nelson had 2 hits each for the Royals.

The Royals moved to within 1 game of clinching a playoff spot by defeating New Market 11-6 in 11 innings Sunday night at Rebel Park. Nathan Minnich started off the 11th by hitting a home run to deep right. The Royals batted around as they scored 4 more runs. Brady Wilson's 2 rbi triple topped off the inning.

For the night, Alex Lakatos homered in the first and had a 3 hit 3 rbi night. Lakatos started for the Royals and gave up 1 run on 2 hits in three innings. The Royals used 7 pitchers with Lincoln Rassi getting the win, pitching 5 scoreless innings. Stephen Cooke shut out the Rebels in the 11th.

The Royals host Woodstock Tuesday night for Edward Jones night. On Wednesday they host Covington in a twin bill starting at 4:30.

In a see-saw game played at Haymarket, the Royals edged the Senators 8-7. With the score 7-6 going into the 8th, Brett Moreland's home run tied the score. Brady Wilson doubled, stole third, and scored on a over throw.

Lincoln Rassi pitched a scoreless ninth to earn the save. Evan Faithfull got the win. Brady Wilson had 3 hits, 3runs, and 1 rbi for the game.

The Royals travel to New Market Sunday. 

The Royals hung on to win 10-7 as they gave up 6 runs in the 8th inning. The Royals used 3 relievers to close out the game. Stephen Cooke earned the save in relief of starter Sean Boutilette who earned the win.

Brady Wilson led the Royals at the plate with 4 hits, 2 runs and 1 rbi. Cory Nelson's 3 run homer in the 7th proved to be the winning runs.

The Royals travel to Haymarket on Saturday.

The Royals (20-12) banged out 16 hits in routing the Generals at Kate Collins Field 11-3. Alex Lakatos (3) rapped out 2 home runs and Nathan Minnich (8) added one in the ninth. For the game, Lakatos had 3 hits, 2 runs and 4 rbis; Brady Wilson had three hits, 1 run, 1 rbi; Briones, McKeithan and Hammer had 2 hits each. 

The Royals turned four dbl plays thanks to Shane Halley. That may be a record!

Kellen Camus (2-0) pitched six innings allowing six hits and 1 run. Pettit, Rassi and Wirkkala closed out.

The Royals host New Market Friday and travel to Haymarket Saturday.

Greg Welsh (6-0)  stymied the Braves for six innings to carry the Royals to a 6-1 win Wednesday night. Welsh allowed one run on six hits. Evan Faithful and Lincoln Rassi closed out the Braves, allowing no runs. Rassi struck out the side in the ninth.

Shenandoah team mates Keaton Neeb and Cory Nelson played a big part in the win. Neeb's only hit was  a two rbi single. Neeb's sac bunt put Lakatos  in position to score on Nelson's single. Nelson had two hits and scored a run. Nathan Minnich had three hits and scored a run.

The Royals travel to Waynesboro Thursday and return home Friday to take on New Market.

The Royals' Matt Brazis carried a 2-0 lead giving up 1 hit while striking out 6 before he departed after 3.2 innings due to a limited pitch count. Four Royals' relief pitchers couldn't hold the lead, giving up nine runs over the last 4.1 innings.

The Rapids used All Star pitcher Travis Thomas to shut down the Royals as they only scored one run the rest of the way.

Brady Wilson and Ben Hammer each had triples for the Royals. Neeb and Minnich had doubles.

The Royals return to action Wednesday as they host Staunton.

Tyler Backstrom's single to left drove in Ben Hammer with the winning run as the Royals defeated the Harrisonburg Turks 2-1 Friday night at Bridgeforth Field.

Aron Luchterhand and Sean Bouthilette  dueled it out for eight innings and were not around for the decision. Matt Robin got the win while Ryan Chapman took the loss.

The Royals got their early run on Nathan Minnich's homer in the 2nd. It was his 7th of the season.

The Royals travel to Rockbridge Saturday.

The Royals blanked the Front Royals Cardinals 4-0 Thursday night at the 'Bing.' With the win, the Royals are now 17-11 while the Cards dropped to 15-14.

Nathan Minnich's 2 run homer in the first provided all the runs they would need. Joel Mckeithen's 2 run double padded the lead to 4-0.

Kellen Camus pitched a strong six innings allowing just 3 hits and no walks. Andrew Pettit closed out the last three innings, striking out five and walking two.

Kellen Camus and Taylor Robinson were locked in a pitchers duel for 4 innings before the Royals broke thru for 2 runs on a double by Gibby Briones and singles by Alex Lakatos and Cory Nelson. Robinson struck out 13 Royals' batters before departing in the 6th as the Royals added another run.

Kellen Camus pitched 5 scoreless innings before departing in favor of Matt Robin. The Senators scored 3 runs off relievers Robin, Smith and Rassi. Rassi pitched the last three scoreless innings to get the win.

Gibby Briones led the Royals at the plate with 2 doubles and 2 rbis.

The Royals are at home Saturday for Community Appreciation Night.

The Royals were running on all cylinders tonight as they shut down the Front Royals Cardinals 10-0 behind 3 hit pitching of Greg Welsh.

Brady Wilson led off the first with a homer to left and that started things to come. The Royals 6 run 6th inning put the skids on the Cards coming back.

The Royals had 4 doubles in the game with Nathan Minnich getting 2, Briones and Ringold one each. Keaton Neeb had 3 hits and 2 rbis.

Welsh ran his record to 4-0 with an era of .37

Jake Palese and Lincoln Rassi closed out the game for Welsh.

The Royals are now 13-10 while the Cards are 15-9

The Royals fell behind the Express early on home runs. Igor Molina hit a 2 run shot in the first and Joe Bennie hit a solo shot in the second.The Express extended the lead to 5-2 in the 4th scoring 2 runs on 2 hits.

The Royals tied the score in the 5th on Joel McKeithan's 2 run homer and Alex Lakatos's rbi single.

The Express took a 6-5 lead in the bottom of the 5th as Blake Crabtree drove in Chris Gosik from second.

For the game, Keaton Neeb had 2 hits and 2 rbis and Joel McKeithan had a home run and 2 rbis.

Evan Faithful took the loss in relief of Alex Lakatos.

The Royals host Front Royal Thursday night.

The Haymarket Senators scored early on home runs by Ryan McBroom and Jimmy Dowdill  and took an  9-0 lead after 4 innings.The Senators chased starter Anthony Gotelli and Tyler Backstrom couldn't slow down the charge. The Senators scored 5 runs in the 4th to end their scoring for the night.

Ryan McBroom had 2 hits and 4 rbis to pace the Senators. Peter Kelich got the win.

Douglas, Briones, Nelson and McKeithan had two hits each and Ben Hammer homered in the 9th.

The Royals travel to Strasburg Wednesday.

Keaton Neeb's 3 run 7th inning homer started the Royals come back after trailing 5-0. The Royals scored 2 more in the 8th to force extra innings

The Royals scored three in the 10th on 1 hit, 3 walks and 2 wild pitches.

Greg Welsh pitched three innings of scoreless relief to get the win. Welsh in now 3-0 with ERA of .52.

The Royals are now 12-8 and trail the Cards by 1/2 game

Royals pitcher Jake Palese came on in the 9th in relief of Tyler Backstrom with 2 men on and threw one pitch to pinch batter John Sgromolo that Palese caught and doubled Chase Okey at first to end the game and earn a save. Greg Welsh in relief of starter Kellan Camus got his second win of the season.

The Royals had only 7 hits but Nathan Minnich's 3 run homer in the 5th gave the Royals a 4-3 lead. The Royals scored the eventual winning run as K'Shawn Smith bunt singled in the 6th and scored on a throwing error by Chase Okey.

Eric Ford took the loss for the Rebels.

The Royals host Strasburg Saturday and travel to Front Royal on Sunday.

Chris Devenski (Cal St. Fullerton) got the win going 5 innings while striking out 9.

Nathan Minnich tagged Devinski for a 2 run homer in the first.

Evan Faithfull took the loss for the Royals.

Royals' pitcher Drew Pettit gave up 6 earned runs in the 9th to give the Haymarket Senators a come from behind 13-12 win over the Royals. The big blow in the inning was Jimmy Dowdill's 3 run homer, his first of the season.

The Royals made a mild comeback in the 9th by scoring one run on Brady Wilson's triple but left Wilson stranded at third. Wilson had three hits, 2 doubles and a triple to lead the Royals.

Drew Pettit (1-2) took the loss while Preston Hatcher (1-0) got the win.

The Royals fell to 10-6 while the Senators are 6-9.

The Royals travel to Woodstock Wednesday.

The Royals new found power sank the New Market Rebels Sunday night at Rebel Park 10-1. The Royals had a 4-0 lead after four innings as Mike Douglas, Alex Lakatos and Joel McKiethan each hit their first homers of the season. Lakatos added a double and Wilson a triple for the game.

The Royals scored three more in the 6th to put the game away. Gibby Broines' aggressive play led the charge and Brady Wilson rbi triple closed out the scoring. 

Anthony Gotelli pitched a strong six innings, giving up one run on 4 hits. Anthony Wirkkala and Stephen Cooke closed the game for the Royals.

The Royals return home Tuesday to host Haymarket. 

The Royals (9-5) broke open a game tied at 2 in the 6th inning by scoring 3 runs as they sent 9 batters to the plate. Brady Wilson had an rbi and scored a run and stole a base in the inning. Smith and Lakatos also had rbis in the inning.

Brady Wilson had 3 hits, scored 3 runs and had 4 SBs for the game. Ben Hammer added 3 hits and rbi.

Sean Bouthilette (2-1) got the win pitching 6 innings of 4 hit ball. Greg Welsh, Evan Faithfull and Tyler  Backstrom kept the Generals in check the final 3 innings.

The Royals travel to New Market Sunday for a 7:30 start.

The Royals were crusin' going into the last of the 5th 4-0 and starter Lincoln Rassi had a no hitter going when things fell apart. Rassi walked two batters and gave up two hits and it was 4-2.

Drew Pettit relieved and got the side out but fell apart in the 6th as the Braves scored 3 runs on 3 hits and 1 Royal error.

The Royals had only 3 hits for the game but left 12 men on base. They had their chances in the 8th and 9th but  couldn't push across the tying run.

The Royals fell to 8-5 while the Braves are 7-6

The Royals return home Saturday to host Waynesboro.

The Royals (8-4)  were completely untracked tonight after last nights 12 inning win in Harrisonburg and lost to the Rapids (7-5) 9-1.

The Rapids broke out to a 4-0 lead after four againest starter Alex Lakatos. They chased Lakatos in the 5th with adding 3 more runs as reliever Anthony Wikkarla couldn't help put out the fire.

Gibby Broines led the Royals  at the plate with 3 hits and scored the lone run.

The Royals travel to Staunton Friday and return home Saturday to face Waynesboro.

Saturday in SU Community Appreciation night and free admission.

The Royals (8-3) edged the Harrisonburg Turks (8-3) in 12 innings Wednesday night at Eagle Field 5-4. Nathan Minnich's single to right center drove in Brady Wilson who led off the inning with a walk.

Minnich carried the load for  the Royals with 4 hits and 3 rbis. His home run to deep right tied the game at 4 and eventual extra innings.

The Royals used six pitchers in the game with Tyler Backstrom getting the win, pitching 2 innings of scoreless ball.

Smith, Hammer and Broines had 2 hits each for the Royals.

Tyler McFarland took the loss for the Turks.

The Royals tied for the lead in the North with and 8-4 win over the Front Royal Cards Tuesday night at Bing Crisby Stadium. The Royals scored early and took a 8-0 lead after four. Four of the runs were unearned as the Cards commited four errors.

Ben Hammer and Nathan Minnich led the Royals at the plate with 3 hits each. Brig Tison had 2 rbis.

Will Walsh lead the Cards with 3 hits.

The Royals used five pitchers with Greg Welsh (PSU)  getting the win in relief of Stephen Cooke (IUP).

Vince Claudio (SU) took the loss for the Cards.

Cards (7-3) 3-7-4

Royals (7-3) 6-12-2

The Royals (6-3) edged the Haymarket Senators (3-6) 7-5 Sunday night at Bridgeforth Field. The Royals scored 4 unearned runs and the Senators scored 2 as both teams committed 6 errors. The lead changed 3 times as the Royals scored 3 runs in the 7th to get the win.

The Royals used 7 pitchers with Drew Pettit getting the win and Lincoln Rassi the save. Justin Gorski took the loss for the Senators.

Ben Hammer had 2 runs and 2 hits. Alex Lakotas and Gibby Broines had 2 hits each.

The Royals travel to Front Royal on Tuesday and Harrisonburg Wednesday. They return home Thursday to host Rockbridge.

Conner Maddens (CNU) grand slam in the 4th off starter Anthony Gotteli gave the Express their 2nd win of the season. Madden drove in Blake Crabtree, Bret Peters and Ryan Hathaway with his slam.

The Royals only managed 1 hit off Express starter Jon Jones (WVU). K'Shawn Smith walked in the first and scored on Nathan Minnich's Double.

The rains came in the in the top of the 6th when the game was called.

Express (2-6) 7-9-0

Royals  (5-3)  1-1-1

WP Jones

LP Gotelli

The Royals out played the hapless Wranglers for a 11-0 win at Bulldog field Friday night.The Royals moved to 5-2 while the Wranglers are 0-7.

The Royals basiclly sewed up the game in the 3rd by scoring six runs on 3 hits  3 Wrangler errors and 2 walks.

K'Shawn Smith lead the Royals at the plate with 4 hits and 2 rbis. Wilson, Hammer, Smith,and Neeb had 2 rbis each.

Sean Bouthilette held the Wranglers in check thru 7 innings allowing just  3 hits.

Anthony Wikkarla closed out the last to innings.

The Royals return home Saturday to host Strasburg.

The Royals scored early and lead 4-0 after 3. Nathan Minnichs 2 run homer in the first lead the way.

The Royals scored 3 runs in the 7th and 2 in the 8th to close out the game.

The Royals were paced at the plate by Brady Wilsons (4 runs), Alex Lakatos 3 hits each and Nathan Minnich 2

run homer and double (3 rbis)

Lincoln Rassi started and got the win with relief from Evan Faithful, Drew Pettit and Alex Lakatos.

Charlie Morgans 3 run homer paced the Senators.

Frankie Vanderka took the loss for the Senators.

The Royals travel to Luray  Friday and return home Saturday to take on Strasburg.

The Royals slammed out 14 hits and hung on to defeat the Express 10-7. At one point the Royals had a 9-3 but the Express kept coming back, scoring 4 runs in the last 3 innings.

Eight pitchers in all were used by both teams.

Ben Hammer, Brett Moreland, Brig Tyson and K'Shawn Smith had 2 hits each for the Royals. Brad Zebedis had 4 hits for the Express.

The Royals travel to Haymarket Sunday for a 6PM start.

Express 7-7-3

Royals   10-14-1

WP Anthony Gotelli, Pettit 6th, Rassi 7th, Pelese 9th

LP Ponn, Verdillo 5th, White 7th, Bruns 8th.

Att. 591.

The Royals pounded out 23 hits as they unended the Senators 17-7. Brig Tison lead the way with 5 hits, Cory Nelson had 4 hits including 3 dbls., Nathan Minnich had a home run , double and 4 rbis. Ben Hammer had 2 dbls.  Gibby Briones added 3 hits. With the win the Royals moved to 2-1 for the season.

Evan Faithful started and got the win with relief from Greg Welsh and Drew Pettit. Alex Lakatos pitched the final 2 innings

The Royals travel to Strasburg Tuesday and return home to take on division leader Front Royal.

The Royals used 4 pitchers to shut out the Express 5-0 on 2 hits while striking out 11. The Royals turned 3 double plays in the win.

The Royal were lead at the plate by Brig Tison, Joel McKeithan and K'Shawn Smith with 2 hits each. Cory Nelson had a double 2 walks and scored 2 runs.

Stephen Cooke pitched 5 innings to get the win.

The Royals host Front Royal Wednesday night.

The Cardinals scored 3 unearned runs early and went on to defeat the Royals 5-4.

The Royals came back to tie the game at 4 on Alex Lakatos 2 run double in the 7th. scoring Minnich and McKeithan.

The Cardinals scored the leading run in the 8th as lee Wilsons single scored Greg Annarummo with the eventual winning run.

The Royals used six pitchers in the game with Gibby Broines taking the loss.

Minnich, Hammer and Lakatos had 2 hits each for the Royals.

The Royals host Haymarket Thursday night.