Jays stymie short-handed Royals

The Holden Blue Jays chipped away and got solid pitching enroute to what looked like a thumping at the end of the night, 11-2 over the Armena Royals in mosquito-infested Holden Thursday night.

The Royals, who were coming off a game littered with errors, did a better job on defence, only making one error on the night – but it was Holden whose hits and the Royals one error which opened the door for double-digit run output for the young Jays.

“They find a way to get hits and manufacture runs all game long,” said associate player-coach Jason Buzzell. “I’m a little bias, but it didn’t think the score was indicative of the entire game. Overall it was pretty competitive besides their two big innings and our silent bats.”

The Royals got down 3-0 as a couple Kyle Ellis walks were cashed in for runs in the first two innings. Armena responded with a 2-run fourth inning to close the gap to 3-2 on the backs of a Landon Miller RBI double and Brian Ellert RBI single.

But two four-run innings for the Blue Jays salted the game away and ran Ellis off the mound. The Royals went to rookie Zack Kempf in the fifth inning who gave up a walk with the bases loaded before long-time grey-bearded veteran Pat Kawaliak ripped a 2-run single to put the game away. Kempf, however responded in the bottom of the sixth with two strikeouts and got a ground ball to throw 1 1/3 innings with no earned runs – despite wearing no cleats.

“I’m getting new cleats this weekend,” Kempf said. “I feel like such a new guy out there with no socks and no cleats.”

Ellis, frustrated when he was pulled, seemed positive about his performance.

“I want another start later in the year,” he said. “They have to give me another start.”

That will be up to player-coach Clark Banack who returns to the lineup next week in games versus Ryley and Bardo. Wes Wilson also will be back in the lineup as well as last year’s surprise pickup Chad Hooke.

“Reinforcements are on the way,” Buzzell said. “It’s been a little stressful hoping we can get nine guys out and picking up a couple guys to make nine.”

One positive already has been the play of Chad Samoisetti, who the team almost had in a Royals jersey last year. Samoisetti, from Camrose, is already liked by the team, caught last night and is showing signs he could be a top hitter on this team.

“I love this guy,” Ellis said after the game. “What a pickup.”

The Royals did not announce their starter for Tuesday, but rumours swirl they could go back to Ian Sherbaniuk who won on opening night against Bardo or elect to throw the veteran Banack. Game time is 7 p.m. in Ryley versus the 3-1 Rebels.