The Wes Brennan Construction Jr. Royals won two of three games this weekend to narrowly maintain their hold on second place in the North Dufferin Baseball League.
Game 1 saw the Royals trounce the Richmond Hill Phoenix in a dominant 12-0 game Thursday night in Orillia. Nolan MacNeal and Emmit McDonald combined on the mound for the shutout while the offence was sparked by home runs from Nolan Ness-Thomas and MacNeal while Whyatt Winkel contributed three hits.
Game 2 was a disappointing defeat to the last-place Orangeville Bengals as the Orillia bats could not get a timely hit, leaving the bases loaded on two occasions. James Pritchard and Kobe Geofroy pitched in the losing effort while Pritchard, MacNeal, Gabe Rutherford and Marshall Perkin each collected two hits.
Game 3 on Sunday night in Mansfield saw a short-handed Orillia team cruise to a dominant 11-3 win over the third-place Mansfield Cubs. MacNeal and Rutherford pitched very strongly in the win, scattering six hits and combining for five strikeouts. Jhett Winkel was a force, going five for five, including two doubles and a triple. Whyatt Winkel, Teddy McCollum Kuntz, Ness-Thomas, Pritchard and MacNeal each recorded three hits in the win.
Orillia now sports a 10-5 record, four points ahead of third-place Barrie. The Creemore Padres are in top spot in the seven-team junior league thanks to a 12-1-1 record.
The Royals next action is Wednesday where they travel to Innisfil and the next home game is Thursday at 8 p.m. at the Jerry Udell diamond at Tudhope Park in Orilla against Richmond Hill.
