Royals turn triple play, pull away from Yankees

DESLOGE — The Park Hills Royals tallied nine consecutive runs after wasting three separate leads on Wednesday night, and defeated the Desloge Yankees 16-8 in Cal Ripken League action at Brightwell Park.

Austin Beavers and Kody Lachance each scored three runs and Jason Asher matched John Bader with two hits apiece for the visiting Royals (9-6), who broke a 7-7 tie with five runs in the fifth inning.

Brennan White and Beavers raced home on wild pitches after Kolby Buckley drove in Bader with a go-ahead ground out, and Asher capped the successful rally with a two-run single to right field.

Brandon Richardson doubled and Lachance tripled during a four-run sixth that broke the contest open. The Yankees capped the scoring with an unearned run during the home half.

Lachance recorded three strikeouts and worked around seven errors by his teammates to earn the complete-game win. Lachance retired eight of nine batters after the Yankees erupted for five runs in the third.

Two errant pick-off throws resulted in runs following a RBI hit from Dylan Kater, and Morris gave the host club a 6-5 edge with a RBI single to center that scored Tanner Aubuchon.

Kater and Smith each singled twice for the Yankees (4-7), while Keenan Johnson scored three runs and Drew Jaco added a single with three stolen bases.

Beavers opened the game with a double for the Royals, and each team notched a run in the opening frame.

Nick Haney lined a two-run single off Aubuchon for a 5-1 advantage in the second after Yankees starter John Hovick issued four walks. The Royals then added a defensive highlight by turning a rare triple play.

Ian Smith and Mason Savage collected back-to-back singles, and both runners were on the move when Sean Morris lined sharply to Richardson at shortstop. Asher received a short throw at second base before firing to first for the final out.

Aubuchon fanned five batters for the Yankees, who lost two runners on plays at the plate.