The Royals Elite 14U team finish 4th out of 14 in their Summer Season opener. They played two games on Friday, one on Saturday, and three on Sunday. In addition, we celebrated the Cowan Twins Birthday! Gabrielle and Alexandria Cowan turned 15 years old on Saturday, June 11. 

WEEKEND RECAP:

Friday, June 10 - Game 1: The Royals snag a late lead winning 9-8 in their weekend opener. They were down 8-7 in the top of the 4th inning when Dakota "KoKo" Hoekstra doubled on the first pitch of the at-bat, scoring two runs. They scored five runs in the 2nd inning. The offense was led by Alexandria Cowan, Julianna Panozzo, and Ava Gonzalez, all driving in runs in the frame. As a team, the Royals scattered 13 hits. Gonzalez, Cowan, Hoekstra, Panozzo, and Mya Davis all managed multiple hits. Davis, Panozzo, Hoekstra, Cowan, and Gonzalez each managed two hits. 

Alexandria Cowan led the Royals to victory in the circle. She surrendered zero runs on zero hits over 1 and 1/3 innings, striking out two. Janelle Simpson started the game and lasted 2 and 1/3 innings, allowing seven hits and eight runs while striking out three. 

Friday, June 10 - Game 2: Both teams were strong in the circle, but the Royals were victorious, winning 3-1. Marigrace Hoese allowed just three hits. Hoese earned the victory, lasting 4 innings, allowing three hits, and one run, while striking out four. 

Lillian Skelly went 2-for-2 at the plate to lead the Royals in hits. Daphne Smith, Dakota Hoekstra, and Ava Gonzalez all managed to get one hit. Smith and Skelly collected an RBI a piece. 

Saturday, June 11 - Game 3: The Royals snatch the lead late in the game in a 10-4 victory. The game was tied at four with the Royals batting in the bottom of the 3rd inning when Dakota Hoekstra lined out, driving in a run. Alexandria Cowan earned the victory in the circle, lasting 4 innings, allowing two hits, four runs, and striking out four. Lillian Skelly led the Royals with two hits in two at-bats. Mya Davis, Macy Hamer, Hoekstra, Hoese, Gabrielle Cowan, Kaitlyn Alexander-Wilson, and Julianna Panozzo each collected one hit. Skelly, G. Cowan, and Alexander-Wilson each had two RBIs, and Hoese had one. 

Sunday, June 12- Game 4: The Royals watched the game slip away early and couldn't recover in a 7-3 loss. Janelle Simpson led things off in the pitcher's circle for the Royals. Simpson surrendered three runs and on three hits over 1 inning. Alexandria Cowan threw 3 innings out of the bullpen. Kaitlyn Alexander-Wilson and Macy Hamer each collected one hit to lead the Royals. 

Sunday, June 12 - Game 5: Royals took Sunday's game with dramatics with a 4-3 walk-off victory. The game as tied at three with the Royals batting in the bottom of the 5th inning when Dakota "KoKo" Hoekstra singled on a 2-2 count, scoring one run. 

The Royals scored three runs in the 3rd inning. Lillian Skelly had an RBI double in the inning to lead the run scoring. They totaled seven hits in the game. Daphne Smith and Hoekstra, each managed two hits. Marigrace Hoese was credited with the victory. She surrendered three runs on three hits over 5 innings, striking out ten! 

Sunday, June 12 - Game 6: In a rematch against Friday's first opponent, the Royals couldn't get it done, losing the semifinal game 9-5. Lillian Skelly led the way with two hits, while Mya Davis, Macy Hamer, Dakota Hoekstra, Marigrace Hoese, Kaitlyn Alexander-Wilson, and Gabrielle Cowan had one hit a piece. The Royals lost it in the 3rd inning, allowing five runs to score, adding to the four scored in the 1st inning.