Lake Wales, FL- The Royals hosted the Gyrenes of Ave Maria in the first four game Sun Conference series of 2025. This series featured a lot of action and heavy emotions from the opening pitch on Friday to the final put out on Saturday.

Game 1
In game one, the Royals got out to a first inning lead thanks to an RBI single from Julian Figueroa. However, despite this quick start the Royals could not muster much offense afterwards. Trenton Chenard started on the mound and was solid, holding the Gyrenes to three runs (one earned) on five hits, while recording seven strikeouts. The game remained tight for a while but a three-run homerun in the seventh by Jordan Crawford put the game out of the reach of the Royals stagnant offense. Ave takes game one of the series 7-2.

Game 2
After a game one loss, the fans in attendance would be treated to a pitcher's duel between Royal Josh Kuhns and Gyrene Hunter Cashero. The Royals took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the second thanks to an RBI groundout from Horiam Santiago. Santiago drove in another run for the Royals two innings later as a result of a fielder's choice that brought in Figueroa. Leading by two entering the later stages of the game, Kuhns continued to roll through the Gyrenes giving up no runs and only four hits. Entering the seventh, the Gyrenes would finally get on the board thanks to an RBI single from Sebastain Cabeza. After back-to-back singles, the Royals went to the pen bringing in Austin Vakiener for the close. Vakiener got Harrison Rossi to line out to short ending the game in the Royals favor 2-1. Kuhns picked up his first win of the season and had a final stat line of 6 2/3 innings, one run given up on five hits, and five strikeouts.

Game 3
With the series split, the Royals entered Saturday looking to walk away back even in the season, and 3-1 in conference play. The Gyrenes kicked off the game with an RBI groundout that gave them an early lead. However, the Royals offense exploded onto the scene in the bottom of the first scoring six runs. After the first two runs scored on an error, Royals third baseman Brian Belo executed a hit and run to perfection, scoring Pablo Delgado on an RBI single to right field. Soon after, Danny Garcia got a hanging curveball and crushed it over the trees in right field for a three-run homerun. Up 6-1 after the first inning, the Royals offense would struggle to get things going in the proceeding innings. Meanwhile, the Gyrenes scratched and clawed their way back to even 6-6 in the top of the fifth. A couple of innings after tying the game, Ave took the lead in the seventh as a result of an RBI single from Cabeza and a bases loaded walk by Tanner Kelley. Trailing by two, it would now be the Royals' time to respond. Warner cut the deficit to one after an error by the Gyrenes in the seventh. Jumping to the eighth, the Royals would regain the lead thanks to clutch RBI doubles from Belo and Delgado. Up one going into the ninth, the Royals turned to Anthony Anselmo who was electric on the mound, shutting the door on the Gyrenes and picking up the Royals second conference win. Offensively, the Royals were pillared by Belo as he went 3-5 with a run and two RBIs.
 

Game 4
Up 2-1 in the series, the Royals sent out senior southpaw Noah Harsch to secure the series win. Hasch would deal on the mound, despite giving up an opening inning homerun to Jordan Crawford. On the day he would go six innings giving up two runs on four hits and striking out an astounding ten batters. Despite success on the mound, the Royals lineup didn't get things going until the seventh where they would capitalize on a hit by pitch and two walks to gain a 4-2 advantage. What was present in every game of the series so far, drama ensured in the top of the ninth as the Gyrenes would score four runs on four hits and two Warner errors, regaining a 6-4 lead entering the final half inning. Ethan Pues kicked the inning off with a triple and later scored on a wild pitch. Despite great start to the inning, the Royals would strand a runner on third and lose game four to Ave Maria 6-5.

INSIDE THE GAME: Warner vs Ave Maria
FINAL: Royals 2, Gyrenes 7
RECORDS: Royals(3-7, 0-1), Gyrenes (6-8, 1-0,)

INSIDE THE GAME: Warner vs Ave Maria
FINAL: Royals 2, Gyrenes 1
RECORDS: Royals(4-7,1-1), Gyrenes (6-9, 1-1,)

INSIDE THE GAME: Warner vs Ave Maria
FINAL: Royals 9, Gyrenes 8
RECORDS: Royals(5-7, 2-1), Gyrenes (6-10, 1-2)

INSIDE THE GAME: Warner vs Ave Maria
FINAL: Royals 5, Gyrenes 6
RECORDS: Royals(5-8, 2-2), Gyrenes (7-10, 2-2,)


UP NEXT:
 The Royals look forward to Friday when they host Sienna Heights University in a regular season bout.
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