Royals' middle infielder and pitcher Levi Rask warms up for Wednesday's practice at Andy Zwack Field. (Jeff D'Andrea/paNOW Staff)

By Jeff D'Andrea

Royal Return

Even in ‘strangest year,’ Royals happy to get back on the field

Jul 9, 2020 | 12:09 PM

The year has been nothing but usual for the Prince Albert Royals baseball club. They had no idea if or when they would be playing their second straight year in the Saskatchewan Premier AA Baseball League. As it turns out, they started their year on July 5, at a time when the season would start to wind down.

“It’s been the strangest year,” Royals coach Geoff Gay said. “It wasn’t until June before we even knew we were going to have a league or whether we were going to play. I think everyone’s just pleased that we’re going to put something together.”

The Royals started their season on the weekend, splitting a high-scoring doubleheader against the North Battleford Beavers. The Royals came out with a 13-2 victory in the first game, before falling 17-14 in the second game.

Gay said pitchers from both sides had trouble hitting the strike zone, in large part because pitchers simply haven’t had the reps like they would in a ‘normal’ season. Most players haven’t held a baseball in a competitive setting in over a year.

Royals’ Ben Lefebvre was one of the pitchers in the Sunday game. But despite the long layover with the lack of pitching opportunities, Lefebvre was just happy he could dig into the rubber once again.

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“Finally, you could be out and play the sport that you love,” said Ben Lefebvre, who scored a game-high four runs in the victory, while going 3-4 from the plate.

Levi Rask, another Royals pitcher and middle infielder, said he feels fortunate to have baseball restarting for another season. Not only can he start playing games again, but he can do it with his friends, as well.

“A lot of the time you’re playing, but a lot of the time, you’re just hanging out with teammates, too. It’s not just hardcore all the time,” Rask said.

Royals 13 Beavers 2

Nic Nye and Brady Robin combined for a six-inning no-hitter on the mound for the Royals. Nye struck out six batters in three innings of work, surrendering two runs (just one of them earned). Robin delivered three innings of shutout ball, striking out five.

Lefebvre was 3-4 with four runs scored—including a triple. Josh LaClaire was 3-5 with four runs batted in and three runs scored.

Beavers 17 Royals 14

The Royals suffered their first loss of the season. They had a 13-6 lead after five innings, but were outscored 11-1 in the final two innings to suffer the defeat.

Brady Robin had a big day at the plate for the Royals, going 4-6 with four runs batted in and four runs scored.

Looking ahead

The Royals have a doubleheader coming up on Saturday on the road against the Humboldt Dodgers. The Royals will then play the Saskatoon Blue Jays on July 15 in Saskatoon before another doubleheader against the Beavers on July 19 in North Battleford.

The Royals will return home on July 22 against the Saskatoon Braves on Andy Zwack Field.

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Jeff.dandrea@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @jeff_paNOW