A ‘Royal’ performance: Security Federal claims title in 11-12 tourney
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Andrew Sims closed out his team’s championship season in style, turning in a masterful performance on the pitcher’s mound. The young hurler fanned 13 batters, including the final four men he faced, and allowed just three hits and six walks. Both Pirate runs came after walks, with the second and final run coming in the fifth on a balk call with a runner on third.
The Royals struck for three runs in the bottom of the first. Dustin Rhea was hit by a pitch with one out, and came around on a triple from Tyler Gilley. Sims was also hit by a pitch, and both he and Gilley came home on a two-run hit from Justin Kelly.
The Pirates made it a 3-1 game in the second, when Sebastian Willett walked and scored on a hit from Caleb Underhill, but Security Federal answered when Rhea drove in Cody Phillips to make it 4-1.
Three more Royal runs came home in the fourth inning, which started with a double to deep right from pinch-hitter Robert Harris. After a walk to Dustin Morris, Rhea reached on an infield single to load the bases.
Harris came in on a walk to Sims, and Mitchell McCorkle plated Morris and Rhea with a two-run single to center field for the final margin of victory.
Rhea finished 2-for-2 for the Royals, while Gilley, Harris, Kelly, McCorkle, Phillips, Seamons and Sims added a hit each. Lucas Hartman, Garrett Pack and Underhill had a hit apiece for the Pirates.
The Royals swept the league’s titles, finishing first in both the regular season and the tournament for the second straight year. The Pirates finished the season second in both the regular season and in tournament play.