Royal Palm Beach Picks Up Win Over King’s Academy

The King’s Academy’s Clayton Morrell struck out eight in five innings.

The sun setting behind home plate didn’t help the defense on either side in Royal Palm Beach’s 7-1 victory over host King’s Academy. With at least one outfield chance getting lost in the glare, the teams combined for nine errors in the game played at The King’s Academy. A clutch RBI by Royal Palm’s Sean Malynn decided things in the third inning.

Lions’ ace Clayton Morrell, making only his second start while recovering from a back injury, struck out six of the Wildcats’ first eight hitters. With two out in the second, Zach Odell and Sean Hovcic walked to spark the crucial inning. Two wild pitches brought home Odell, with Hovcic now on third. Sean Malynn singled cleanly to center, knocking in Hovcic with what would be the deciding run. A walk to Brandon Hernandez and a double-steal put two more Wildcats into scoring position. Morrell regained his command and slammed the door, striking out the next batter.

The Wildcats showed a lot of pop in the bats, and also came in with some guys among the county hitting leaders. But Wildcats Manager Kason Gabbard knows what matters most for his guys.

“We have gap guys; a home run is a mistake,” Gabbard said. “I don’t look at numbers. I try to teach these kids to work hard every day and go from there.”

That hard work paid off for a win on Monday.

“Give them a lot of credit for putting the bat on the ball and keeping the pressure on us,” said Lions Manager Brad Wilkerson. “The two-out walk in the third opened the door for them, but we didn’t catch the ball.”

In the third, two sparkling Royal Palm defensive plays smothered what could have been a big inning for the Lions. With one out, Colin Valente singled. Wildcats’ starter Nick Fernandez had not been shy about throwing repeatedly to first, keeping runners close. With Zach Krance at bat, Fernandez showed a different look and picked the runner off for the second out.

“I like to get going on pick-offs because I want to keep the runners off-balance,” said Fernandez. “Then they can’t advance and we can hold back some runs.”

Krance worked a walk, bringing up the number three hitter, James Vaughan. The big first baseman got into one, driving the ball over the left fielder’s head and one-hopping the wall. Krance, running on the swing, appeared poised to score. However, a perfectly executed double-assist from Hollander to Hernandez to Hamilton led to the 7-6-2 putout at the plate that ended the inning.

The Lions threatened again in the fourth. Shortstop Brandon Hernandez lost his (plant) footing on the all grass infield, allowing Andrew Goodlett to reach. Austin Sharkey roped a sinking liner to center where Malynn made a backhanded, shoe-top catch.

The King’s Academy’s James Vaughan doubles to left in the third inning.

“I thought I was going to drop it, because I rolled over, but I held on,” said Malynn of the first out.

After a strikeout, Matt Tucker singled and Ben Lobello walked to load the bases. A fly to left was tracked down by Hollander to close the inning.

The Wildcats doubled their score in the fifth. With one out, Hovcic and Malynn singled. With two down, Troy Hamilton laid down a surprise bunt that no infielder could handle. Bases now loaded, a ball through the left side brought home two runs. Morrell induced a pop to short, quieting the ‘Cats.

The Lions were at it again in the sixth as Sharkey beat out a close play at first and pinch hitter, Bobbie Biskupiak singled with two outs. Matt Tucker was robbed when Hernandez, charging between second and the mound, took his high chopper and nipped Tucker by a step.

The Wildcats’ Alex Rosa walked to lead off the sixth, stealing second and third, and scoring when the throw to third ended up down the left field line. A fly ball and a strikeout were followed by an infield error putting Hovcic on first. Malynn doubled to the left-center gap to knock in Hovcic, while collecting his third hit and second RBI on the night. Earlier in the game, Malynn also had another fine defensive play when he charged a line drive, dove to knock it down and held the batter to a single.

Triston McKenzie singled leading off the Wildcats’ seventh. Rosa promptly doubled him home to round out the visiting team’s scoring.

Under fading daylight, the Lions put one on the board in the seventh. Valente singled with one out. Two wild pitches moved him to third as Krance again walked. With Vaughan at the plate, another wild pitch brought home the run.

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