Royals Sneak Past Athletics 2-0

Josh Storm has been on a tear this season since coming back full time after coaching legion ball.

It's always fun to play at Rochester's beautiful Mayo Field, but two things usually work against the Athletics... number one, they have never taken a full squad to Rochester in three trips there, and number two, a very formidable Royals team. With such factors working against them, the game is usually out of reach by the fifth inning, but Wednesday night was a whole new ballgame as Lakeville finally earned a measure of respect with their closest game yet.

Tall right-hander Jeff Farr started on the hill for the Athletics and once again threw extremely well, giving the Rochester hitters all they could handle in four innings of work. Pitching on just three days rest, Farr was not the scheduled starter, but a last minute switch saw Farr take the mound until Trent Larson could loosen up a bit. Farr threw so well that he stayed on the mound for four complete. He scattered four hits and was nicked for two unearned runs, but stranded six Royals on the bases.

Jeff Farr deals from the mound as 3rd baseman Brent Johnson gets set defensively.

Lakeville came out hitting right from the start, banging the Royals starter for four hits in the 1st inning. Shortstop Eddie Golom led off with a single up the middle. Designated hitter Trent Larson hit into a fielder's choice to the 2nd baseman, forcing Golom at 2nd. First baseman Josh Storm stayed hot by stroking a hard hit single up the middle, sending Larson to 2nd. Right fielder Kevin George then hit a single of his own to shallow right. Larson took 3rd and was waved home, but a perfect throw from the right fielder got him at the plate. Catcher Derek Hahn came to the plate and pounded a hit to deep right, but an ensuing strikeout ended the inning with the bases loaded for Lakeville.

Eddie Golom gets his lead at first base in the 1st inning.

The Royals lead-off hitter walked in the 1st inning, but an errant pick-off throw that got away at first base was the difference as the runner moved into scoring position at 2nd. He could have advanced to 3rd on the overthrow, but a smart defensive deke play from Eddie Golom held the runner to one bag on the error. One out later the Royals three-hitter knocked an RBI hit to right-center. It would be the only hit of the inning for Rochester, which took a 1-0 lead off the single.

Second baseman Justin Hahn led off the top of the 2nd by slamming a double into the left-center gap, but three quick outs left him stranded with a scoring opportunity lost.

Justin Hahn trots into 2nd with a stand up double in the 2nd inning.

A fielding error allowed the Royals lead-off man to reach safely in the 2nd, but Farr then promptly struck the next three batters out to end a scoreless 2nd.

Lakeville went down 1-2-3 in the 3rd, while Rochester led off with a single to right, but Farr retired the next three batters to hold the Royals scoreless.

In the top of the 4th, Justin Hahn reached safely on an error by the 3rd baseman, but that was all the offense that Lakeville could muster as he was stranded at 1st base.

The bottom of the 2nd saw Eddie Golom make an outstanding defensive play ranging far to his left past 2nd base, throwing a one-hop bounce to 1st baseman Josh Storm who scooped the throw for the out. The next hitter walked, but Farr struck out the following batter for the 2nd out. The Royals then had their only two hit inning, with consecutive singles, to take a 2-0 lead.

The Athletics went down 1-2-3 in the 5th before Trent Larson finally took the mound in the bottom of the inning. He retired the first two batters before giving up his only hit of the game. Eddie Golom's defense shined once again as he timed his jump perfectly to make a magnificent snow cone catch of of scorched liner high over his head.

It was a 1-2-3 inning for both teams in the 6th as the pitching duel tightened. Left fielder Eric Watts aided the effort by robbing a hit from Rochester by making a terrific diving, tumbling catch in the inning.

Lakeville threatened in the 7th when centerfielder John Degerness hit a double down the right field line. Justin Hahn walked to reach base for the 3rd time in the game. Third baseman Brent Johnson executed a perfect sacrifice bunt to move both runners into scoring position, but two subsequent strike outs ended the scoring threat.

John Degerness stands at 2nd after a 7th inning double.

The Royals lead-off hitter walked to start the bottom of the 7th and then promptly stole 2nd. He then tried to score all the way from 2nd on a wild pitch that rolled to the backstop, but Derek Hahn threw him out at the plate with a throw to Trent Larson who made a great tag to get the runner. Larson then proceeded to strike out the number two-hitter looking, before walking the number three man. A 5-3 groundout ended the Rochester inning with the Royals hanging onto a 2-0 lead.

After an inning opening Athletics strike out to lead off the 8th, Josh Storm ripped his second hit of the game into left center. Kevin George then walked after a full count, but a strike out and a groundout ended the Lakeville threat.

Trent Larson on the mound in the 8th inning.

The Royals loaded the bases in the bottom of the 8th on two walks and an error, but Larson had his hook working and was able to pitch out of the inning to strand three.

The Athletics went down in order in the 9th to end a frustrating game where they pitched extremely well and out-hit their opponent, but couldn't get the key hit when they needed it most.

Lakeville out-hit Rochester 7 hits to 5 in the loss.

Defensive plays of the game came from the duo of Eddie Golom and Josh Storm, Eric Watts, and the tandem of Derek Hahn and Trent Larson.

Collecting hits for the Athletics were...

• Josh Storm 2 for 4
• Kevin George 1 for 3, BB
• Justin Hahn 1 for 3, BB, OBE
• Eddie Golom 1 for 4 
• Derek Hahn 1 for 4
• John Degerness 1 for 4

The Athletics next game is Saturday at home at Lakeville South at 5:00 versus the Eagan Bandits.