Cory Johnson was named Tournament MVP
Royals Capture 25th Annual Warner Invitational Championship
LAKE WALES, Fla. – The Warner University baseball team used a big first inning and timely defense to defeat Thomas University (Ga.) 7-4 in the championship game of the 25th Annual Warner University Invitational. This marks the 14th time the Royals have won the tournament and their first since 2006. The Royals went 4-1 in tournament play and improved their overall record to 11-12. The Night Hawks fall to 15-6 with the defeat.
In a rematch of day one action, the Royals jumped out early scoring six runs in the first inning, all with two outs. Nine consecutive Royals’ hitters reached base chasing Thomas starter Skyler Sopotnick from the game in just the first inning. The Royals were patient in the opening frame drawing four walks and two hit-by-pitches. Cory Johnson and Ryan Paul provided the only hits of the inning.
The Night Hawks would get two runs back in the bottom half of the first off a homerun. Starter Brett Stanton would hold them to just the two runs over the next three innings thanks to some defensive help. With Thomas threatening to score in the second inning Stanton got the Thomas hitter to line out to first baseman Dan Smith who stepped on first to record the double play ending the inning. Later in the fifth after the Night Hawks scored their third run, Stanton again worked out of jam, inducing another line out, this time to shortstop Tyler Richardson who flipped to Paul at second base completing another double play.
The Royals were able to tack on one more run in the top of the sixth inning. Hunter Reed singled bringing home Smith who reached with a walk.
Stanton made things interesting in the seventh surrendering three consecutive singles to load the bases. However, he would induce yet another double play, this time it was in the form of a ground ball back to the mound. Stanton then retired the next batter on a strikeout ending the game and making the Royals tournament champions.
Johnson went 3 for 4 and was named the tournament MVP. In five tournament games Johnson batted .500 (7 for 14) with two homeruns and six RBIs. In the championship game, Paul went 2 for 4 with two RBIs and Smith was 1 for 2 with two runs scored.
Stanton (2-1) went the distance, lasting seven innings and giving up four runs with three strikeouts.
The Royals will take a few days off and return to action next Thursday, March 11, in a double header against #10 Bellevue University. First pitch is set for 1 p.m.