Out of this league > Royals Softball shows NWAC how it’s done Davie Wong Sports Editor f you had told me that the Royals softball team was going to be as dominant as they are, | would’ve shrugged and told you maybe. But this year, the team has really put themselves on the map. After a tough second-place finish at the NWAC Championships last year, the team felt the need to prove themselves, and have done so handily. No team in the NWAC conference has gone undefeated so far this season. Well, except for the Royals. Sitting at a cushy 22-0 record, the team has shown very little, if any, signs of stopping. They haven't been close losses either. Blowout games like the 20-3 and 13-4 results against Shoreline have helped them make a statement. To make the point even clearer, out of the 22 games the Royals have played, they have defeated their opponents with 8 or more runs in 14 of those games. While the team as a whole is playing remarkably, there are a few standout players. The pitching staff for the Royals has been marvelous. Keeley Ainge has been lights out for the Royals. Their go- to pitcher leads the league for pitchers with at least 10 games in ERA (1.83), walks allowed (12), earned runs (20), and wins (10). She’s also one of the league's best at strikeouts, sending 62 batters off the mound without a reward. However, behind her are some very good pitchers. Kira Staley has had a rookie season to be proud of. An ERA of 3-34 through 10 games is not something to balk at. Jesse Goddard has also been remarkable. The relief pitcher has been clutch when she’s needed to, pitching in four games so far this season and amassing an ERA of 3.00. While the pitching has been solid, no one can complain about the batting. Every single Royal has batted over a .300 this season. There are nearly five Royals who are batting near a .500 or over a Baseball Blues > Royals Baseball faces do-or-die situation Davie Wong Sports Editor fter a rebuild season last year, the Royals’ baseball team has continued to struggle on the field. Sitting with a conference record of 2-14, the Royals are quickly facing a situation where they need a miracle to qualify for the playoffs. With 8 games remaining, and them being 5 games behind the last playoff spot, the team needs to win 3/4 of their games and need their rivals to drop their games. Two losses for the Royals could spell the end of their season. But how did it get to this point? Well, to be frank, it was a tough initial rebuild year for the team. Only 1/4 of their roster came back this year, and much of last year’s North division rosters remained similar. In short, this year may just as well be chalked up to being another rebuild year. It isn’t all doom and gloom, however. The team has had some bright spots this year, as well. Wyatt Versluis has emerged as a pitching phenom for the Royals. The pitcher initially started as a relief pitcher but forced his way into the starting rotation. His consistent performances have earned him a 3.12 ERA. Not to mention that he holds one of the Royals’ two wins. His pitching has been fantastic so far, and he could very well be a pitcher the team looks to next year. C C Out of the 22 games the Royals have played, they have defeated their opponents with 8 or more runs in 14 of those games. .500. Natasha Beddard leads the bunch, and the league, in batting average with a scorching .545. Her 29 runs, 36 hits, 30 RBI, and 15 walks have made her one of the league’s premier hitters. Not to mention she’s a rookie. Talk about impressive. I could go on and list every single one of the Royals batters, but I think you get it. The team can hit, run, and throw. They can definitely play. And they're going to bring the wrath of Canadian athletics down on the heads of their opponents in the NWAC Championships. Their only danger? Complacency. Being so good can make you very complacent. The hope was that the North division’s other top team, Another pitcher in the limelight for the Royals is Alex Gibbons. Gibbons has been near flawless this season, pitching an ERA of 0.00 through three games. The relief pitcher has done his job perfectly so far this season. He could very well continue to be a key reliever, or see himself in the starters mound sometime soon. Either way, the rookie has surprised many and been a bright spot for the team so far. In terms of batting, Rodney Gilbert has been the leader for the Royals. The sophomore has flashed his experience on the batting mound this year. The team’s infielder has lead the team batting average with a 0.318 and 14 hits on the season. Tyler Melenchuk Edmonds College, would challenge the Royals, but that didn’t really happen. As of now, the team hasn’t really been challenged. When that changes come playoffs, the hope is that the team can adapt. If not, it’s going to be a rough ride. If they don’t become complacent, this could be the year they win it all. Nearly half of the last year’s runner up lineup is back this year, and the key is star pitcher Keeley Ainge. If Ainge can put in another gem of a tournament, the team will continue to dominate on the conference stage. It really could be the year the only Canadian team in the NWAC wins the Championship. After all, if you haven't lost all season, why ever start? Douglas College Student Services V has been the rookie batter who has risen through the ranks this year. His batting average of 0.242 is second only to Gilbert’s. As a batter who is often able to get some good contact, Melenchuk could very well be someone to keep your eyes on in the near future. Overall, the team has a tough challenge ahead of them. Can they do it? It’s possible. But it’s going to be a gauntlet. With a series against Shoreline and Bellevue coming up, and the need to win 6 out of 8 of those games, the likelihood of the team pulling off this feat is small but it is there. Overall, it did feel like another rebuild year for the team. All they can do is put their chin down and focus on the road ahead.