Woodbury baseball: Royals edge Raptors in pitchers’ duel

Woodbury came out on top Friday over rival East Ridge in a textbook pitchers’ duel.

The Royals won 1-0, improving their Suburban East Conference record to 4-5 – the same conference record as the Raptors fell to after the loss.

Woodbury pitcher Noah Danner threw a three-hit performance in the complete game win.

“He threw strikes, just like our guy,” East Ridge coach Brian Sprout said, referring to Raptors’ starting pitcher Andy Kemper.

Woodbury scored the game’s lone run in the bottom of the fifth when senior Joe Wood ripped a fastball up the middle, scoring Ryan Scanlon.

“That was a big RBI,” said Kevin McDermott, head coach of the Royals.

The win stopped a two-game losing streak for the Royals.

“This is a nice momentum game for us,” McDermott said.

Woodbury lost 2-0 Wednesday in a road game at White Bear Lake.

Starting pitcher Brandon Mazur took the loss, surrendering one earned run in four innings pitched. He struck out two and walked two in the game. Steven Fingleton pitched two scoreless innings in relief.

Woodbury seniors Chase Lonetti and Ryan Fritze recorded the Royals’ two hits in the game. Lonetti’s double was the only extra-base hit Woodbury managed in the game.

The Royals also lost Monday, April 23, in a home game against Mounds View. Woodbury held on to a 5-3 lead through the fourth inning, but surrendered eight runs to the Mustangs in the final two frames, for a final score of 11-6.

Fritze and Sawyer Moon both collected two hits apiece for the Royals, while Moon drove in two runs. Scanlon, Tyler Trifiletti, Ryan Winter and Chris Hofacker all recorded an RBI in the game.

Things aren’t getting any easier on this week’s schedule, which includes games against all three of the top teams in the conference

The Royals on Monday faced first-place Cretin-Derham Hall; scores were not available as of press time.

On Wednesday, the Royals play host to Forest Lake, which is tied for second with the Roseville Raiders, who Woodbury plays on Friday

In addition to those SEC teams, the Royals will face nonconference opponent Tartan on Thursday at Midway Stadium in St. Paul.

Tags: sports, baseball, woodbury, royals, prep, updates