Guelph Royals top Gryphons to complete preseason

GUELPH – The Guelph Royals wrapped up their two-game Intercounty Baseball League preseason with an 11-3 win over the Guelph Gryphons in a seven-inning match Saturday at Hastings Stadium.

The game was limited to seven innings as neither team had enough players, mainly pitchers, to complete a full nine-inning game.

The Royals were without any of their imports – two were due to arrive in Canada later that night – and Dalton Pompey was also told not to bother driving in from Mississauga for the game.

The Gryphons were short players as most of their players had gone home after the completion of the second semester at the university and some are playing on other summer teams.

The IBL squad, visitors for the game, scored two runs in the third inning and led 3-1 after the fourth before breaking it open with six runs in the fifth. Both teams scored two runs in the sixth.

The Royals are to open their regular season, their first since 2019, Saturday with a game against the Toronto Maple Leafs. Game time at Hastings Stadium is 1 p.m.

That game is slated to be their first of a three-in-three holiday weekend as they’re also to play the Hamilton Cardinals at Hamilton’s Bernie Arbour Stadium Sunday at 2:05 p.m. and the London Majors at London’s Labatt Park Monday at 1:05 p.m.

The opener is also the first game of seven games in 11 days to open the season.

In the league’s first match of the season Sunday, London doubled Toronto 6-3 at Christie Pits.

Friday, the Royals signed designated hitter Sean Reilly for what’s being billed as his Farewell Tour. Also signed were outfielder Jeff MacLeod, catcher Kyle DeGrace and pitchers Evan Kiser, Daniel Marquez and Lukas Barry.

• Guelph Sports Journal