Green Wave bows to Royals

MALDEN, Mo. - The Malden High School baseball Green Wave (0-3) team Thursday fell to the Twin Rivers High School Royals (5-0) by two runs, 6-4.

The contest was a bit one-sided from the start, with the Royals posting two runs early on.

Royals head coach Chris Newman, in his sixth year as head coach and nine years service total, said postgame that both he and his squad were a bit disappointed with the team's execution.

“We came out and put a couple runs on the board early,” he said. “Defensively, we really didn't execute.

“We committed a lot of errors,” he added. “Silly errors, early on. Over all, we just didn't execute the way we expect ourselves to.”

Twin Rivers Royals pitcher prepares on the mound while Malden's Trey Miller looks for the steal Thursday at Malden.Photo by Steve Hankins

Malden Green Wave head coach Tim Harmon expressed nearly the same opinion about his players, and referred to his team's youth when speaking about the game.

“We're young,” Harmon said. “We're inexperienced.

“We knew coming into the season wins would be few and far between,” he continued. “It was just good today for us to show a little life.”

Malden Green Wave's Marcus Burton takes a swing Thursday at home.Photo by Steve Hankins

Both teams showed up to compete, and Newman said he was well aware of Malden's capabilities, despite the team's inexperience playing upperclassmen.

“Tim Harmon is a good coach,” Newman said. “He's done this a long time.

“He's gonna have his team ready to compete,” he added. “They had a shot to beat us tonight. We just gotta play great baseball. We squandered a lot of golden opportunities to put runs on the board.”

Malden Green Wave southpaw pitcher Jonathan Stewart fires one Thursday at Malden.Photo by Steve hankins

Harmon said his squad battled hard.

“I thought we improved over the last two games, putting the ball in play and making the defense work,” Harmon said. “You know, we were a hit or two away from this game's outcome being different. It got brutal a time or two.”

One of the home-plate umpire's decisions early in the game was questioned by Newman, followed by another call later that caused a sort of ruckus in the visiting team's stands.

Twin Rivers Royals relief pitcher takes aim while Malden's Trey Miller eyes third base Thursday at Malden.Photo by Steve Hankins

Several irate spectators howled at the official before one fired a barrage of verbal salvos and the game was interrupted while officials met on the field.

Newman left the dugout to approach the umpire and told the official his first call cost the team a run, and the second questioned decision cost the Royals more.

“We definitely had some calls that didn't go our way today,” Newman said. “That's a story for another day I guess.”

A Twin Rivers runner celebrates his hit that finds him on second base and results in an RBI Thursday at Malden.Photo by Steve Hankins

Harmon explained, briefly.

“We had bases loaded,” he explained. “The ball kicked off the catcher's mitt and went over the fence.

“You get one base from the mound,” he added. “You get two bases if an infielder had thrown the ball. The umpire just got confused. I knew the rule. I was the beneficiary. So I wasn't gonna go volunteer my input until after the play was over.”

Twin Rivers baseball head coach Chris Newman has words with the home plate umpire Thursday at Malden.Photo by Steve Hankins

The game continued until the final Green Wave out and found the Royals on top 6-4.

“It was a closer game than we felt it should have been,” Newman said. “Basically I tell the team you gotta take care of what you can control and don't let bad calls effect how you play the game after that.”

The Royals next game is Monday at home against Meadow Heights (2-1), Newman said.

“I expect a competitive game,” the coach commented. “Last time we played them they beat us by one run.

“I know they're gonna come in and play good, quality baseball,” he added. “So we gotta do the same.”

Harmon, 19 years as head coach and 32 years' service, said the Green Wave play two games on Monday.

“We play Holcomb (3-2) at 11 a.m. at Holcomb,” Harmon said. “And Campbell (1-1) at 4:30 at home.”