Despite the slow start optimism abounds for Royals Baseball
The Lake Region State College Baseball team started their 2024 season on Sunday, March 3rd at the RussMatt Invitational Tournament in Auburndale, Florida. Although they were not able to practice outside before getting to the tournament they were able to win two games including one against the Century College Ducks who typically have a strong team and were very competitive in a few other games.
They finished the tournament 2-6 but they were not discouraged by their performance and know that they were a few plays away from finishing with a 4-4 record. This past weekend of March 16th and 17th they went out to Fort Dodge, Iowa to play the undefeated number four ranked team in the country Iowa Central Community College and although they were soundly defeated in both games on Saturday with Sunday’s game being cancelled due to weather they stayed together and fought hard against an elite opponent.
Coach Larry Arango remains optimistic that the team will have a successful season. “ The games that we played in Florida, the lack of practice outdoors, and the games against Iowa Central have prepared us to face any challenge and stay together. We have really grown as not just a team but as a family and that is what we stress here Royals Baseball Family and the adversity that we have dealt with will have us very well prepared to face the rigors of our Mon-Dak Conference schedule.”
“ This is a team that is still growing and when it is all said and done we are going to surprise a lot of people and win our fair share of games.”
The Royals conference opener this weekend against North Dakota College of Science is being rescheduled due to inclement weather but they will have their home opener on Wednesday, March 27th for a non-conference doubleheader against the University of North Dakota Club Team.