By FRED KRONER
Two weeks ago, the Eastern Illinois Baseball’s abbreviated regular season opened up.
This week, the regular season in the 85-year-old league concludes.
The Royal Giants are alone atop the standings after two weeks of doubleheaders.
Unbeaten Royal swept El Paso 9-1 and 10-0 on Monday in a twin bill that had been scheduled for Sunday, but was postponed by rain.
The Giants’ pitchers have allowed four runs in four games, while the team’s offense has piled up 30 runs.
In the makeup doubleheader at El Paso, Royal’s Nolan Roseman and Adam Crites teamed up on a two-hitter in Game 1. Roseman struck out eight in five innings to improve his record to 2-0.
Colton Carr swatted two of Royal’s four hits in the first game and drove in three runs. He is the E.I.’s leading hitter after four games with a .692 batting average (9 for 13).
In the second game, Jesse Remington (also 2-0) struck out 12 batters during his five-inning scoreless stint. Isaiah Robles finished off the shutout.
Royal’s 12-hit attack was paced by Tom Wolken, who delivered his first home run of the season, a two-run blast in the fourth inning.
Wolken and Carr each ended with two hits in the game as did teammate Blake Hoveln.
Royal (4-0) plays a doubleheader on Sunday (July 26) at Buckley against Paxton (0-2). The first game will start at 1 p.m.
Paxton, which was rained out the opening weekend, dropped two games to Buckley (2-2) on Sunday, 1-0 and 15-5.
The opening game was a pitcher’s duel between Buckley’s Andrew Zenner and Paxton’s Adam Carver.
Zenner struck out nine and walked two, yielding three hits in a complete-game performance. Carver fanned six and walked two, scattering two hits in his six-inning stint.
The only scoring was courtesy of Nate Walker’s solo home run in the bottom of the fifth inning.
Oakwood product Chase Vinson collected two of Paxton’s first-game hits.
Buckley opened the floodgates early in the second game, plating five runs in the first inning, which was highlighted by Andrew Erickson’s grand slam.
Walker completed his banner day with another home run. He knocked in four runs in the nightcap. Walker and Josh Krumwiede each swatted three hits in Game 2.
Winning pitcher Andy Davis hurled a complete game in a contest shortened to five innings by the 10-run rule. Davis struck out six and issued one walk. He permitted five hits.
Tristan Wolfe ended with two hits for Paxton in the nightcap. Vinson and another Oakwood product, Hunter Phelps, had one hit apiece in the second game.
Vinson was the lone Paxton player with hits in both games.
Buckley returns to action on Sunday at El Paso (0-2). The opening game will start at 1 p.m.
When this week’s games are concluded, pairings will be set for the postseason tournament, which starts on Aug. 2 at Buckley.
