The Royals came into Thursday’s matchup against the Lake Conference rival Minnetonka fresh off of 5-3  non-conference loss to Armstrong (5-2).

Robbie Palkert, senior, got the call to the mound for the Royals. In his last outing, Palkert earned the loss after an 11-1 final against the Eden Prairie Eagles.

The game was a game of runs, literally. The Skippers put up two runs in the top of the first but the Royals responded with three of their own in the bottom of the frame. After two innings the Royals led 3-2.

Through 4 ½ innings, the Royals found themselves down 6-3. It was now gut check time for the Royals and boy did they answer.

“Even when we were down by four runs, we never felt out of the game. All of us know how quickly things can change if we lose focus so we just kept grinding it out. We just played our own game,” said Palkert.

The Royals scored five runs in the bottom of the fifth. Minnetonka scored one run in the top of the 6th but the Royals responded with three of their own to take a commanding 11-7 lead. The Royals closed out the Skippers with little problem in the top of the 7th as the Royals won 11-7.

The Royals were led by Tommy Gleason, senior, who went 2/4 at the plate and batted in three runs. Palkert finished his outing against the Skippers with five innings pitched and two earned runs while earning the win.  The Royals also received key contributions from Nathen Nelsen and Jon Koch, seniors, both scored three runs for the Royals.

“It was electric, everyone was into the game the whole time and picking each other up. It’s always fun to beat a lake conference team, especially when they are one of the best in the state. The energy was crazy and it helped fuel our comeback and eventual win,” Palkert said.

Up next for the Royals is a date with the Knights of Benilde St. Margarete’s (2-5). The teams will play on Friday, April 24.