High School Spring Sports : El Camino Real Bows to Royal, 7-3

Drama usually saves itself for later in the season, but it reared its head in Royal’s 7-3 victory over host El Camino Real on Tuesday.

El Camino Real claimed the game was only a scrimmage while Royal claimed it was official. The game seemed official as both teams wore game uniforms, rules were followed, a score book was kept and regular umpires presided.

Under the same circumstances last year, the Highlanders defeated El Camino Real, 4-3. Had the Conquistadores counted the loss, it would have snapped a winning streak that eventually reached 73 games before coming to a screeching halt in a nine-run loss to Sylmar in the City Section 4-A championship game.

While the validity of El Camino Real’s streak is open to conjecture, the same cannot be said about the effectiveness of Royal’s offensive attack. Stevie Campbell and Missy Cress both had 3 hits and drove in 2 runs as Royal racked El Camino Real ace Beth Silverman for 4 runs in the fifth inning to break a 1-1 tie. The Highlanders added two runs in the sixth to complement a six-hitter from their ace, Danielle Devan.