Royals Sweep Bluefield in Conference Doubleheader, Serrano Urges Focus Amid Success

KINGSPORT, TN- The Royals took care of business Friday, sweeping conference opponent Bluefield in a doubleheader at Hunter Wright Stadium in Kingsport, earning an 11-1 victory in game one and following it up with a 5-1 win in game two.

With the sweep, the Royals continue to build momentum in AAC play, but head coach Dave Serrano made it clear postgame that while the results were strong, the standard remains higher.

"We came in here to win two games… and we took care of business," Serrano said. "As I told the team, we have something really special building here. I thought we got complacent in game two because game one ended up being such a lopsided affair."

Game One: Offensive Explosion Backs Reynolds

After Bluefield struck first in the opening inning, Johnson immediately answered and never looked back in the 11-1 rout.

The Royals erupted for 16 hits in the opener, scoring in five different innings. Travis Hobbensiefken led the charge at the plate, going 3-for-3 with a double and an RBI, while Braden Frank tallied two hits and two RBIs. Jesse Rojas added two hits and drove in two, and Christian Altamirano chipped in with a pair of RBIs as well.

Johnson broke the game open in the fourth inning with a four-run frame, capitalizing on timely hitting and a balk that extended the lead. The Royals added insurance in the sixth and seventh to secure the decisive victory.

On the mound, Colby Reynolds was dominant, tossing six innings while allowing just one run on five hits and striking out four. Bodey Yates closed the door with a clean seventh inning to seal the win.

Game Two: Pitching Depth Shines in 5-1 Win

The nightcap was more tightly contested early, but Johnson once again controlled the tempo in a 5-1 victory.

The Royals struck first in the opening inning on a JJ Menesini sacrifice fly. After Bluefield tied the game in the fifth, Johnson responded immediately with a three-run bottom half. Menesini delivered again with an RBI double, Braden Frank added a run-scoring single, and Joseph Brown followed with an RBI knock to create separation.

Luke Wilson extended the lead in the sixth with an RBI single, giving the Royals breathing room late.

Johnson's pitching staff was sharp once again. Jacob Jacome set the tone with three scoreless innings to start the game. Tyler Barfield (4-0) earned the win with three strong innings, allowing just one run while striking out four. Kaleb Townsend closed it out in the seventh to complete the sweep.

Protecting What's Being Built

Despite the convincing wins, Serrano emphasized that growth and consistency remain the priority.

"When I really like something, I protect it," Serrano said. "I just don't want them to get complacent because we still have a long ways to go as a team in regards to getting better in all areas. We can't let a score, a streak, or a ranking dictate how we continue to work as a baseball team. But I'm happy that we came in here and got two. That's all we could do, and we got them both."

The Royals showed offensive depth, pitching balance, and resilience throughout the day — but as Serrano noted, the standard isn't just about winning, it's about sustained growth.

Johnson will look to carry that mindset forward as conference play continues.