Royals endure tough opening week, look to regroup early in season
The South Prairie-Max Royals baseball team faced a challenging start to the 2026 season, dropping four games in a demanding opening stretch against two of the top teams in Region VI.
The Royals opened play on April 7 with a road doubleheader against Bishop Ryan-Nedrose at Corbett Field. Facing an experienced and undefeated opponent, South Prairie-Max struggled to slow the offensive momentum of Bishop Ryan-Nedrose, falling 23-3 in the opener and 15-5 in the second game.
Despite the lopsided scores, the early matchup provided a valuable measuring stick for the Royals against one of the region’s early frontrunners. Bishop Ryan-Nedrose currently sits atop the Region VI standings and has yet to suffer a loss this season.
South Prairie-Max returned home on April 9 to host Velva-Drake/Anamoose at Hoeven Field, but the results remained difficult against another strong opponent. The Royals were held scoreless in the first game of the doubleheader, falling 10-0, before dropping the nightcap 12-1.
Through four games, South Prairie-Max has opened the season 0-4 overall and 0-2 in regional play, placing them near the bottom of the early standings. Bishop Ryan-Nedrose and Velva-Drake/Anamoose lead Region VI at 2-0, while Central McLean has also gotten off to a strong start in both regional and overall contests. Garrison sits just ahead of the Royals in the standings, while Surrey remains winless alongside South Prairie-Max.
While the scores have not gone in their favor, the early schedule has featured some of the toughest competition the Royals will see all season. Facing two of the region’s top teams in back-to-back doubleheaders has tested the roster in all aspects of the game, from pitching depth to defensive consistency.