Lions make strong showing at home tourney
By Sam Waller
The Albany Lions baseball team fashioned an undefeated run last week in the Albany Lion Varsity Baseball Tournament, the host team just didn’t get as many wins as it wanted.
The Lions (2-1-3) did not play this week over spring break. Albany returns to action at 5:00 p.m. Tuesday, March 18 when it visits Haskell in the District 8-2A opener.
In its second tournament of the season, Albany settled for two more ties on Thursday, March 6, again coming from behind in a 3-3 draw with Cisco and a 4-4 deadlock with Eastland. The Lions notched their first two wins of the year Friday, March 7, beating Brady 10-1 and Early 8-3.
“I’m very proud of this group of young men,” coach David Fairchild said. “They battled and never put their heads down.”
Fairchild credited pitching and defense making the weekend a good one for the Lions.
“I was really proud of our pitching,” he said. “We threw a lot of strikes. Defensively, Brody Oliver, Wesley Gleitz, Chip Chambers and Calhan Fairchild had some nice plays.”
Against Cisco, Albany rallied from a 3-0 deficit to avoid a loss as Gleitz and Landon Balliew drove in runs in the fifth inning to even the score. Chambers, Oliver and Gleitz each had a hit.
Chambers pitched five innings, allowing two hits while striking out seven.
“Chip pitched well,” David Fairchild said. “He had command of his pitches.”
Against Eastland, the Lions again dug themselves out of a 3-0 hole. Chambers, who drove in two runs, and Oliver, who had one RBI, each tripled. Aiden Vickers also had a hit.
In the third inning, Chambers tripled in two runs and scored on Oliver’s sacrifice fly. Oliver tripled in the fifth and scored the tying run on a passed ball.
Mason McCloy pitched 2.1 innings, Clay Chapman 1.2 and Aiden Vickers 2.0, combining for seven strikeouts.
“I was very pleased with their effort,” the coach said.
Against Brady, Albany broke loose for six runs in the third inning after spotting the Bulldogs an early run. Oliver stole home in the first to give Albany the lead for good.
McCloy, Chambers, Oliver, Chapman and Gleitz all had one hit. McCloy and Oliver each had two RBIs with Vickers, Chambers, and Balliew getting one each.
Oliver struck out seven over three innings to get the win.
“Brody threw well after catching two games the day before,” David Fairchild said. “I thought Clay Chapman did a good job catching Brody. That’s a tough job back there, and he did well.”
A seven-run fourth carried the Lions past Early. Chapman had two hits and two RBIs, while Calhan Fairchild had two hits with a double and one RBI. Vickers and Chambers each had a hit and an RBI. McCloy, Oliver and Colter Edgar added one RBI apiece and Gleitz one hit.
Vickers pitched 4.2 innings with seven strikeouts. Chapman got the last out.
“Aiden did a great job on the mound,” David Fairchild said. “Clay came in and closed the game.”
On Thursday, Feb. 27, Albany lost 5-4 to Wichita Falls City View before salvaging a 5-5 tie with Petrolia. A game against Jacksboro scheduled for Friday, Feb. 28 was called off.
In both games, which were played at City View, the Lions outhit their opponents only to be undone by their own mistakes.
Against City View, Albany led 4-1 in the second inning and finished with a 6-1 advantage in hits, but gave up four runs in the third inning.
Brody Oliver went 2 for 3 with an RBI, and Chip Chambers tripled in a run for Albany. Aiden Vickers, Wesley Gleitz and Landon Balliew added hits for the Lions.
Chambers started on the mound and worked two innings. Gleitz, Clay Chapman and Landon Picquet pitched in relief.
Against Petrolia, Balliew’s two-out single in the fifth drove in the tying run as the Lions overcame deficits of 2-0 and 5-3. Albany held a 5-4 edge in hits, but committed three more errors and issued six more walks.
Oliver drove in three runs, and Vickers had an RBI. McCloy and Chapman added hits.
Oliver also pitched 1.2 innings with Vickers and McCloy appearing in relief.
