Lady Lions open with 4-4 tie in Eastland
By Sam Waller
The Albany Lady Lions got the 2023 softball season underway last week, going 2-4-1 in the first seven games.
None of the games lasted beyond five innings.
The Lady Lions make their second tournament outing of the season this weekend at San Angelo. On Friday, Feb. 25, Albany will play pool games against Bangs, Forsan, and Midland Christian. Bracket play will be held Saturday, Feb. 26.
“We got innings in and finally got to see some live pitching and live situations,” Lady Lions coach Jimmy Fuentes said. “We’re learning on the fly because of the weather leading up to that tournament. We were indoors a lot so not a lot of practice time, but we’re able to play and I’d rather play than practice.”
Fuentes said the early games allowed him to experiment with different lineups.
“This is an adjustment year because we lost such a big, experienced senior class last year,” he said. “We’re looking at different kids in different spots, moving outfielders to the infield and having to rely on some freshmen.”
Albany opened the season Tuesday, Feb. 14 with a 4-4 tie at Eastland in a game that was moved from Webb Park because of field conditions. The game was called after five innings.
Braylyn Abbate homered and drove in two runs. Robin Lucas, who doubled, and Gracie Price each had an RBI.
Gabby Lopez went 3 for 3 with Haily Cox, Lucas, Price, and Abbate each getting two hits. Carisa Barrera also had a hit.
Barrera pitched five innings, allowing three earned runs on seven hits. She walked three and struck out four.
Albany spent Thursday-Saturday, Feb. 16-18 at the Eastland tournament, winning one of five games. Each game ended early on the time limit.
On Thursday, Albany lost 11-2 to Clyde in three innings. Cox and Lucas each had hits with Barrera and Price driving in the runs. Barrera was charged with eight earned runs on 10 hits in 2.1 innings.
On Friday, Albany lost 9-2 to Wall and 14-1 to Merkel, both in three innings.
Against Wall, Madison Parrott tripled for Albany’s only hit, but five walks helped the Lady Lions score runs. Barrera allowed four earned runs on seven hits.
Against Merkel, Lucas was 2 for 2 with an RBI, while Cox and Barrera each had a hit. Barrera was charged with 11 earned runs on 10 hits.
On Saturday, Albany lost 7-3 to Stephenville in three innings before a 10-6 win over Strawn in four innings.
Against Stephenville, Cox and Price each had a hit and an RBI. Barrera, Abbate, and Parrott added one hit apiece. Barrera, pitching her fourth game in three days, gave up six earned runs on five hits in 2.1 innings.
Against Strawn, Albany overcame an early 4-0 deficit with a pair of four-run innings. Kaisley Bartee tied it in the second with a two-run triple and Lucas followed with a go-ahead sacrifice fly. Lucas added a three-run homer in the third to give Albany a 10-4 lead.
Lucas finished with five RBIs. Cox was 3 for 3 and Price was 2 for 3 with each driving in a run.
Lucas made her first pitching appearance, allowing six earned runs on three hits with seven walks and five strikeouts.
On Monday, Feb. 20, the Lady Lions beat Abilene Cooper JV 13-3 in five innings at Webb Park. Albany sent 15 batters to the plate during an 11-run first inning as every spot in the order produced at least one run.
“It’s good playing all different kinds of opponents,” Fuentes said. “We’ve played some pretty tough teams. Cooper’s JV had a lot of young kids who are in kind of the same boat we are, a bunch of kids who are learning right now.”
Cox, who went 3 for 3 with a double, and Price, who was 2 for 3 with a double and a triple, each drove in three runs.
Barrera, who went 2 for 2, Bartee and Lucas each had an RBI.
Barrera went the distance, striking out 12. The sophomore allowed no earned runs on two hits and three walks.
ALBANY 4, EASTLAND 4
SCORE BY INNING 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R/H/E
ALBANY 3 0 0 0 1 x x 4/12/1
EASTLAND 0 2 1 0 1 x x 4/7/0
atbat runs hits RBI
Cox 2b 4 1 2 0
Bartee c 2 1 0 0
Lucas ss 3 1 2 1
Barrera p 3 0 1 0
Price cf 3 0 2 1
Abbate 3b 3 1 2 2
Parrott rf 3 0 0 0
McDaniel 1b 3 0 0 0
Kelly 3B 0 0 0 0
Lopez lf 3 0 3 0
Totals 27 4 12 4
2B – Lucas. HR – Abbate.
IP H R ER BB SO
Barrera 5 7 4 3 3 4
HBP – Barrera.
ALBANY 13, COOPER JV 3
SCORE BY INNING 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R/H/E
COOPER JV 0 0 1 1 1 x x 3/2/3
ALBANY 11 2 0 0 x x x 13/11/4
atbat runs hits RBI
Cox 2b 3 3 3 3
Bartee c 3 2 1 1
Lucas ss 3 1 1 1
Barrera p 2 0 2 1
Price cf 3 1 2 3
Abbate 3b 2 1 1 0
McDaniel 1b 3 1 1 0
