2 local all-star teams still in bracket play
By Donnie A. Lucas
Albany’s 10U and 12U Little League All-Star teams picked up wins in the first two rounds of bracket play in the District 5 All-Stars Tournament.
Both teams started bracket games on Saturday, continuing Sunday despite a rain delay for one of the teams.
Albany hosted teams from Breckenridge on Tuesday evening, with the 10U winning 16-10, and the 12U dropping their first game 7-2. Details of the games were not available at press time but will be reported next week.
Both groups will continue bracket games in the double elimination tournament this Thursday, but their opponents had not yet been determined at press time.
10U Results
The younger All-Stars beat Clyde 17-5 on June 19 their second and final pool game.
“Everyone hit well, and Colter Edgar, Graham Ceder, and Lyle Wheeler all pitched well for us,” coach Clint Chapman said.
Bracket play started on Saturday, with Albany run-ruling Eastland 16-6. Pitching in the game were Aiden Vickers, Ceder, and Pecos Duke.
The 10U also handed Cisco an 11-5 loss on Sunday in a game that was halted for awhile due to weather. Pitching were Clay Chapman, Ceder, and Vickers.
“I’m really excited about how well the guys are hitting the ball,” Chapman said. “If we keep hitting well, we should go far in the tournament. That is the key.”
The 10U All-Stars includes Clay Chapman, Aiden Vickers, Lyle Wheeler, Slayton Parsons, Bennett Neece, Colter Edgar, Blake Britting, Graham Ceder, Pecos Duke, and Jakobi Word. Cash Edgar is the alternate.
12U Results
The older All-Stars dropped their second pool game 3-0 to Clyde on June 19 but were undefeated in bracket play through the first two rounds.
“Clyde got to throw all their best pitchers against us,” 12U coach John Tom Heatly said, “but I was actually glad we got to see pitching that good early in the tournament. The guys played really well on defense and didn’t commit a single error.”
Pitching that game for Albany were Will LeMay, Huffman Heatly, and Wesley Gleitz. The trio combined for 11 strikeouts and gave up only four hits.
“We only had two hits in that game, one from Woods Peterson and the other from Huffman Heatly,” the coach said.
Albany won the first bracket game on Saturday, beating Eastland 14-9.
Pitching for Albany were Laithe Leech, Huffman Heatly, LeMay, Peterson, Calhan Fairchild, and Gleitz.
“I was proud of all the pitchers,” Heatly said. “We rotated several boys in trying to save arms and the pitch count for future games.”
The coach added that the team batted much better than in the pool games.
“We jumped out and scored seven runs on them in the first and added four more in the third to stretch the lead to 11-2,” he said. “Offensively, the standouts were Calhan and Cade Fairchild and Huffman Heatly with three hits each, along with Shawn Keen and Will LeMay with two each.”
The coach said that the game was “too close for comfort” when Albany allowed five runs in the fourth.
“The kids responded with Huffman hitting a home run to lead off the fifth, and then Cade Fairchild hit another one right behind him,” the coach said. “I was extremely pleased with the base running in the game with 11 stolen bases.”
The 12U played Cisco in the second round on Sunday, getting a 15-5 win.
“I was pleased with the guys’ effort, especially after getting down 3-0 on a Cisco home run at the beginning,” Heatly said. “We held our composure and answered with three runs of our own in the bottom of the first. I’m really happy with the way the boys have been hitting the ball the last two games.”
Huffman Heatly led the batting, going three for three with a home run, a triple and four RBIs. Calhan Fairchild had two hits, including a triple. LeMay also had a triple, and Gleitz hit a double.
In all, Albany had 11 hits in the game.
“We put a lot of pressure on them with our base running,” Heatly said. “Stealing bases for us were Woods Peterson, Will LeMay, Jake Hale, and Shawn Keen,” the coach said. “We also played great defense without any errors.”
Pitching for Albany were Sam Vickers, Huffman Heatly, and LeMay.
“We only gave up one long hit that got them three runs, but after that we settled in and pitched a great game,” he said. “We had great plays in the outfield by Mason McCloy and Woods Peterson, and Calhan Fairchild made a ‘major league’ play at first base to get us out of an inning.”
The coach also praised catchers Brody Oliver and Shawn Keen.
The 12U roster includes Will LeMay, Mason McCloy, Brody Oliver, Calhan Fairchild, Wesley Gleitz, Sam Vickers, Cade Fairchild, Huffman Heatly, Woods Peterson, Jake Hale, Shawn Keen, Gatlin Wills, and Laithe Leech.
