2 teams play in tourney

By Sam Waller

Two Albany Little League teams advanced in their respective divisions over the weekend in the District 5 tournament, starting with games at the Albany complex on Saturday, May. 28.

The tournament was to conclude Wednesday, June 1, with championship games at the Wylie Little League complex in Abilene.

In the Majors division, the Indians advanced to the County bracket championship and were to play the Merkel Willies on Tuesday, May 31 at Merkel. The winner of that game will play an Abilene opponent for the district championship.

The Indians opened the district tourney with a 5-3 victory over the Merkel Bankers on Saturday, then were awarded a 6-0 forfeit win over the Winters Blue Sox on Sunday. On Monday, May 30, the Indians beat the Clyde Scrappers 4-0 at Merkel as Blake Britting pitched a no-hitter.

In the Minors division, the Oilers won twice before being eliminated Monday. The Oilers eked out a 12-11 victory against Merkel 3 on Saturday before blanking the Clyde Flying Squirrels 12-0 on Sunday. The Oilers’ tournament run ended Monday with a 12-3 loss to the Snyder Astros. The last two games were played at Clyde.

Albany’s Junior and Intermediate teams were to start district play Wednesday. The Intermediates played Winters at Abilene’s Southern Little League complex, while the Juniors hosted the Abilene Southern Cardinals.

Championship games for those age groups are scheduled for Friday, June 3 at the Southern complex.

District 5 will hold a machine-pitch tournament for 8- and 9-year-olds Saturday-Monday, June 11-13, at a site to be announced. Albany has put in a bid to host the event.

All-Star Teams

All-Stars have been selected for Majors and Minors. Tony Wheeler will coach the Majors team and Steven Sutton will direct the Minors. Team rosters will be published when they become available.

All-Star play begins in mid-June in Abilene.