Baseball team to start varsity play
By Sam Waller
The Albany Lions baseball team will be at full strength this weekend when it plays its first varsity games.
The Lions will play at the Eastland tournament on Thursday, March 3 (today), and Friday, March 4.
The Lions played Class 3A opponents Jim Ned and Eastland on Thursday and Class 4A Pampa on Friday.
“We’re going to get a real test right off the bat playing those schools,” coach David Fairchild said.
The good news is Fairchild expects to have his full roster following Albany’s exit from the basketball playoffs. The bad news is the players have little time to prepare.
“The thing right now is just to get these kids ready,” Fairchild said. “We’re going to have two days of practice before we play. We need to get them out there to see some pitching, get some quality at bats, and get some pitching work in.”
An added factor, Fairchild said, is that pitchers will be on a strict pitch limit this week and next week at the Albany tournament as they build up their arms.
Junior Varsity
The Lion JV defeated Eastland 12-2 in five innings on Monday, Feb. 28 in its first home game.
Albany broke the game open with six runs in the fourth inning.
Fairchild said pitchers Laithe Leech, Cason Fairchild, and Cole Read performed well on the mound.
At the plate, Zane Waggoner doubled twice and drove in two runs, while Cason Fairchild had a double and two RBIs. Brody Brown also drove in two runs with a single. Bryson Herring had an RBI triple, while Read and Tyler Chapman each had an RBI single.
