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Girls to play Hamlin in series

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By Sam Waller

The Albany Lady Lions continued their run in the Class 2A softball playoffs by sweeping their area series with Ozona.

On Friday, May 6, Albany won the series opener 12-3 at San Angelo Lake View, then clinched the sweep with a 12-2 victory on Monday, May 9 at Stanton.

Albany advanced to the third round of the playoffs for the first time since reaching the state tournament in 2018.

“We’re glad that after a three-year break due to COVID and other circumstances that these kids finally have an opportunity to get the program back where it belongs and hopefully go further,” coach Jimmy Fuentes said.

Albany (14-13-1) will face Hamlin in the regional quarterfinals.

“Hamlin has pretty athletic kids, and they’re used to playing together in summer league and travel ball,” Fuentes said. “They have a lefty pitcher who’s pretty good and a lot of kids who can hit the ball. Athletically, I think they’re a lot like us.”

Game 1 of the series is scheduled for 6:00 p.m. Thursday, May 12 (tonight), with Game 2 at 1:00 p.m. Saturday, May 14. Game 3, if necessary, will start 30 minutes following the conclusion of Game 2.

All games will be played at McMurry’s Edwards Field in Abilene. Parking is available at Aldersgate United Methodist Church adjacent to the field.

Against Ozona, Fuentes said the key for Albany was limiting mistakes.

“We played great defense all around,” he said.  “We kept our pitch count to a minimum, which is important when it’s that hot. We took advantage of our situations, got runners into scoring range, and got a couple of big, timely hits to blow it open for us.”

In the series opener, played at San Angelo Lake View, Ana Balliew pitched a complete game, and Albany used a pair of five-run innings to secure the win.

The heart of the order did most of the damage on offense. Carissa Barrera, Gracie Price, Sara Smith, and Braylyn Abbate combined for nine hits and seven RBIs.

After spotting Ozona an early run, Albany took the lead for good with five runs in the first. Albany loaded the bases on a hit batter and two walks, then scored on a passed ball and an error. Price, who was 3 for 3, added a two-run single, and Smith bunted in a run.

After Ozona closed to within 5-3 in the fourth, Smith had a sacrifice fly, and Abbate, who was 2 for 4, singled in a run in the fifth.

Albany put the game away with five runs in the sixth. Haily Cox beat out a bunt single to drive in a run. Barrera, who was 2 for 3, delivered the big blow with a two-run double, and Price added an RBI single.

Balliew struck out seven and walked none, throwing 72 of 85 pitches for strikes. The senior scattered four hits, giving up one earned run.

In Game 2, Albany took advantage of 11 walks and six Ozona errors. Abbate went 3 for 4 with two RBIs as Albany made the most of seven hits.

“Ozona had one pitcher, and it was going to be tough on her to pitch two games in a row Monday,” Fuentes said. “We had to keep the pressure on them, and we did.”

Balliew and Barrera combined on a six-hitter as Albany advanced. Balliew allowed two unearned runs on four hits over three innings, striking out four. Barrera gave up two hits and struck out three.

“Ana did a good job of getting Ozona’s batters to hit the ball where we wanted them to,” Fuentes said. “She put the ball where she was supposed to, and that really helped the defense out.”

Barrera gave up a walk and a double to start the bottom of the fifth, then retired the next three batters to end it.

Down 2-1 after two innings, Albany took the lead with three runs in the third. Cox scored the tying run on a passed ball, and Abbate singled in the go-ahead run.

Albany broke the game open with six runs in the fourth. Smith worked a bases-loaded walk and two more runs crossed on a passed ball and an error. Abbate followed with an RBI double, and Kam Browning added an RBI single.

In the fifth, Cox doubled and came all the way around on an error, and Price doubled in a run to make it a 10-run lead.

AREA PLAYOFF

GAME 1

ALBANY 12, OZONA 3

SCORE BY INNING 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R/H/E

OZONA 1 0 0 2 0 0 0 3/4/3

ALBANY 5 0 0 0 2 5 x 12/12/2

atbat runs hits RBI

Lucas ss 3 2 1 0

Cox c 3 2 1 1

Balliew p 3 0 1 0

Barrera 2b 3 3 2 2

Price cf 3 3 3 2

Smith 3b 2 0 2 2

Abbate lf 4 0 2 1

Lopez rf 3 0 0 0

Tabor rf 1 1 0 0

Browning 1b 1 1 0 0

Totals 26 12 12 8

2B – Barrera. HBP – Lucas. S – Smith. SF – Smith. SB – Lucas 3, Cox, Price, Browning. CS – Price.

IP H R ER BB SO

Balliew 7 4 3 1 0 7

GAME 2

ALBANY 12, OZONA 2

SCORE BY INNING 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R/H/E

albany 0 1 3 6 2 x x 12/7/1

ozona 0 2 0 0 0 x x 2/6/6

atbat runs hits RBI

Lucas ss 3 0 1 1

Cox c 3 2 1 0

Balliew 2b 3 1 0 0

Tabor cr 0 1 0 0

Barrera p 2 2 0 0

Price lf 2 3 1 1

Smith 3b 2 1 0 1

Abbate rf 4 2 3 2

Browning 1b 2 1 1 1

Garcia cf 1 0 0 0

Totals 22 12 7 6

2B – Cox, Price, Abbate. SF – Lucasa. SB – Lucas.

IP H R ER BB SO

Balliew 3 4 2 0 1 4

Barrera 2 2 0 0 1 3

WP – Balliew.