Lady Lions fight for consistency
By Donnie A. Lucas
The Lady Lion softball team picked up a couple of non-district games last week to fill an open week in the schedule, splitting games with former district foes.
Albany traveled to Hamlin on April 6, bringing home an 8-0 win. However, the Lady Lions lost a game to Hawley 12-1 last Friday.
District 8-2A action picked up again for the Lady Lions on Tuesday, with Albany on the road in Baird to earn a 19-0 win that pushed the team to a 6-1 district mark and 12-10 overall.
The team is scheduled to host Cross Plains on Friday for a 5:00 p.m. start, followed by another home bout on Tuesday, April 20 against Eula.
Eula is the lone team that has defeated Albany in district play.
Last week’s split in non-district games is not uncommon this season for the Lady Lions, according to their coach.
“One of things that a coach doesn’t like to see is inconsistency, but that’s what we have shown during the last four games,” coach Jimmy Fuentes said. “We play very well in a game, then follow that up with a poor performance the next game.”
The coach said that the number of inexperienced players is contributing to the problem.
“It’s a combination of young players getting thrown into varsity competition, and older players pressing to try to compensate,” he said. “We need all players to hold themselves accountable as individuals to stay consistent. That will be our focus as we finish out district play.”
Ana Balliew pitched a no-hitter against the Lady Pipers, allowing no hits or runs over seven innings. She had three strikeouts and gave up three walks.
Balliew also pitched against Hawley, allowing 12 runs on 11 hits. She struck out two batters and didn’t allow a walk.
Hawley scored four runs in the second and added seven more in the third before the Lady Lions ran their lone run over the plate.
lady LIONS vs Hamlin
SCORE BY INNING 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R/H/E
ALBANY 1 0 3 0 4 0 0 8/18/1
Hamlin 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0/0/2
INDIVIDUAL STATS
R Lucas 4 for 3, 3 sgls
T Fuentes 5 for 3, 3 sgls, 1 RBI
K Browning 5 for 1, 1 sgl, 1 RBI
A Holson 4 for 2, 2 sgls, 1 RBI
A Balliew 5 for 3, 3 sgls, 3 RBIs
H Cox 3 for 1, 1 sgl
S Smith 3 for 2, 2 sgls, 1 RBI
G Price 4 for 3, 3 sgls, 1 RBI
lady LIONS vs Hawley
SCORE BY INNING 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R/H/E
Hawley 0 4 7 1 0 x x 12/11/0
Albany 0 0 1 0 0 x x 1/4/5
INDIVIDUAL STATS
R Lucas 2 for 1, 1 sgl
K Browning 3 for 1, 1 sgl, 1 RBI
A Holson 2 for 2, 2 sgls
