Lions baseball opens season, hosts home tournament

By Sam Waller

The Albany Lions baseball team opened its season Thursday, Feb. 27 with two games in the American Cancer Society tournament, but a third contest was cancelled because of player availability.

The Lions (0-1-1) host the Albany Lion Varsity Baseball Tournament this weekend. On Thursday, March 6 (today), Albany plays Cisco at 1:00 p.m. and Eastland at 3:00 p.m. On Friday, March 7, the Lions face Brady at 11:00 a.m. and Early at 3:00 p.m.

On Thursday, Feb. 27, Albany lost 5-4 to Wichita Falls City View before salvaging a 5-5 tie with Petrolia. A game against Jacksboro scheduled for Friday, Feb. 28 was called off.

In both games, which were played at City View, the Lions outhit their opponents only to be undone by their own mistakes.

Against City View, Albany led 4-1 in the second inning and finished with a 6-1 advantage in hits, but gave up four runs in the third inning.

“We had three errors and gave up nine walks that were the difference in the game,” Coach Fairchild said.

Brody Oliver went 2 for 3 with an RBI, and Chip Chambers tripled in a run for Albany. Aiden Vickers, Wesley Gleitz and Landon Balliew added hits for the Lions.

Chambers started on the mound and worked two innings. Gleitz, Clay Chapmaan and Landon Picquet pitched in relief.

“I thought Chip and Landon had a good first outing on the mound,” Fairchild said.

Against Petrolia, Balliew’s two-out single in the fifth drove in the tying run as the Lions overcame deficits of 2-0 and 5-3. Albany held a 5-4 edge in hits, but committed three more errors and issued six more walks.

Oliver drove in three runs, and Vickers had an RBI. Mason McCloy and Chapman added hits.

Oliver also pitched 1.2 innings with Vickers and McCloy appearing in relief.

“Brody had a good outing on the mound,” Fairchild said. “Mason went 3.1 innings and his off-speed pitch was on.”