Lions opens baseball season at home tournament
The Albany Lions opened their baseball season at home over the weekend, hosting the annual Albany Baseball Tournament and finishing with a 2-1 record.
Albany picked up wins over Eastland and Brady before falling to Early in the final game of the tournament. Head coach David Fairchild said the Lions showed plenty of positives Thursday and Friday as the team begins the new season.
“We had an overall good tournament,” Fairchild said.
Lions defeat
Eastland
Albany opened the tournament with a 4-2 win over Eastland behind a strong performance on the mound from Brody Oliver.
Oliver pitched six innings, allowing two runs while striking out 10 batters. He also issued one walk and hit one batter.
“Brody had an awesome day on the mound, was in control and dialed in,” Fairchild said.
At the plate, Aiden Vickers went 2-for-3 with two singles, while Clay Chapman added a single. Blake Britting led the Lions offensively, going 2-for-3 with a double and three RBIs.
Fairchild also pointed to several defensive highlights during the game.
“Blake and Calhan Fairchild had some nice defensive plays,” he said. “Clay Chapman did a good job behind the plate.”
Albany blanks
Brady
The Lions followed with an 8-0 victory over Brady in the second game, powered by another strong pitching effort.
Aiden Vickers threw five innings, allowing only one hit while striking out eight batters and issuing one walk.
“A great outing by Aiden, giving up a questionable base hit,” Fairchild said. “Aiden was dialed in and in control.”
Vickers also contributed at the plate with a single. Calhan Fairchild added a double, while Clay Chapman doubled and drove in two runs.
Brody Oliver went 2-for-3 with two singles and two RBIs, while Clay Chapman doubled and drove in two runs, Calhan Fairchild added a double, Aiden Vickers singled, and Mason McCloy added a single.
Early tops
Lions
Albany closed the tournament with a 9-3 loss to Early.
Calhan Fairchild took the loss after pitching one inning. Clay Chapman pitched one and one-third innings with two strikeouts and one walk, while Mason McCley added an inning of relief with one strikeout and one walk.
Offensively, Chapman doubled and Chance Stewart added a single.
Abbott tournament
next
The Lions will travel to Abbott later this week for another tournament.
Albany is scheduled to face Thorndale at 1:30 p.m. Thursday and Meridian at 4 p.m. Thursday. The Lions will then play Chester at 1:30 p.m. Friday.
Other teams competing in the Abbott Tournament include host Abbott, Blum, Meridian, Thorndale and Chester. Games will continue through Saturday.
