Lions roll past Haskell, edged out at Anson
By Sam Waller
The Albany Lions baseball team split its first two District 8-2A games last week and now make their first home appearances in district plan.
The Lions (3-2-3 overall, 1-1 district) hosted Stamford on Tuesday, March 25. Results will be reported next week. Albany faces a new district opponent at 5:00 p.m. Friday, March 28 when Abilene TLCA visits.
On Tuesday, March 18, the Lions rolled to a 22-4 victory at Haskell, they fell just short Friday, March 21 in a 7-6 loss at Anson.
At Haskell, the Lions sent 14 batters to the plate during a 10-run second inning and led 22-0 before the Indians scratched out for runs in the fifth. Albany took advantage of four walks, a hit batter and two errors in the second. Consecutive singles by Brody Oliver, Mason McCloy and Clay Chapman pushed the lead from 3-0 to 8-0. The trio finished with three RBIs each.
Oliver finished 3 for 4 as Albany made the most of nine hits. Chapman and Aiden Vickers, who drove in the first run, were both 2 for 4.
“Those three had a good day at the plate,” coach David Fairchild said. “It was good to start district 1-0.”
McCloy and Chip Chambers, who had an RBI, were both 1 for 3. Wesley Gleitz drove in two runs with Judson Rogers and Shawn Keen each getting an RBI despite none of them getting a hit.
Chambers struck out seven in 3.1 innings for the win, allowing just one hit. After allowing a single to the first batter he faced, the senior lefthander retired the next nine.
“Chip was in control on the mound,” Fairchild said.
Calhan Fairchild finished the fourth inning, but ran into trouble with three walks in the fifth. Chapman got the final three outs.
At Anson, the Lions battled back from a 5-0 deficit in the first to tie the game in the third, but the Tigers regained the lead with two runs in the fourth and held on.
“We got off to a slow start in the first inning,” David Fairchild said, “then Chambers came in and went five good inning, getting four strikeouts.”
Oliver started on the mound, but failed to record an out while walking four in the first inning. Chambers came in to allow three runs on six hits. Vickers struck out the side in the sixth to keep Albany close.
Vickers, Calhan Fairchild, Oliver and Gleitz each went 1 for 4. Gleitz drove in two runs with McCloy, Chapman and Keen each getting an RBI.
The Lions pulled even in the third on Keen’s bases-loaded walk. After Anson went back in front, Albany left five runners on base over the last three innings.
“We had our chances,” David Fairchild said. “I was proud of how we fought back.”
The coach credited defense with helping keep the Tigers from getting too far ahead.
“Clay Chapman had a good game catching with one runner thrown out,” he said. “Calhan, Chip and Mason played well defensively. Vickers and McCloy had several putouts.”
