Lions win shortened local tournament
By Sam Waller
The Albany Lions were able to handle the opposition and the elements last week, going 3-0 at the Albany tournament that was originally planned to be played over three days.
The four-team, round-robin event required organizers to adjust schedules to avoid the blast of wintry weather that hit the area Friday, March 11. The Lions played twice on Thursday, March 10, beating Eastland 11-0 and Baird 4-2. On Saturday, March 12, Albany beat Clyde 6-2.
“I felt a lot better after Saturday’s game against Clyde,” coach David Fairchild said. “We had a little energy and some good pitching. We’re ready to get these kids’ arms back and healthy, get them strong.”
The Lions (4-2 overall) hosted Merkel on Wednesday, March 16 in their final nondistrict outing. Results were not available at press time and will be reported next week.
Albany opens District 8-2A play at 4:00 p.m. Tuesday, March 22 at Stamford. The first home district game will be against Haskell at 5:00 p.m. Friday, March 25.
Against Eastland, Albany managed 11 runs on just four hits, taking advantage of six walks and four Maverick errors. The Lions scored seven runs in the first inning on one hit.
Cason Fairchild and Tyler Chapman each had two RBIs with Cole Chapman and Luke Ivy driving in a run apiece. Cooper Fairchild, Zane Waggoner, Cole Chapman, and Cason Fairchild each had a single.
Cole Read and Tyler Chapman combined on a two-hitter. Read went 3.2 innings, striking out six.
Against Baird, Waggoner hit a two-run homer with two outs in the fifth inning and the time limit looming to give Albany the walk-off win. The Lions trailed 2-0 in the second inning but tied it with runs in the third and fourth.
Waggoner finished 2 for 2 with three RBIs. Caden Price and Cooper Fairchild each had a hit.
Price pitched two hitless innings with three strikeouts but gave up two runs. Cole Chapman worked 2.2 innings, allowing Baird’s only hit, and Waggoner recorded the final out.
Against Clyde, Albany overcame an early deficit with three runs in the second and led 6-1 after four innings.
“We got in trouble early in that game. Bases were loaded with one out, and we were down 1-0,” the coach said. “Things could have gotten really hairy, but we got a ground ball that we turned for a double play to get us out of it. That was huge.”
Bryson Herring drove in two runs with Coy Lefevre, Ivy, and Read each adding an RBI.
Cooper Fairchild was 2 for 2 and Read doubled. Waggoner, Lefevre, Cole Chapman, Cason Fairchild, and Read each had singles.
Read allowed a run on seven hits over 3.1 innings, striking out three. Cole Chapman worked 1.2 innings, striking out two while giving up a run on three hits.
