Machine pitch team advances to championship
By Sam Waller
Albany Little League’s entry in the Big Country Machine Pitch Classic won the Red Bracket on Saturday, June 11, and advanced to the championship bracket on Monday, June 13, before losing to Wylie.
In Saturday’s bracket, which Albany hosted, the team of local 8- and 9-year-olds defeated Cisco 14-11, Clyde 6-0 and Cisco 14-10.
Albany lost 16-8 to Wylie on Monday at Abilene’s Dixie Little League complex.
Albany coach Steven Sutton said staying out of the losers bracket in Saturday’s double-elimination play was key as temperatures reached triple digits.
“We were pretty fortunate that we had two catchers (Eli Sutton and Jonathan Key), and they swapped out every inning, so they stayed fresh,” Steven Sutton said. “Making sure the kids stayed hydrated was a big thing.”
Wyatt Brown led Albany in RBIs in the tourney, while Tanner Howe and Jason Shack were credited with big plays in the field.
Tournament games were five innings, but had a one-hour time limit. Monday’s game was ended early on the time limit.
All-Star Play
Albany will have entries in three age groups as All-Star competition gets underway this weekend.
Albany’s Major All-Stars open play against Clyde at 6:00 p.m. Friday, June 17 at Breckenridge. The winner of that game will play Cisco at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, June 18 at Albany. The loser will face an opponent to be determined at 5:00 p.m. Sunday, June 19 at Merkel.
The Majors will play in an 11-team double-elimination bracket. The championship is scheduled for 6:00 p.m. Friday, June 24 at Abilene’s Cal Young Park.
Albany’s Minor All-Stars will play Breckenridge at 8:00 p.m. Friday, June 17 at Breckenridge. The winner will play Cisco at 9:00 a.m. Saturday, June 18 at Albany. The loser will meet an opponent to be determined at 7:00 p.m. Sunday, June 19 at Merkel.
The championship of the 12-team double-elimination bracket will start at 6:00 p.m. Friday, June 24 at Abilene’s Southern Little League complex.
Albany and Breckenridge are combining to field a team in the Intermediate age group. The first game will be against a combined Wylie-Dixie team at 7:00 p.m. Tuesday, June 21 at Breckenridge.
A second game against either Jim Ned or a combined team from Abilene’s Southern, Eastern and Northern leagues will be at 7:00 p.m. Wednesday, June 22 at Wylie or Breckenridge.
The Intermediates will play in a four-team double-elimination bracket with the championship to start at 7:00 p.m. Friday, June 24 at a site to be determined. If an extra game is needed, it will be played at 7:00 p.m. Saturday, June 25.
