Major All-Stars lose to Abilene team

By Sam Waller

Albany Little League’s season came to an end Tuesday, June 20, as the Majors All-Stars were eliminated from the Little League International Tournament with a 5-4 loss to Abilene Northern at the Wylie complex.

Albany finished 1-2 in the 12-team, double-elimination tournament, having survived the first round of elimination games.

“I’m extremely proud of the kids,” coach Dan Key said. “They played well, but that’s the way it goes in baseball. I truly believe we were one of the better teams there.”

The team consisted of four 12-year-olds who will move on to the Intermediate age group next year and eight 11-year-olds who will again be eligible for Majors.

In Tuesday’s game, Albany battled back after losing an early lead and had the tying run on third base when the final out was made.

“We kind of beat ourselves,” Key said. “We had a little dry spell with hitting in the middle of the game. We started coming back alive toward the end and just couldn’t push it through.”

Albany led 2-1 in the third inning when Northern struck for three runs. Northern added a run in the fourth to lead 5-2.

“Aaron Waddell came in and shut them down,” Key said. “He finished the fourth and pitched all the fifth and sixth without giving up a run.”

Levi Murphy started on the mound and was relieved by Patton Smith before Waddell came on.

Albany received hits from Blake Britting, Tank Johnson, Smith, Waddell, and Cooper Roysdon.