Softball scrimmages cancelled due to weather
By Sam Waller
The Albany baseball and softball teams are nearing the start of their seasons with both looking to return to the playoffs.
The Lions baseball team will scrimmage Merkel on Friday, Feb. 18, with the junior varsity hosting a tournament Feb. 24-26.
The varsity schedule begins with the Eastland tournament March 3-5.
Lion coach David Fairchild returns 11 players from the 2021 varsity, which went 22-5-1 and reached the state quarterfinals. The task for the early portion of the season is filling lineup spots left vacant by graduation.
“We lost several starters from last year and we’ve got to replace them,” Fairchild said. “There are some young kids stepping up, but we’ve got a lot of positions to fill.”
Heading the list of returnees is pitcher-shortstop Cole Chapman, who was listed among the top 30 players in Region I-2A by Texas High School Baseball magazine.
Also back are Tyler Chapman, Cason Fairchild, Cooper Fairchild, Bryson Herring, Luke Ivy, Coy Lefevre, Caden Price, Cole Read, Keatin Russell, and Zane Waggoner.
“Tuesday was the first day on the field,” David Fairchild said. “We’ve got 10 kids out right now.”
The coach said he expects another 10 or 11 players to come out once basketball is finished.
Cole Chapman, along with Price, who underwent shoulder surgery for a football injury in the fall, give Albany two pitchers to build around.
“We’ll be looking at pitchers throughout tournament play,” Fairchild said. “We should have about four arms going.”
Albany went 10-0 in winning the district 8-2A title last year, but Fairchild said the Lions have work to do if they are to repeat. District play starts March 22 at Stamford.
“Our district is always tough, one of the toughest in the region,” Fairchild said. “We’ve got to go out and play; every game’s going to be a battle.”
Softball Schedule
The Lady Lions had their scheduled scrimmage at Snyder cancelled Saturday, Feb. 5, because of the winter storm that hit the area.
Coach Jimmy Fuentes said he is looking for another scrimmage for this week, but had nothing finalized as of deadline time.
Albany opens its reular season Tuesday, Feb. 15, at home against the Abilene Cooper JV. The Lady Lions will compete in the Eastland tournament on Friday-Saturday, Feb. 18-19.
