The Albion American Legion Seniors used stellar pitching performances to key home-field victories over Ord and PWGS this past week, improving their season record to 6-12.
The Seniors topped Ord 5-1 behind a complete-game three-hitter by lefty Kraig Flanagan Thursday, July 10, and Greg Young defeated Palmer-Wolbach-Greeley-Spalding 3-1 with a two-hit gem Monday. Neither pitcher allowed an earned run in the wins.
Albion shut Ord down behind Flanagan’s effort and took advantage of several miscues by the visitors to notch a 5-1 win July 10.
Ord took a 1-0 lead in the top of the third with an unearned run on two Albion errors. The locals struck back in the bottom of the frame, scoring two unearned runs of their own. Ryan Shotkoski reached on a fielders choice, Keir Dane Harner was hit by a pitch and, after stealing second and third, both scored on an Ord two-base error.
Albion gained some breathing room with three runs in the fifth. Shotkoski led off with a base hit, stole second and scored on Harner’s single. Harner swiped second and third bases during a walk to Kalvin Zoucha and scored on another Ord error. Zoucha tallied the final run on a passed ball.
Meanwhile Flanagan handcuffed Ord, allowing just two baserunners over the final four innings while striking out eight batters. Overall, he gave up three base hits and a pair of walks while fanning 12.
After squandering several early opportunities, Albion scored just enough runs in the fifth inning to back a sterling mound performance by Young in a 3-1 win over PWGS Monday.
The locals had two golden chances to score in early innings, but were unable to cash in.
Harner led off the bottom of the first with a double and Kalvin Zoucha followed with a single. Zoucha stole second base, but a strikeout, pop-fly and groundout stranded the runners.
Albion again had runners at second and third with one out in the fourth as Flanagan singled and stole two bases and Brent Dawson reached by error and swiped second. Another pop-fly out and strikeout ended that threat.
PWGS grabbed a 1-0 lead in the second as Albion committed its only three errors of the contest. From there, Young took firm control, allowing just two more baserunners and recording seven of his nine strikeouts.
The local Seniors finally broke through in the bottom of the fifth. Harner, Zoucha and Young drew consecutive walks with one out. PWGS shortstop Corey Thome made a terrific over-the-shoulder catch of Brett Nelson’s shallow fly ball, but Harner was able to tag and beat the throw to the plate, tieing the score. Flanagan then lashed a two-out single to right field to plate the winning runs.
Complete Details in Print Edition of Albion News.
