The Albion 12-Under softball team had an excellent conclusion to an outstanding 2021 summer season in state tournament play this past weekend. Albion fashioned a 3-2 record in state play at Hastings and finished with an overall record of 17-6-2.
Albion opened the state tournament with a resounding 11-1 victory over Tekamah-Herman Friday. The 12-Unders were in control from the start, scoring five runs in the bottom of the first and leading 10-1 after three innings. McGill gave up just 4 hits and the single run while striking out 4. Addy Hedlund collected 3 hits, including a double and home run, driving in 5 runs. Mishayla Slaymaker rapped 3 hits, while Kali Simons added 2 hits and scored 3 runs.
Prodigy shut down the Albion plate attack that evening and defeated the 12-Unders 6-2. McGill and Hedlund each allowed 3 runs, but only 3 of the 6 were earned. McGill was 2-for-2 at the plate and scored a run.
Albion bounced back Saturday morning with an 8-3 win over the Hastings Bombers, scoring five runs in the bottom of the third inning. Hedlund drove the offense with 4 hits and 4 RBI, also earning the win while striking out 7 batters. Slaymaker also had 2 hits, and Simons and McGill scored 2 runs apiece. Hedlund then struck out 10 and twirled a one-hitter as Albion topped Ponca 10-0 in four innings. Simons had 3 hits, 3 runs and 2 RBI in the contest. Hedlund went 2-for-3, scored twice and drove in 2 runs.
Albion’s run ended when league foe Pierce defeated the 12-Unders 9-3 late Saturday afternoon. Albion tallied single runs in each of the first three innings for a 3-0 edge, but Pierce rallied with five in the bottom of the third and four more in the fourth. Hedlund was tagged with the loss, allowing 9 hits and 9 runs. Simons and Slaymaker each had 2 hits in the final game of the season.
