Albany stops Broncos in Semi-Finals

The Broncos’ stellar baseball season came to an end at the hands of the Albany Lions in two games in the three-game series at Hays Field on the campus of Lubbock Christian University last week.

The Lions were able to win the first game 11-4 and took the second game 16-3. The Broncos advanced to the Regional Semi-Final game for the first time since 2016. They finished with a 21-7 overall record.

In game one last Thursday, the Broncos had a good showing in the early parts of the game according to head coach Yancy Molloy.

“I thought the boys played really well up until the fifth inning,” Molloy said. “We had a couple of things not go our way, and Albany was able to capitalize.”

After four innings, the Broncos only trailed by one run behind the pitching of senior Brock Hatley who threw for five innings, before leaving the mound to Wilson Ward for the remainder of the game.

Offensively, the Broncos were shut out until the fourth when Easton Frausto got ahold of a pitch for a single. Ward was able to knock down and RBI single and two RBI doubles by Jared Musick and Frausto to take the lead 4-1.

Albany was able to match the Broncos’ fifth inning runs to go back on top and this time for good to take the first win.

Frausto had a single, double, and two RBIs and Wilson had a single, an RBI, one run, and one stolen base. Jared Musick added a double, RBI, and one run. Overall, the Bronco team posted four runs and four RBIs with two stolen bases by Wilson and Lyric Smith.

Game two on Saturday was “win or go home” for the Broncos and despite playing hard, Clarendon was defeated 3-16. The Broncos struggled to get anything going in the second game, and the Lions came on strong. Harrison Howard was on the mound for four innings allowing 11 hits for 11 runs but threw three strikeouts. Senior Aiden Caudle came in for one and a half innings and had two strikeouts and allowed four hits and five runs.

Offensively, the Broncos’ bats were cold, and they were only able to score two runs by the fourth innings compared to 11 for Albany. The Broncos scored another in run in the fifth, but it was not enough to put any pressure on the Lions.

“This was a once in a lifetime team with once in a lifetime boys,” Molloy said. “There is something special about a group that gives you their all no matter the day or the situation. A team that doesn’t quit regardless of the odds, a team that leads by example, and (one) that boys everywhere should strive to emulate. These boys achieved incredible things day in and day out and we could not be more proud of you. To you seniors; go be awesome, we know you will.”