Albion trims Dunkirk to open sectionals
Photos by Cheryl Wertman – Albion’s Viktor Snyder dives into third base as Dunkirk’s Jaryel Vazquez awaits the throw. The action took place during the Purple Eagles sectional win this afternoon.
No. 8 seed Albion trimmed visiting No. 9 Dunkirk 5-3 in the opening round of the Section VI Class A2 baseball tournament this afternoon.
Albion jumped out to an early 4-1 lead by scoring twice in the first inning on a pair of bases loaded walks and twice in the second on an RBI single by winning pitcher Nate Gibson and an RBI sacrifice fly by Kaiden Froman. Two walks and a single by Elliot Trapiss set up the first inning threat while singles by Gavin Boyce and Trapiss set up the second inning opportunity.
Dunkirk did close the gap to 4-3 with a pair of runs in the fifth inning but could not pull even as Gibson registered clutch strikeouts to get out of trouble in both the fifth and sixth innings.
The Purple Eagles added a big insurance run in the sixth on an error.
Gibson pitched the first 6 innings allowing only 1 hit and striking out 12. Boyce came on to hurl the seventh inning giving up no hits and striking out 1.
Albion will next visit top seeded City Honors in the quarterfinals at noon on Saturday.
Albion’s Nate Gibson, at left, delivers a pitch. At right, Mason Snook stretches for the throw at first base to get the out on Dunkirk’s Evan Dolce.
