Albion, Holley win tourney titles
Albion and Holley both scored a pair of victories today to capture baseball tournament championships.
Albion won the Attica Tournament defeating Elba/Byron-Bergen 18-1 in the opening round and the host Blue Devils 10-2 in the championship game.
Holley claimed the LeRoy Tournament title by downing Oakfield-Alabama 8-2 in the semifinals and the host Knights 9-8 in the title contest.
A grand slam home run by Kyle Smith, a two-run homer by Jason Downs and a solo shot by Evan Papplardo sparked Albion past Elba/Byron-Bergen.
Downs, Smith, Alex DeSmit and winning pitcher Vinnie Zona each had 2 hits. On the mound, Zona allowed 5 hits and struck out 6.
Albion then scored two quick runs in the first inning against Attica on a triple by Brady Meakin and a fielders choice play off the bat of Randy Eblacker.
Eblacker tacked on a two-run double in the third inning for the Purple Eagles which also scored three times in the fifth on a double by Meakin, single by Pappalardo and a sacrifice by Smith.
Meakin had a total of 3 hits as Smith and Eblacker both had 2.
Downs pitched the first five innings allowing 3 hits and sticking out 11. Papplardo hurled the final two frames giving up 1 hit and strikeout 4.
Dylan Hillabush hurled Holley past Oakfield-Aalbama in the opening round giving up 5 hits and striking out 10. He also banged out 3 hits including a double as Nick Passarell added a pair of hits.
In the title contest, Holley rallied for five runs in the seventh inning to nip LeRoy.
Passarell, who had 3 hits in the game, scored the winning run on a passed ball.
Collin Papaj added a pair of hits for the Hawks which improve to 6-3.