The Albion Seniors hosted St. Paul on Monday, July 8th for their final home game of the regular season.

On a night where the teams recognized their sponsors from Cornerstone Bank and American Legion Post 162 as well as the four seniors playing their final career home game, the Cards came away with a gritty 6-4 victory.

Caden Stokes started on the mound for the Cards and found himself in some early trouble yielding two hits off the first three at-bats before one of those runners was able to take home on an error by Albion. St. Paul would take a 2-0 lead into the mid inning break.

But the visitors had some pitching trouble of their own walking three of the first four Cardinal batters to load the bases before walking a fourth with one out to bring the Cards within one. Luke Curry (3B) would lay down a bunt a few plays later that was mishandled by the St. Paul first baseman allowing a run to score and Curry to reach base with the bases still loaded.

Keaton Hunt (CF) was up next with two outs and made the most of his at-bat with one runner scoring on a passed ball before Hunt belted a single to center field to score Curry and Ben Reilly (1B) and give the Cards the lead 5-2 heading into the second. Stokes took care of business on the mound to start the second with two strikeouts and also managed to cross the plate in the bottom of the inning to grow the lead to 6-2.

But St. Paul wasn’t out of this one yet. Stokes stepped aside and was replaced by James Fogleman on the mound in the top of the fourth. St. Paul proceeded to pick up a run on the only hit of the inning to close the gap to 6-3. Both teams would struggle to get much offense going for the next couple innings with only one hit apiece through the next two and a half innings bringing us to the top of the seventh with the home team in command 6-3.

St. Paul singled on the third pitch of the inning and followed that up with a walk to put two aboard. Fogelman battled through a tough at-bat to get an eight-pitch strikeout of the next batter but wound up walking the bases loaded on the next. Trent Patzel would take over hoping to close this one out and close it out he did, striking out the next two batters to this one to bed and earn the save.

“Good win against another team that is in our district, commented Coach Troy Patzel. Coach went on to wish a well-deserved thank you to the team’s primary sponsors, stating “ this is not possible without you.” He also wanted to recognize the seniors in their last home game, Caden Stokes, Ben Reilly, James Fogleman, and Trent Patzel who completed their last season of eligibility. He also recognized Luke Curry, Austin Wiese, and Keaton Hunt who graduated this year but will still be eligible to come back and play next season. “They have been a staple in our junior and senior legion teams. Not only has their play on the field been excellent, but also how they have represented their team and community. Big shoes to fill, that younger kids can and have learned a lot from.”

The Seniors played Monday at Atkinson and will play a double-header in Orchard Thursday night at 5:30 and 8. All these will be covered in next week’s edition.