It was a good day for the middle of Albemarle’s order as the combination of Lee Carneal, Timmy Aker and Joe Burris came through with seven RBI. That paired with a quality start from Austin Turner gave the Patriots a 7-3 win over Monticello in an out-of-district contest held in Stanardsville on Friday evening.
“We ran into a bit of a buzzsaw against Colonial Forge to start the week, but we worked really hard in practice two days in a row after that,” said Albemarle coach Jimmy Bibb. “I think we were really focused tonight. We made the adjustments at the plate and that’s always good.”
Aker and Burris got Albemarle off to a solid jump in the bottom of the first. Jacob Borenstein got the inning started with a leadoff single and after a hard hit popfly from Carneal, Aker came to the plate and went deep for a 2-run blast. Burris made it back-to-back homeruns to give Albemarle a 3-0 jump.
“It was really exciting,” Burris said. “I’ve been hitting lefty pitching really well in practice and so it just seems easier to see the ball this year and today I guess I was swinging the bat well.”
In the second inning, Carneal drove in Robert Thomas on an RBI single only to cross home plate moments later thanks to an RBI double from Aker. The 5-0 lead was all that Turner needed to earn the win. Turner put together a five inning outing, striking out eight batters along the way highlighted by a stretch between the second and fourth innings where he fanned five of the seven Monticello batters he faced.
“Austin Turner, we needed this from him,” Bibb said. “We needed someone to come out and give us a great quality start. I think getting the early lead relaxed all the kids – I know it relaxed me. But him going out there and just throwing strikes was big. He did the same thing last year, and he’s a senior now. When he hits his spots he’s really tough and a smart kid.”
In the top of the fifth Albemarle padded its lead by two more runs, this time on a 2-run double from Joe Burrus with two outs. The Mustangs picked up the third out of the inning on the throw to the plate and a tag made by catcher Connor Lilley.
“Our confidence built as the game went on,” said Monticello coach Corey Hunt. “Their pitcher was throwing really well and it took us that long to adjust to him. Breaking balls for strikes, fastballs for strikes, it’s hard to adjust when you throw multiple pitches for strikes.”
The big play at the plate for Monticello help turn into some momentum for the top of the sixth. The Mustangs picked up back-to-back-to-back singles from Max Mann, Lilley and Sam Patterson to load the bases. Then Kyle Jacobson and Frank Sexton came up with a pair of RBI groundouts. Alex Brown came through with a 2-out RBI single.
Monticello was able to get a 1-out single from Josh Malm in the top of the seventh, but Aker, in relief for Turner, drew a groundout to shortstop and a foul ball fly to first base to end the game and earn the save.
“Albemarle just came through in the clutch today,” Hunt said. “They got guys on base and drove them in when they needed to. That was what got them a lot of their runs, hitting with two outs and driving guys in. That’s what wins you ballgames – 2-out RBI.”
The Patriots picked up four of their runs with two outs.
The Mustangs (0-2) head back up to play Spotswood (1-1) in Stanardsville at 5 p.m. today.
Albemarle (1-1) will play Monroe (2-0) today at 7:30 p.m., also in Stanardsville.
