While Chandler Lee was locked in on the mound, offensively, Albemarle started off fairly slow. But when the Patriots added to their lead they took control. Then soon after, they blew by Charlottesville. Thanks to a big third inning, Albemarle picked up its second win of the year with a 12-1 win on a crisp and cool evening.
“When Chandler throws strikes we know he’s tough,” said Patriots coach Jimmy Bibb. “(At the plate) I thought we were a little more patient than we were Monday against Colonial Forge. We just preaching to swing at strikes and get the ball up the middle. For the most part, we did that all game. I was surprised we swung the bat so well to be honest because we just haven’t had much time to be outside and practice.”
Charlottesville threatened in the first inning with Ben Perkins leading off the game with a single and then reaching second base on a sacrifice bunt and third on a fielder’s choice. But an inning ending infield fly got Lee out of the jam and the Patriots starter was on point after that.
“I just settled in and threw my breaking ball really well,” Lee said. “(Playing in the cold weather) I felt pretty good once I got loose. I got moving and then I was fine.”
Lee barreled through the next three innings of work giving up no more hits, allowing just one other runner to reach base and picking up his four strike outs along the way.
Patient all night at the plate, Albemarle got the lead in the bottom of the first when A.J. Willy reached first on a fielder’s choice and he was driven in by Kyle Vidano. In the second, Richie Deloria got the Patriots jump started with a single and a stolen base. He then was brought home on an RBI double by Kaleb Campbell. Two at-bats later, Logan Dunaway doubled in Campbell who later reached home on an error. A Ty Pittman RBI double made it 4-0.
“When you’re seeing fastballs coming you’ve got to swing at them,” Doloria said. “When it’s there it’s there. At this level, you’re not going to get much outside of that.”
In the third, the Patriots went from in command to healthily in tack for a short night. With Charlottesville struggling to throw strikes, the Patriots saw 14 batters step to the plate in the rally with six walks, a hit batter and a runner reaching base on error. Add to that a balk and a throwing error and matters were made only worse. A trio of 2-run singles from Willy, Deloria and Drew Shifflett were Patriots three hits in the inning.
“We just didn’t throw strikes and that was the biggest thing,” said Black Knights coach Chuck Wood.
Down 12-0 in the top of the fifth, Charlottesville got on the board. A single from Andrew Stavitski and RBI single from Perkins gave the Black Knights their lone run.
“Ben’s a good kid and you always want to see those kind of kids rewarded for their hard work,” Wood said.
Charlottesville (0-1) hosts E.C. Glass on Monday at 6:30 p.m.
Albemarle (2-0) jumps back into Commonwealth District play to host Massaponax on Friday at 6 p.m.
