Albany Herald

Photo by Mike Phillips

ALBANY -- Some things are just not meant to be.

And from the looks of it, Albany beating Westover in baseball might be one of those things -- at least right now.

The Indians' most recent fall against Westover came Monday night as the Patriots once again brought the mercy rule into effect in the matchup -- this time a 13-1 trouncing after six innings.

"Westover is a very good ball club," said Albany coach Charles Chatmon whose team has lost its last eight meetings against Westover dating back to 2008. "There were times when we couldn't even play three innings with these guys."

Westover's Robert Daniel, who pitched a complete game (5 innings) against the Indians in the last win (12-0), picked up the save after coming on in the fifth inning and recording the team's final six outs all by strikeout without giving up a single hit.

"I was trying something different (tonight), said Daniel who was also 3-for-4 from the plate with a RBI and two runs scored. "I was pitching on the other side of the rubber than I usually do---it was hard to get used to at first but it worked out for me."

Daniel picked up the save for David Kemp who started the game, and pitched two innings before being relieved in the third inning with his team up 4-1.

"He is one of the best pitchers in the state," Westover (4-1) coach Kevin Fretwell said of Daniel who has yet to give up a run this season.

Westover as a team scored 13 runs on 10 hits while holding Albany to just two hits for the game. The Indians lone run came in bottom of the second inning when Ishmael Marshall slapped a double that drove in Carlton Dixon who got aboard with a single two batters before.

Other than that it was all Patriots from there despite Dixon striking out eight batters for Albany in five innings of work.

Westover exploded for six of its 13 runs in the top of the sixth inning after scoring twice in the third and once in the fifth.

Rick Push finished with two RBI's for the Patriots while Craig Schlegel, Freddie Stephens, and Justin Strosnider each added an addition RBI.

Westover will look to ride the momentum of this game into its next game at Miller County on Thursday while Albany will look to bounce back when it hosts Dougherty on Wednesday.