With its regular season over, Albemarle Post 74 spent three days in Williamsburg playing in an invitational tournament. Facing defending Indiana state champions Hammond Post 168 and defending Virginia champs South Richmond 137 in four of its five games, Albemarle managed to advance as far as the tournament’s semifinals before falling to Hammond 14-4 on Saturday.
“Your not going to face better American Legion teams than the ones we saw in this tournament,” said Albemarle coach Mike Maynard. “This should really help us going forward.”
Albemarle won its first four games of the event, beating Gloucester Post 75 and Hammond on Thursday and then beating South Richmond and Hammond again on Friday.
In the 7-5 win ove South Richmond, Chris Madison picked up the win with Danny Morris providing the save. Logan Forloines provided the go ahead runs late in the contest on 2-run triple and finished 3 for 4 with four RBI. JD Ballard finished the game 2 for 4 with two runs scored.
In Friday’s win over Hammond, Quinn Saunders threw a 3-hit complete game gem to pace Albemarle to a 9-2 win. Danny Morris went 3 for 3 with a pair of RBI. Vince Coles was 2 for 3 with two RBI and two runs scored.
Forloines, who has been an a tear for the last two weeks, had three home runs in the tournament which was played at William and Mary.
Albemarle finished the regular season atop of District 12 and has earned a first round bye in this week’s district tournament. Albemarle will host an opponent to be determined on Saturday at 7 p.m.
