De Leon opens three games series against Albany Friday

If you are looking for a premier high school baseball series to take in this weekend, you might consider venturing over to Graham tomorrow afternoon for game one of DeLeon’s best-of-three games series against Albany.

Both teams carry glittering 2018 season records with the Bearcats at 21-2 on the year and a perfect 14-0 in District 7-2A while Albany also had a complete league slate at 10-0 and 17-3-3 on the year.

Rather than do a home-and-home series the team will first play in Graham at 4 pm Friday and then will travel to Graford for Saturday’s game-two matchup. Saturday’s game is scheduled for an 11 am start and if a game three is needed it will follow 30 minutes after the second game.

Photos by Melissa Sones. To see more Bearcat photos click here

Division 7-2A – 2018

District Overall

	W	L	W	L
De Leon Bearcats	14	0	21	2
Miles Bulldogs	10	3	15	13
Goldthwaite Eagles	9	4	14	6
May Tigers	6	8	9	11
Cross Plains Buffalos	5	8	7	12
Gorman Panthers	5	9	10	11
Winters Blizzards	3	10	4	17
San Saba Armadillos	2	12	2	18

De Leon Bearcats

Coach: Reggie Patrick (3 Years As Head Coach, 42 Career Wins)

Assistant Coaches: Kody Yeager

2017 Record: 25-7 / 12-2 / Regional Semi-Finalists

Returning Starters

Bryce Whiteley, Sr, P/INF (11 W, 84Ks, 4 HR (TSWA All State, All Big Country, District MVP) Blake Bellomy, Sr, P/3B (.433 BA, 34 RBI, 6 W, TSWA All State, All Big Country, 1st Team All District)Joey Garcia, Sr, C (.390 BA, 2 HR, 35 RBIs, 2nd Team All District) Calvin Martin, Sr, OF (.330 BA, 13 RBI, 18 SB, HM All District)Chase Beck, Sr, P/OF (.270 BA; .778 ERA, 11 RBI, 2nd Team All District) Jake Sanders, Sr, P/1B (.398 BA, 19 RBIs, 20 K, 2nd Team All District)Kevin Yeager, Jr, P/SS (.4077 BA, 33 RS, 71 K, HM All Big Country, 1st Team All District) Kelan Hodges, Jr, 2B/DH (.480 BA, HR, 20 RBI, HM All Big Country, 1st Team All District)Chris Cox, Jr, P/OF (.220 BA, 22 RS, 25 SB)

Division 8-2A Standings – 2018

District Overall

	W	L	W	L	T
Albany Lions	10	0	17	3	3
Baird Bears	7	0	16	8	0
Hawley Bearcats	7	2	23	6	0
Eula Pirates	4	3	6	10	0
Stamford Bulldogs	4	4	13	10	0
Haskell Indians	3	6	8	13	0
Anson Tigers	2	7	4	9	0
Knox City Greyhounds	0	7	1	10	0
Hamlin Pied Pipers	0	8	2	15	0

Albany Lions

Coach: David Fairchild (24 Years As Head Coach, 347 Career Wins)

Assistant Coaches: Denney Faith

2017 Record: 23-3-2 / 9-1 / State Semi-Finalist

Returning Starters

Brian Hamilton, Sr, P/SS (13 W, .347 BA, THSBCA All State, District MVP, State Tournament All Tournament Team) Adam Faith, Sr, C (.426 BA, District Catcher of the Year, HM All State)Dax Neece, Sr, 1B (.367 BA, State Tournament All Tournament Team)Josh Dyer, Jr, P/SS (.375 BA, District Offensive MVP) Ryan Hill, Jr, P/3B (5W, .250 Ba, District Newcomer of the Year)B.J. Morris, So, OF (.253 BA, 2nd Team All District) Blaine Kayga, So, OF (2nd Team All District)