BY MIKE MASTOVICH
JOHNSTOWN — Dean Albany expected to be in Johnstown for his induction into the AAABA& Hall of Fame on Saturday night.
But the first-year general manager of Youse’s Maryland Orioles of Baltimore didn’t count on leaving Sunday afternoon.
“That’s the disappointing thing. I won’t be there in Johnstown during the AAABA Tournament week,” Albany said during a telephone interview from a Florida showcase on Tuesday. “I feel bad for our kids. We talk to our kids every year about playing in the Point, and now they don’t get to do that.”
The reason the six-time defending AAABA Tournament champions won’t be at the Point is simple. Baltimore lost a pair of games in the Altoona Regional, including an elimination contest against the host team on Monday. Baltimore hadn’t been eliminated in a regional since dropping a pair in Altoona in 1999 (7-3 to Washington and 8-6 to Altoona). Current major league pitcher Gavin Floyd was on the losing side during the game against Altoona in ’99.
In fact, Baltimore has only been eliminated twice in regional play in the tournament’s 65-year history. The other time was in 1975 when Baltimore lost a pair of games to Washington’s Stroube’s Mobil in a two-team regional. Baltimore had appeared in 62 of the previous 64 tournaments.
“I think there are 15 other teams that are happy, I can tell you that,” Altoona manager Kurt Farabaugh said of next week’s 16-team tournament field. “I think now the door is wide open for anybody. Baltimore, obviously, everybody looked to as the team to beat.”
With Baltimore’s recent AAABA dominance, few figured the 26-time champs would have a problem advancing to Johnstown.
Albany had stepped down as manager of the Orioles after last summer’s tournament.
He moved to the GM role while his long-time assistant Tim Norris took over the managing duties.
“We just didn’t swing the bats real well, and the teams we played against played really good,” Albany said. “Our top five pitchers couldn’t pitch. Our league, the Cal Ripken Sr. League, is so rugged. We came up with some injuries. But there are no excuses. I don’t want to take anything away from Altoona or Philly.
“We couldn’t throw our guys, but were hoping if we could get by in a regional those guys might have been OK to throw next week. But Philly played well and Altoona played well. They did a better job and were able to win. There is no sense sitting around with sour grapes. We went to a regional and got beat. We’re looking forward to going back next year.”
Altoona’s Johnston Realty delivered the knockout blow in a 5-2 win on Monday.
Right-hander Christian Muth of Punxsutawney pitched his first nine-inning complete game, allowing two unearned runs and seven hits.
Johnston Realty then beat Philadelphia, 6-5, in the championship round. The teams were to play a rematch Tuesday morning to determine the title, but Philadelphia opted to forfeit because of injuries and a thin lineup. Both squads advanced out of the regional to Johnstown. Philadelphia also beat Baltimore in Altoona.
“I was extremely pleased with how the boys played,” Farabaugh said. “In order to beat Baltimore or Philly you have to play flawless defense. Christian Muth pitched outstanding. He’s from Punxsutawney, a senior in high school. He threw in 2007 when they won a state title. They seemed to hit the ball where our guys were, and we made the plays. We came through with 13 hits. It was our day and wasn’t theirs.”
As six-time defending champion, Baltimore still had to compete in a regional based on AAABA rules calling for teams to periodically make a regional appearance, Albany said.
“The rules are the rules,” Albany said. “I have no problem playing in a regional. That’s been going on for 65 years. It’s not like it’s a rule they just put in. Every three years someone has to go to a regional. Fair and square, we got beat.”
That’s something that hasn’t happened much to Baltimore, especially not in the past six tournaments.
“The six championships in a row was a great feat,” Albany said. “That’s something that might never be done again. We feel bad we aren’t coming back, but at the same time Philly definitely deserves to go. Altoona deserves to go. They beat us.”
