HERMLEIGH — The Albany Lions scored just two of their nine runners to reach scoring position Friday in Game 1 of their Region I-2A semifinal series against Hale Center, but ace Ben West was so good on the mound that it  didn’t matter.

The junior right-hander struck out 13 Owl batters in a one-hit shutout to lead AHS to a 2-0 victory at Cardinal Field and pull his team within one win of its third region final appearance since 2016.