By Sam Waller
Albany Little League’s entry in the Big Country Machine Pitch Classic won the Red Bracket on Saturday, June 11, and advanced to the championship bracket on Monday, June 13, before losing to Wylie.
In Saturday’s bracket, which Albany hosted, the team of local 8- and 9-year-olds defeated Cisco 14-11, Clyde 6-0 and Cisco 14-10.
Albany lost 16-8 to Wylie on Monday at Abilene’s Dixie Little League complex.
By Sam Waller
Albany Little League will host one of three brackets for the Big Country Machine Pitch Classic on Saturday, June 11 at the Little League complex.
Albany will play Cisco at 9:00 a.m., with Clyde and Haskell meeting in the other first-round game. The double-elimination event for 8- and 9-year-olds will conclude Saturday afternoon.
Other brackets are being played at Tuscola and Abilene. The three bracket winners and a wild card qualifier advance to a championship tournament on Monday, June 13 at Abilene’s Dixie Little League complex.
By Sam Waller
Another summer sports camp offered by Albany coaches wrapped up this week, but more are on the horizon.
The Albany Lions & Lady Lions All-Sports Camp completed a three-day run. Coach David Fairchild said approximately 40 campers attended the Monday session, with about the same number expected on Tuesday and Wednesday.
Next up are camps for cheerleading and volleyball.
Albany varsity cheerleaders will hold a home camp Monday-Wednesday, June 20-22 with the National Cheerleaders Association in preparation for the upcoming school year.
By Sam Waller
Entries are still being accepted for the Albany Golf Club’s annual Father’s Day Golf Tournament.
The three-person scramble is scheduled for Saturday-Sunday, June 18-19 at Albany Golf Course.
Albany Golf Club president Randy Walker said seven spots are still available for the Saturday morning session and one for the afternoon. Entries will be accepted until the field is full, and a waiting list will be started for additional teams.
Entry fee is $300 per team and includes one mulligan per person each day.
By Sam Waller
The Albany Lions had almost their entire starting lineup earn recognition on the All-District 8-2A baseball team after a season that ended in the regional finals.
Nine Albany players received honors, including six superlative or first-team selections.
“We had four on the first team,” Lions coach David Fairchild said. “I think we were well represented in our district.”
The Lions finished 21-6 overall and 10-2 in district, placing second behind Anson.
By Sam Waller
The Albany Lions saw their run in the Class 2A baseball playoffs come to a disappointing end last week with a loss to the New Home Leopards in the regional finals series.
Albany lost 5-3 in Game 1 on Thursday, June 2, at Snyder’s Moffett Field. The series was forced to move to Coahoma on Friday, June 3 because of rain, and New Home pulled away late to close out the series with a 15-5 victory in Game 2.
Albany finished the season 21-6 and ranked No. 10 in the Texas High School Baseball Coaches Association Class 2A poll.
By Sam Waller
Albany graduate Luke Ivy fulfilled a dream recently when he signed to compete in track and field at Rice University.
Ivy becomes Albany’s first signee for NCAA Division I men’s track since Drew Hudson competed at Princeton.
“I never thought I’d be doing that,” Ivy said. “In the back of my mind, I thought it would be really cool, but I never actually believed that I could. Now that it’s a reality, it’s really exciting and something I’m looking forward to.”
By Sam Waller
Two Albany Little League teams advanced in their respective divisions over the weekend in the District 5 tournament, starting with games at the Albany complex on Saturday, May. 28.
The tournament was to conclude Wednesday, June 1, with championship games at the Wylie Little League complex in Abilene.
In the Majors division, the Indians advanced to the County bracket championship and were to play the Merkel Willies on Tuesday, May 31 at Merkel. The winner of that game will play an Abilene opponent for the district championship.
By Sam Waller
There are still plenty of spots available for the youth golf clinic being sponsored by the Albany Kiwanis Club in cooperation with Central Texas Junior Golf.
Organizer Coralie Tidwell said 16 aspiring golfers have already signed up for the free clinic with room for up to 40.
The clinic for students in third through eighth grade is scheduled for 2:00-4:00 p.m. Sunday, June 26, at Albany Golf Club.
Instruction will be by PGA professionals.
To preregister, visit the Central Texas Junior Golf Facebook page or call 325-895-0817.
By Sam Waller
Future Albany Lions and Lady Lions athletes can learn the skills they will need down the road during a series of sports camps offered by local coaches.
The camps for students entering kindergarten through ninth grade for the 2022-23 school year began this week with the Albany Basketball Camp, held Wednesday-Thursday, June 1-2 at the Albany High School gym with instruction by Tate Thompson and Ryder Peacock.
