Color photo packets of the youth basketball and Little Dribbler teams, taken by The Albany News, are ready for pickup this week at the News office.High school softball packets should arrive within the next week.In addition, a number of packages from previous sports have not yet been claimed.

By Sam WallerThe Albany Lady Lions softball team returned from spring break needing to fill a lineup hole, but have four weeks to work things out before the postseason starts.As one of just two Class 2A teams in District 8-2A, the Lady Lions are assured a spot in the playoffs.

By Sam WallerAlbany athletes had one last opportunity to prepare for district tennis competition this week after taking a week off for spring break.Albany visited Snyder for a dual match Thursday, March 24 (today) in its final outing before the District 10-2A tournament.

By Sam WallerThe Albany Lions baseball team tuned up for District 8-2A competition with a 5-2 victory over Merkel on Wednesday, March 16, in Albany’s lone outing over spring break.“We had another good outing and had a pretty day,” Lions coach David Fairchild said.

By Sam WallerThe Albany Lions won the small-school boys division team title Saturday, March 19 at the Possum Kingdom Relays in Graham.

By Sam WallerThe Albany Lions were able to handle the opposition and the elements last week, going 3-0 at the Albany tournament that was originally planned to be played over three days.

By Sam WallerThe Albany Lions tennis team won 15 of 19 matches last week in a dual match at Clyde.Coach M.J. Reneau said that the dual meet, played Wednesday, March 9, went extremely well.“It was a way to practice before we took spring break off,” Reneau said.

By Sam WallerThe Albany Softball Association will have four teams in three age groups comprising more than 50 players for the upcoming season.“We have about 25 8U players, 16 or 17 10Us and 12 or 13 12Us,” ASA president Jacey Shack said.

By Sam WallerAlbany senior Luke Ivy has been named to the Texas High School Coaches Association boys basketball Elite Academic All-State team.The THSCA Academic All-State teams recognize high school athletes who excel with grade point average, class rank, and ACT/SAT scores.