By Donnie A. Lucas

Several youth sports camps are planned for the summer, with one already concluding this week.

The all-sports camp started Tuesday and ends today with two separate morning sessions for different age groups. The camp combined three sports – football, baseball and basketball – with one day of instruction dedicated to each.

Two more sport specific camps are set for next week, with volleyball and cheerleading camps planned in July.

Basketball Camp

A two-day basketball camp is set for June 7-8 at the high school.

By Donnie A. Lucas

The two rounds of the District 5 baseball tournament scheduled to  be played in Albany on Monday were moved due to excessive rainfall.

The Albany Reds, a majors team, was supposed to play Clyde here on Monday, but the game was moved to Winters on Tuesday at 8:00 p.m.

Details of the game were not available at press time, but the Reds won 9-7 and advanced in the bracket and will move on to the next round. Specific information was not available due to the number of changes in the tournament times and locations caused by the rain.

By Donnie A. Lucas

A total of 10 players from the Lady Lion softball team received All-District honors, including two of the top superlative awards.

Albany senior Torie Fuentes was named the Defensive MVP for District 8-2A, which is a hybrid district of both 2A and 1A teams.

Junior Ana Balliew was tapped as the Pitching MVP for the district that included two 2A teams and four 1A squads this season.

By Donnie A. Lucas

The Lion baseball team got in trouble early in the first game of the regional semi-final series last Thursday but came back strong in Game 2 only to have a win snatched away on an error in the seventh.

Losing Game 1 by a score of 11-4, followed by a 5-4 loss in the second game, ended Albany’s season in the fourth round of the playoffs.

The Lions posted a 22-5-1 overall record, including a perfect 10-0 district count.

By Donnie A. Lucas

While the school year is ending today for local classes, a couple of summer programs for junior high and high school students are scheduled to start in June.

Prospective female athletes who want to stay or get in shape this summer will be able to participate in a strength and conditioning program that starts Monday, June 7, plus practicing some sport specific drills as well.

A program for male athletes will wait an extra week due to the baseball playoffs, starting on June 14.

By Donnie A. Lucas

With the end of the school year, students might be looking for something to keep them busy this summer.

There are several options including a host of sports camps during the summer break, including one that starts next week.

The first is the All-Sports camp which is set for June 1-3. The camp combines three sports - football, baseball and basketball - with one day of instruction dedicated to each.

The multiple sport camp is open to both boys and girls.

By Sandy Morris

Albany will host the first two rounds of the Major League District 5 baseball tournament on Saturday, May 29 and Monday, May 31.

Local league president Paul Hamilton said the tournament is being held at multiple host sites.

“Some of the smaller towns, like Albany and Jim Ned, are hosting the first few rounds of the tournament,” said Hamilton. “After that, all games will be played in Abilene or in Wylie.”

By Donnie A. Lucas

Sarah Cotter had a longtime dream become reality last week.

The Albany junior became the first Albany girl tennis player to advance to the state meet, taking the gold medal at the Region II-2A tennis meet held earlier this month at North Richland Hills.

Last week, Cotter played at the Blossom Tennis Center in San Antonio, winning the quarterfinal and semifinal rounds on Thursday to advance to Friday’s championship match, where she lost to Makenna Palacio of Mason 6-1, 6-0.

By Donnie A. Lucas

The Lions baseball team swept the Region I-2A regional quarterfinal series against the Hawley Bearcats last week to move on the next round of the Class 2A playoffs.

The Lions (22-3-1) will face New Deal (23-3) in a best of three series that starts Thursday (today) with a double header at Moffett Field in Snyder at 2:00 p.m. Game 2 will start 30 minutes after the first game. If a third game is needed, the teams will return on Saturday at 1:00 p.m.

Ticket prices are set at $4 for adults and $2 for students.

By Melinda L. Lucas

Albany junior athlete Sarah Cotter is competing in the state tennis meet this week, with her first match set for 10:30 a.m. on Thursday. May 20.

A win will put her back on the court that afternoon at 3:15 p.m. 

Cotter is the first Albany girl to ever play at the state tennis tournament, according to local tennis coach Sara Wilson.

“Sarah is a very skilled and focused player, and she has dedicated many years to the sport,” said Wilson. “Hopefully that will pay off for her this week.”