Thestartofspringsports creepscloserasAlbanyathletes gear up for the busiest time of year. While softball starts next week, baseball is in wait-and-see mode as several players are still involved with basketball.

The Albany Lady Lions continued to struggle in the District 10-2A basketball race, losing 55-14 to Stamford on Friday, Feb. 2, in their final home appearance of the season.

Low numbers will again be an issue for the Albany Lady Lions softball team during the 2024 season. LadyLionscoachJimmy Fuentes brings back five players from last year – seniors Robin Lucas and Braylyn Abbate, juniors Gabby Lopez and Carisa Barrera, and sophomore Jayden Kelly.

Albany will have 10 graduatingseniorsandone coach participating in the 2024 Big Country FCAAll-Star Festival this summer. The festival, scheduled for June 5-15, features more than 350 of the area’s top student-athletes competing in six sports in three cities.

About 50 local youth will begin play Saturday, Feb. 10 in theAlbany Little Dribblers Association.

Albany’s sixth grade girls team won its bracket of the Big Country Youth Basketball Association postseason tournament, played Saturday, Feb. 3 at Eula.

The Albany Softball Association is gearing up for its 2024 season after a parentmeetingonSunday, Feb. 4.

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♦ TheAlbany Lady Lions were seconds away from ending a 10-gamelosingstreaklastweek only to suffer disappointment. TheLadyLions(5-16overall, 0-10 District 10-2A) had the district bye on Tuesday, Jan.

The Albany Lions clinched a berth in the Class 2A boys basketball playoffs after wins against Haskell and Hamlin last week. The Lions (10-3 overall, 6-2 District 10-2A) had a district bye on Tuesday, Jan.