By Sam Waller

The Albany Athletic Booster Club will hold a kickoff meeting for the upcoming school year on Sunday, July 17.

Time and location of the meeting are still being worked out, according to Booster Club member Amanda Tabor.

“The kickoff meeting will be about signing up team parents, the ice cream supper, and fundraising plans for the fall,” Tabor said.

Tabor said no new Booster Club projects are planned at this time.

“We’re going to try to keep doing what we’ve been doing in past years,” she said. “Everything seems to be going well.”

By Sam Waller

The Albany Lions and Lady Lions concluded the third week of their summer conditioning programs this week with the girls now taking a break before resuming workouts in July.

The girls’ workouts will resume  Monday, July 18 and continue each Monday through Thursday  through July 28. Daily sessions will be 9:00-10:00 a.m.

Volleyball will have two more sessions of sport-specific instruction  10:30-11:30 a.m. on Thursdays – July 14 and 21.

By Sam Waller

A total of 10 Albany student-athletes, five Lion baseball players and five Lady Lion softball players, were honored for the achievements this spring with inclusion on all-area teams selected by the Abilene Reporter-News and Big Country Preps.

Baseball Honors

Outfielder Cooper Fairchild and first baseman Zane Waggoner were named to the ARN’s All-Big Country team, with pitcher Cole Chapman receiving honorable mention.

By Sam Waller

The team of Martinson, Martinson, and Martinson won a playoff against Wilson, Wilson, and Lamberti to claim the championship flight of the Albany Golf Club’s annual Father’s Day Scramble.

The two-day event wrapped up Sunday, June 19 at the Albany Golf Course.

A playoff was required after the two teams both shot 117 over two rounds.

Albany Golf Club president Randy Walker said the tournament weekend went well.

“We wound up with not as many teams as we’d have liked, but it was a good time,” he said. “We were happy with it.”

By Sam Waller

Albany’s summer conditioning programs for boys and girls entered its second week with participation rates holding steady.

“It’s just good, hard work,” Albany head football coach Denney Faith said. “We’ve had about the same number of kids, 20 to 25, showing up. Obviously, we’d like to have a few more.”

Summer workouts are regulated by UIL rules.

Boys summer sessions are from 7:00 a.m. to about 8:30 a.m. each Monday through Thursday until July 21, except for July 4. Workouts include weight lifting, agility drills and conditioning.

By Sam Waller

One Albany Little League All-Star team had its run in the District 5 tournament come to an end this week, with a second still playing and a third just getting started.

Albany’s Major All-Stars survived one elimination game before falling to Wylie on Monday.

The Minor All-Stars are among the final six teams in its division after taking their first loss on Monday.

The Intermediate team, which combines players from Albany and Breckenridge, began play Tuesday, June 21. Results will be reported next week.

Major All-Stars

By Sam Waller

Eight graduates from Shackelford County high schools enjoyed one last hurrah as high school athletes last week in the Big Country Fellowship of Christian Athletes All-Star Festival.

“Everything went very smoothly,” local FCA representative Paul Johnston said. “The kids and coaches had a lot of fun, but it was extremely hot.”

By Sam Waller

Two local children’s sports camps are accepting applications for their events in June and July.

The Albany Volleyball Camp will be Monday-Wednesday, June 27-29.

The Little Cubs Cheer Camp is set for Monday-Wednesday, July 25-27.

Cost for the volleyball camp is $25 per camper and includes a T-shirt.

Sessions will be 8:30-9:30 a.m. for students entering first through third grades, 10:00-11:30 a.m. for fourth through sixth graders and 1:00-3:00 p.m. for seventh through ninth graders.

By Sam Waller

Albany’s 7-on-7 team came up one play short of qualifying for state Friday, June 10 at the Abilene Division III State Qualifying Tournament.

After advancing out of pool play, Albany lost 13-12 to Miles on a failed conversion attempt in one of two games that determined state qualifiers. The State 7-on-7 Tournament is scheduled June 23-25 at College Station.

The Abilene tournament was Albany’s only outing in 7-on-7 this year because of the number of players involved in Albany’s extended baseball playoff run.

By Sam Waller

Albany enjoyed a good turnout this week for the start of its summer conditioning program, which got underway Monday, June 13.

Lions football coach Denney Faith said about 25 athletes attended the first two morning sessions, while Lady Lions basketball coach Tate Thompson reported about 20 girls have been taking part.

“We could always use a few more, but I know there were several who were at different camps or on vacation,” Faith said. “I think we’ll have more show up as we go along.”

Summer workouts are regulated by UIL rules.