By Melinda L. Lucas

Members of the Albany High School tennis team were on the court last week in Hawley, with several girls participating in singles and doubles.

Local players hosted Baird and Throckmorton on Monday, March 1, but results weren’t available at press time. They will be reported next week.

“The Albany girls had a good day at the Hawley tournament,” said coach Sara Wilson. “We should have several players do well this season.”

Albany will host another tri-meet at the AHS courts next Tuesday, March 9, starting at 2:00 p.m.

By Donnie A. Lucas

The Albany Lion baseball team opened the season last week strong, with a win for the varsity and a championship for the JV in the local JV tournament.

The varsity Lions will travel to Glen Rose this week for games on both Thursday and Friday. 

Albany will play Glen Rose at 10:00 a.m. Thursday, followed by a 12:00 p.m. game against Springtown. The varsity will also play at 10:00 a.m. Friday against Waxahachie Life and 12:00 p.m. against Grandview.

The JV is scheduled to play in Eula on Saturday.

By Donnie A. Lucas

Four members of the Lady Lion basketball team received all-district honors, including three second team picks and one honorable mention.

Seniors Alli Hill and Elia Hebel, along with sophomore Brylee Moore, were named to the second all-district team for their play during the District 10-2A competition.

Senior Torie Fuentes received honorable mention.

By Melinda L. Lucas

Three Albany golfers competed in their first tournament of the season last week when they traveled to the Tin Cup Country Club in Merkel on Wednesday, Feb. 24.

Ayden Balliew shot a 97 for seventh place out of 30 golfers, while Lute Wheeler was right behind him with a 99 for eighth place. Houston Heatly also played, recording a score of 107.

“For very little practice and considering the conditions, these are pretty good scores for their first high school tournaments,” said coach Tate Thompson. 

By Donnie A. Lucas

Despite the lack of workout time due to weather and playoffs in other sports, the Lions and Lady Lions opened the track season last Thursday in Breckenridge with several individuals and relays earning medals.

The local tracksters will travel to Anson in Thursday (today) for the next meet.

By Donnie A. Lucas

Albany’s junior high tracksters had the first track meet of the year at Hamlin cancelled as a result of schools being dismissed the previous week because of the weather.

The season opener will be next Tuesday, March 2 at Breckenridge.

Events are scheduled to start at 3:00 p.m.

Albany will host a junior high meet on Monday, March 8, and the district meet is slated for March 27 in Hamlin.

By Donnie A. Lucas

The Lion baseball team is starting the 2021 season at home this week, hosting a JV tournament on Thursday through Saturday.

The Lions will play Sweetwater’s JV at 2:00 Thursday, then take the field again on Friday at 1:00 p.m. against the Baird varsity. The third day of the tourney has the Lions playing the Abilene Cooper JV at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday.

Coach David Fairchild has had only nine total players from both varsity and JV to work out, with the majority of the players still involved in the basketball playoffs.

By Donnie A. Lucas

After missing out on their regular season opener and a tournament last week due to the weather, the Lady Lion softball team got on the field Monday to earn a 20-0 victory over the Cooper JV in Abilene.

Albany will play in the Stephenville tournament starting today, weather permitting. The girls are scheduled to play Springtown at 3:30 p.m. and Midway JV at 5:00 p.m. at McClesky Field at City Park in Stephenville.

The Lady Lions will play Crowley at 11:00 a.m. Friday at Stephenville High and Krum at 2:00 p.m.

Carolyn Hill (second from right), who often helps coach local tennis players as a community volunteer, works with several junior high students on their serving. The Albany High School team members were in action for the first time this week, with Hawley hosting a weather-delayed invitational meet at Rose Park in Abilene.

By Donnie A. Lucas

The 2020 Class 2A All-State Football selections were announced Monday by the Texas Sports Writers Association, and the list includes one Albany player.

Senior Wesley Estridge received Honorable Mention by the organization at the defensive lineman position.

The 2A selections included schools from both Division I and Division II.

Estridge was also named to the Class 2A second team All-Big Country at defensive lineman. He was the district lineman of the year, totaling 74 tackles (27 solo), including 18 for a loss and 2.5 sacks.