By Donnie A. Lucas

The varsity Lady Lions won three out of four scrimmages last week to start the 2020 season.

Albany hosted a set of varsity-only scrimmages against Lingleville and Benjamin on Friday, then traveled to Breckenridge for scrimmages against the Lady Bucks and Wichita Falls Hirschi on Saturday. 

The regular season opened on Tuesday at home with the Lady Lions defeating the Lady Bucks 25-23, 25-23, 25-17. Details of the match will be reported next week.

By Donnie A. Lucas

The Lion football team is closing in on two full weeks of workouts for the 2020 season, with another week on the practice field before their first contact with an opponent.

The lone scrimmage of the season is set for Thursday, Aug. 20 in Hawley starting at 5:00 p.m. The University Interscholastic League is limiting all teams to only one scrimmage this season in an attempt to limit the spread of the -COVID-19 coronavirus.

The Lions have a roster of 46 players this season for the varsity and JV squads.

By Lynsi Musselman

The Lady Bulldogs started volleyball action last Saturday, Aug. 8, with a scrimmage against Loraine.

Moran volleyball coach Jo Hise reported that the team played well, and they were able to make adjustments and focus on rotation.

“We have a couple of areas where we need more practice,” Hise said.

Moran will host Munday this Saturday, Aug. 15 at 11:00 a.m.

Football

The Bulldogs football team is in its second week of two-a-days with 12 players on the roster.

By Donnie A. Lucas

A total of 46 players showed up for the first day of summer football on Monday, including 12 seniors who are returning for a final season.

“The first day of practice went well,” head football coach Denney Faith. “The guys were in relatively good shape, especially the ones who came to the conditioning sessions this summer, plus we had great weather.”

By Donnie A. Lucas

A total of 40 high school girls showed up on Monday for the first day of two-a-day practices, which will give coach M.J. Reneau the opportunity to put three full teams on the court this season.

The teams have continued practicing a total of five hours each day through Thursday (today), with varsity scrimmages set for Friday and scrimmage matches for all three teams on Saturday in Breckenridge.

By Donnie A. Lucas

The Albany Little League Minors played all the way to the championship game last week in the district tournament, falling to Wylie 13-7 in the finale.

Meanwhile, the younger machine pitch team also advanced to the championship, winning the title with a 16-11 rematch against the Wylie Scrappers.

Albany also fielded a major league team that lost 10-0 to the Abilene Dixie Dodgers in the first round.

By Donnie A. Lucas

A group of seven girls and one boy are participating in cross country workouts this week, according to coach Tate Thompson.

Runners met Monday to plan for the season, starting workouts on Tuesday.

The coach set morning workouts at 8:00 a.m. until school starts. Practices will move to 6:15 a.m. beginning on Aug. 20.

“We have a couple of girls who have a very good chance of advancing to regional,” Thompson said.

The coach added that there may be a few runners who are currently involved in volleyball.

By Lynsi Musselman

In Moran this week, both the Bulldogs and the Lady Bulldogs began practices on Monday, Aug. 3.

The football players started at 7:00 a.m., and volleyball two-a-days got underway at 8:00 a.m.

Football

Moran football coach John Hughes said practice has gone well so far.

“We had 10 kids come for practice with two more coming next week,” Hughes commented.

The first varsity scrimmage will be at home against Baird at 6:00 p.m, and the first junior high game will be away in Rotan at 6:00 p.m.

By Donnie A. Lucas

After weeks of uncertainty, Albany Lion football is on track for a fairly normal beginning to the 2020 season with the start of summer workouts on Monday, Aug. 3.

“There will be a few adjustments,” head coach Denney Faith said. “Everyone will have to wear masks when they aren’t actively engaged in workouts. We will be making every effort to make sure we stay as safe as possible, including disinfecting equipment and indoor spaces.”

Faith said that he is expecting about 50 players in grades 9-12 to show up Monday.

By Donnie A. Lucas

All athletes planning to participate in two-a-day workouts that start Monday must complete a required medical history form that is available online.

Students who do not have a physical exam on file from last season or who answer “yes” to any of the first six questions on the medical record form must have a new physical exam completed by Monday in order to participate in workouts.