By Donnie A. Lucas

Local elementary aged youth have the chance next week to participate in what will probably be the only youth camp held this summer.

Two local coaches are hosting an All-Sports Outdoor Camp for both boys and girls starting Monday, June 22 and continuing through June 24.

The camp will be split between two age groups, with students entering grades K-3 meeting at 9:00 a.m. until 10:20 a.m. each day. Students entering grades 4-9 will meet at 10:30 a.m. until 12:00 noon.

By Donnie A. Lucas

Over 80 local athletes entering grades 7-12 in the fall showed up for the first day of summer conditioning on Monday at the high school.

This is the first time that student athletes have been allowed back to use the school’s facilities since schools across Texas were closed on March 16 by the Texas Education Agency due to concerns over the coronavirus pandemic.

Strength and conditioning programs were approved to start June 8 as officials slowly begin reopening certain facilities for the first time since spring break.

By Donnie A. Lucas

There are still 11 of the 36 spots for team entries in the annual Father’s Day Golf Tournament set for June 20-21 at the Albany Golf Club.

Restrictions on activities at the local golf course have been eased in the face of the coronavirus pandemic, allowing the local golf club to host the traditional 36-team tourney. 

By Donnie A. Lucas

After almost a three-month lull in activity, local student athletes who will enter grades 7-12 next fall have their first opportunity to start supervised workouts that include both conditioning and limited sport-specific training.

The strength and conditioning sessions start Monday, June 8 with boys and girls divided into separate groups. The workouts will continue until July 30, with two idle weeks along the way.

By Melinda L. Lucas

Five of the eight local senior athletes who were selected to participate in this summer’s FCA All-Star games were presented last week with personalized items they would normally have received as part of the festival events.

Paul Johnston, who is a Big Country FCA representative, met with the Albany graduates at the high school flagpole last Tuesday, May 26.

He gave each all-star a plaque, an FCA Bible and their individual jerseys for the particular sport they were picked for.

By Donnie A. Lucas

Albany Little League games started this week despite a lengthy delay from the original start date due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Both major and minor teams will play three days per week during a shortened season scheduled to end by June 30.

T-ball and coach pitch leagues also started this week, continuing their schedule on Wednesdays and Saturdays.

The last set of games for those two leagues is currently set for Wednesday, June 24.

By Donnie A. Lucas

Albany youth who usually spend much of their summer vacation attending local sports camps will have to wait a little longer to see if the use of school facilities is allowed.

According to athletic director Ryder Peacock, AISD is waiting on state guidance for the use of indoor facilities for youth camps.

The UIL, which regulates student athletics in Texas, recently allowed schools to conduct conditioning and skill specific training for students participating in athletics during the next school year.

By Donnie A. Lucas

Albany Little League action will finally get underway next week with full team practices and games following more than a two-month delay due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Local teams had gone through the draft and were preparing to start practices when the shutdown occurred, according to league president Paul Hamilton.

“We have been able to hold practices this week for groups of five or less,” Hamilton said. “Full team practices and games can begin starting May 31.”

By Donnie A. Lucas

Summer strength and conditioning workouts for students in grades 7-12 are being allowed by the UIL starting Monday, June 8  but will come with new restrictions due to concerns for the coronavirus pandemic.

The school district has offered summer conditioning programs for both boy and girl athletes for several years, and in more recent years has been allowed to offer certain sport specific instruction.

By Donnie A. Lucas

Albany senior Jaleigh Morales earned places on All-Big Country basketball teams for both Class 2A and the overall Super Team, while two Albany Lions made the Class 2A second team.

Morales was named to the first team for Class 2A and later was picked for the Super Team which includes all classifications. She was named as a member of the second squad on the Super Team.

Seniors Ben West and B.J. Morris were picked for the boys Class 2A second team.