By Sam Waller

The Fort Worth Cats select baseball team wrapped up its season Sunday, July 9 by winning the Five Tool Baseball tournament at TCU’s Lupton Stadium in Fort Worth.

Albany’s Cole Read played a big part in the Cats’ 8-7 win over Lonestar Baseball Club of Austin in the championship game, going 2 for 3 with two RBIs.

Read, who will be a senior at Albany this fall, has handled multiple roles for the -Lions. He was named District 8-2A Catcher of the Year this season in addition to being a key piece of Albany’s pitching staff.

By Sam Waller

The final week of Albany Junior/Senior High’s summer conditioning program for boys begins Monday, July 17, while the girls program resumes following a two-week break.

The final session for the boys program will be Thursday, July 20, while the girls program wraps up Thursday, July 27.

Football coach Denney Faith said participation in the boys workouts remained strong despite an expected dip last week with the Fourth of July holiday.

By Sam Waller

Albany’s junior high 7-on-7 team wrapped up its summer season Monday, June 26 with a pair of victories against opponents from Anson and Hamlin.

Throughout its brief schedule, the team regularly competed against older opponents from larger cities. Anthony Ceder, who coached the team with Clint Chapman, said most of the teams Albany faced were select teams from places like Dallas, Houston, and San Antonio with players as old as 15.

By Sam Waller

After working around Fandangle participation the last two weeks, Albany Junior/Senior High’s summer conditioning program dealt with holiday absences this week as the boys portion of the program continued.

Albany head football coach said a drop in participation at this time is typical.

“We had our morning workouts this week, but we didn’t do anything in the afternoons,” Faith said. “With Fandangle over, a lot of kids are taking their vacations now. We always have that during the Fourth of July week.”

By Sam Waller

The girls portion of Albany Junior/Senior High’s summer conditioning program concluded this week and will resume Monday, July 17 following a two-week break.

The program is open to all incoming seventh through 12th graders who plan to participate in interscholastic sports.

Albany volleyball coach M.J. Reneau, who oversees the girls program, said Lady Lions and Lady Cubs athletes are welcome to continue working out on their own during the hiatus.

By Sam Waller

Seven players from the Albany Lions baseball team were recognized for their achievements on the field this season with inclusion on the All-Big Country Preps Baseball Team.

Junior Tyler Chapman was selected as a starting infielder on the first team with senior Coy Lefevre tabbed as a reserve infielder.

On the second team, senior Cole Chapman was named to the starting rotation with junior Cole Read listed in the bullpen and junior Zane Waggoner picked as a starting infielder.

By Sam Waller

Albany’s run in the Division III 7-on-7 State Tournament came to an end Friday, June 23 with a 27-19 loss to Daingerfield in the second round of championship bracket play.

The Lions went 3-2 at the tournament, which was played Thursday-Friday, June 22-23 at College Station’s Veterans Park. It marked the first time that Albany has won a game in the championship bracket.

“I thought we competed really well,” Albany coach Kevin Hill said.

Albany was making its fifth appearance in the state tournament, following trips in 2015-16, 2019, and 2021.

By Sam Waller

A total of 86 campers attended the Albany Volleyball Camp, receiving instruction in the sport from Albany volleyball coach M.J. Reneau and several assistants.

The camp was the third offered by Albany coaches since school let out for the summer, following an all-sports camp and basketball camp.

The final camp on the summer schedule is the Cubs Cheer Camp for age 3 through sixth grade. That camp is scheduled for Monday-Wednesday, July 24-26 at the auxiliary gym.

By Sam Waller

Albany Little League’s season came to an end Tuesday, June 20, as the Majors All-Stars were eliminated from the Little League International Tournament with a 5-4 loss to Abilene Northern at the Wylie complex.

Albany finished 1-2 in the 12-team, double-elimination tournament, having survived the first round of elimination games.

“I’m extremely proud of the kids,” coach Dan Key said. “They played well, but that’s the way it goes in baseball. I truly believe we were one of the better teams there.”

By Sam Waller

Albany’s junior high 7-on-7 team made its first two outings this month, competing in tournaments at Celina and College Station.

The team closed out its short season Monday, June 26 with games against teams from Anson and Hamlin at Anson. Albany beat Anson 21-0 and also defeated Hamlin 14-7.

“This is not like high school 7-on-7,” said Anthony Ceder, who coaches the team with Clint Chapman. “This is more like travel all-star teams from cities.