By Sam Waller

With district and regional competition out of the way at the high school level, Albany junior high tennis players took the court this week to start their season.

Coach M.J. Reneau said the first junior high practice was held Wednesday, April 12. Reneau said she has three events scheduled for the junior high program.

“I didn’t realize that the first tennis meet I scheduled was a STAAR date, so we’re going to have to reschedule that one,” she said. “We’ll have one tournament with Winters, then we’ll do an intrasquad meet, then it’ll be district.”

By Sam Waller

The Albany Lions kept pace in the District 8-2A baseball race on April 4 with a 4-0 win at Cisco in the final game of the first half of district play.

The Lions (13-2 overall, 5-1 district) were in a three way tie for the district lead when they visited Hawley on Tuesday to start the second half, but a 9-0 win there puts Albany all alone in first place. Details will be reported next week.

Albany continues a five-game road stretch at 5:00 p.m. Friday, April 14 at Anson.

Game Details

By Sam Waller

The Albany Lady Lions split a pair of games last week, but received some bad news as they enter the final two weeks of the softball season.

Albany (15-11-1 overall, 7-1 District 8-2A) beat  Baird 21-14 on Tuesday, April 11, in a single game after low numbers led coach Jimmy Fuentes to scale back from the planned doubleheader. Details will be reported next week.

The Lady Lions visit Cross Plains at 5:00 p.m. Friday, April 14 in their second game of the week.

By Sam Waller

The Albany Lions and Lady Lions track and field teams had 13 individuals and two relays qualify for area competition with their efforts Thursday, April 6 at the District 10-2A meet at Cisco.

The area meet with District 9-2A is being held Thursday, April 13 (today) at Graham. The top four finishers in each event advance to the Region II-2A meet Friday-Saturday, April 28-29 at Springtown. Results from the area meet will be reported next week.

By Sam Waller

The Albany High School tennis team will be sending four entries to the state tournament, two of them for the second year in a row, after its performance this week at the Region II-2A tournament.

The Class 2A state tournament is scheduled for Tuesday-Wednesday, April 25-26 at Blossom Tennis Center in San Antonio.

At the regional tournament, played Monday-Tuesday, April 10-11 at Richland Tennis Center in North Richland Hills, Albany claimed three titles, along with a second place and a fourth place out of six entries.

By Sam Waller

The Albany Lions cele­brated their 2022 state football championship one more time Wednesday, April 5 with the presentation of championship rings at the high school gym.

“We finally got to give the guys their rings,” Lions head coach Denney Faith said. “It was a big deal. It was a great celebration for them and gives them an emblem they can remember this year by.”

By Sam Waller

Moran track and field athletes had a busy week with meets at the high school, junior high and elementary levels.

The high schoolers are making their final outing before the district meet Thursday, April 6 (today), at Hermleigh’s Wind Energy Relays. The District 13-1A meet will be held Thursday, April 13, at May.

On Thursday, March 30, Moran competed at the May Tiger Relays after a late change of plans.

By Sam Waller

Carisa Barrera pitched a no-hitter and Gracie Price singled in the only run in the sixth inning as the Albany Lady Lions pulled out a 1-0 victory over Eula on Tuesday, March 28, in District 8-2A softball action at Webb Park.

The Lady Lions (12-11-1 overall, 5-1 district) visited the Lady Pirates on Tuesday, April 4 in a nondistrict game, losing 4-5. Details will be reported next week. The game was added to the schedule to replace the Friday, March 31 game against Gorman, which was forfeited.

By Sam Waller

The Albany Cubs seventh grade boys won the team title at the District 10-2A junior high track meet Saturday, April 1 at Hamlin.

The seventh grade boys scored in 12 of 17 events to total 146½ points and edge Anson for the title. The Cubs won four events, including a 1-2-3 sweep in the high jump, and medaled in all three relays. In all, Albany posted 15 top-three finishes.

Event winners were Aiden Vickers in both the high jump and pole vault, Clay Chapman in the long jump, and Jakobi Roberson in the triple jump.

By Sam Waller

The Albany Lions and Lady Lions track and field teams made their final outing before district on Thursday, March 30 at the Golden Shoes Relays in Clyde.

The District 10-2A meet is being held Thursday, April 6 (today), at Cisco. Results will be reported next week.

The top four finishers in each event at the district meet qualify for the area meet with District 9-2A on Friday, April 13 at Graham. A top-four finish at area earns a trip to the Region II-2A meet April 28-29 at Springtown.