10 girls earn all-district honors

By Donnie A. Lucas

A total of 10 players from the Lady Lion softball team received All-District honors, including two of the top superlative awards.

Albany senior Torie Fuentes was named the Defensive MVP for District 8-2A, which is a hybrid district of both 2A and 1A teams.

Junior Ana Balliew was tapped as the Pitching MVP for the district that included two 2A teams and four 1A squads this season.

“This all-district team was the most exclusive one I’ve had to be a part of in a while,” coach Jimmy Fuentes said. “Our district coaches decided on a set number of positions, regardless of position.”

A total of 12 players – six infielders and six outfielders, were selected for the first team, with six infielders and three outfielders picked for the second team.

“This definitely was not a watered-down selection process,” the coach said. “You really had to have some good district stats and stand out to make the team, so I’m proud of how we were represented.”

 Junior Kam Browning was selected for first team infield, with senior Blanton Belcher selected as first team outfield.

Freshman Robin Lucas and sophomore Haily Cox were named to the second team infield. Ansleigh Garcia, a junior, was selected for the second team outfield.

Receiving Honorable Mention were junior Sara Smith, sophomore Gracie Price, and freshman Ashlyn Holson.

The Lady Lions finished in third place in district, behind district champion Eula and second place Cisco.

Albany and Cisco advanced into the 2A playoff bracket. with the Lady Lions losing in the first round to Anson.

Other teams in the district included Baird, Cross Plains, and Gorman.

Cisco advanced to the third round of the 2A playoffs, while Eula played to the fourth round in the 1A bracket.

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