Albany softball season closes with Senior Night
By Melinda L. Lucas
The Lady Lions ended another rocky softball season last week with losses to Anson and district winner Stamford, both of whom are advancing to the playoffs.
The mostly young Albany players finished with 2-7 district record.
Veteran team members Carisa Barrera and Gabby Lopez were recognized during a Senior Night celebration at the last home game on April 8.
Head softball coach Jimmy Fuentes has faced many question marks over the last few seasons, and this one was no different.
“We were clueless going into the season, playing game by game, week by week,” Fuentes said. “We had problems with numbers and problems with experience, and our goal was just to play the best game we could each time we got on the field and hopefully to not get 10-run ruled.”
Several members of the 2025 squad were first-time players, not even participating in softball or baseball at the elementary level.
“There were certainly a couple of them who should have been playing all along. They have the talent,” Fuentes said. “And my message to all of them was ‘thank you.’ They didn’t have to be generous with their time and efforts so that we could have a team. They did that out of their own graciousness, and I appreciate it.”
The coach added that Albany is part of a “very tough district,” with girls who play a lot in off-season leagues.
“We’re in the opposite board, but we still played respectable games considering our circumstances,” Fuentes said.
District standings ended with Stamford in first place, followed by Haskell, Anson, and Hawley. Stamford and Haskell are advancing in the “small school” division, with Anson and Hawley in Division I.
Game Details
In the 13-0 loss to Anson on April 8, pitcher Carisa Barrera faced 38 batters, with 10 strikeouts, and allowing 15 hits and only one walk.
Barrera and Charlee Hefner had hits during the game but no runs were scored.
Anson led 6-0 at the end of the second inning, scoring another run in the fifth, two in the sixth and 4 in the seventh.
Against Stamford, Barrera had only two strikeouts with 28 Lady Bulldogs at the plate. She allowed 10 hits and one walk.
Stamford ended the game in the fifth inning, after scoring two in the first, one in the second, three in the third, three in the fourth, and two in the bottom of the fifth.
