Inexperience could be issue for softball team

Low numbers will again be an issue for the Albany Lady Lions softball team during the 2024 season.

Lady Lions coach Jimmy Fuentes brings back five players from last year – seniors Robin Lucas and Braylyn Abbate, juniors Gabby Lopez and Carisa Barrera, and sophomore Jayden Kelly.

“We’llhavefivebrandnew girls,” Fuentes said. “We’relookingforwardto our first practice after the lastbasketballgame,and we’ll start from there.”

Fuentes said the early portion of the season will be spent figuring out a lineup with no position locked in at this time.

“Right now, it’s a clean slate,” he said. “I’ve told the returning ones to be ready to play something completely different. We’re going to put them where we need them.”

Exacerbatingmatters is a lack of experience among the newcomers.

“A lot have never played before, not even at the youngest level,” Fuentes said. “They’re going to give it a shot so we can have enough numberstoplay.It’sgoing to be challenging.”

The Lady Lions will open the season Thursday, Feb. 15 at the Clyde tournament.

Albany’s home opener will be against Sweetwater JV at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 27.

Albanywillcompetein District 8-2A with Cisco and five Class 1Aschools. Because Class 1A has its own playoff bracket, the Lady Lions are assured a postseason berth if they can finish the season.

A year ago, Albany staggered into the playoffs as injuries and other factorscutintoanalready thin roster. Fuentes was forced to recruit athletes from other sports just to have a full lineup before the Lady Lions were eliminated in the bi-district round.

“Hopefully, we won’t beinthatpositionagain,” he said.

Albanywillplayintwo tournaments–Clydeand Eula – with three single games before starting district. Fuentes is looking to fill a fourth date on the nondistrict schedule.

The first district game isMarch5againstTLCA.