The Lion baseball team clawed their way back to second place in District 8-2A with a 4-1 win over the Haskell Indians last week in Hermleigh. The game was orginally scheduled in Albany but was moved due to weather conditions.

The Lions are paired against the Cross Plains Buffaloes in the bi-district playoff series set to start Thursday (today) in Eastland at 5:00 p.m. Game 2 is scheduled for 5:00 p.m. Friday in Eastland, with the third game 30 minutes afterwards if needed.

Admission will be $3 for adults and $2 for students.

Several members of the Albany track teams competed last week at the Region I-2A meet in Levelland, with senior Caroline Masters advancing for a second year to the state track meet in the pole vault.

While Masters was the lone Albany athlete to advance to Austin, several other individuals and three of the four relay teams made the finals to place at the regional meet.

A recap of Albany High’s athletic success during the 2018-2019 school year was given at the annual All-Sports Banquet on Tuesday, including the announcement of several special memorial awards.

Coaches for each sport also recognized their teams, along with handing out various sport-specific awards.

A total of 10 senior athletes were presented a total of 13 special awards in memory or honor of local citizens that exemplified special qualities.

The banquet was sponsored by the Albany Athletic Booster Club.

The Lady Lions allowed the Windthorst Lady Trojans to jump out to an early lead during the bi-district playoff game last Thursday, then watched any hope of advancing slip away despite an admirable effort to recover.

Albany fell to Windthorst 10-0, with the Lady Trojans scoring all their runs in the first two inn-ings, ending the season for the Lady Lions.

Moran senior Kobee Lapp won gold in the triple jump at the Region 3-A track meet at Whitney High School last Friday and is headed to the 2019 University Interscholastic League Track and Field State Championships in Austin on Friday, May 10. 

“He won the event on his final jump by over a half a foot,” said coach Matthew Hise. “Going into the last jump he was in third place. After losing out of going to state last year by 1/4 of an inch, it was extremely exciting to see him earn his way to state this time.”

A number of Albany track athletes are advancing to the Region I-2A Track and Field Meet Friday and Saturday in Levelland, with the chance to punch their ticket to the state track in May.

The Lady Lions are sending both the sprint and mile relays to the regional meet, along with five girls in individual events.

The Lions are also advancing two relays, including the 4x200 relay and the mile relay, and five individuals in three events.

The Lion baseball team clinched at least a third place finish in the district race with a pair of wins over Stamford and Hawley last week.

Albany was scheduled to host Haskell yesterday, weather permitting, where a victory in their regular season finale would propel the Lions to a second place finish in the District 8-2A race.

Albany will advance to the bi-district series during the three-day window starting next Thursday, but who they would face was still up in the air due to a three-way tie in District 7-2A.

The Lady Lions ended the regular season in fourth place among the 2A division schools in the district, setting up a bi-district game for Thursday against Windthorst.

The first-round playoff is set for Graham High School’s field at 4:00 p.m. Admission is set at $5 for adults and $3 for students.

All five of Albany’s young tennis players were eliminated at the regional tournament last week, although a singles player made it to the semifinals, and the local boys doubles team made it to the second round.

“I took four freshmen and one sophomore to Odessa, all for their first time at the regional tournament,” said tennis coach Sara Wilson. “I think they all played really awesome and made a great showing.”

She added that the athletes gave great effort both before and during tournament play in Odessa.

Regional Results

The boys and girls track teams both advanced two relays and several individuals to the Region I meet by placing in the top four positions at the area track meet last Wednesday, April 10 in Mertzon.

A contingent of eight boys and seven girls qualified to compete in a total of 11 events at the regional meet set for next Friday and Saturday, April 26-27 at South Plains College in Levelland.