By Sam Waller

Albany’s summer 7-on-7 program wraps up its short season this week at the Division III State 7-on-7 Tournament.

The 32-team event will be played Thursday, June 22 (today), and Friday, June 23, at Veterans Park and Athletic Complex in College Station.

“The importance of this is the kids get to compete together, get new team components working together,” Albany 7-on-7 coach Kevin Hill said. “This will be the core of the group going in the fall. It helps with guys like Chip Chambers joining us as a quarterback and new teammate.”

By Sam Waller

Albany’s summer 7-on-7 program qualified for the 7-on-7 State Tournament by winning its side of the Abilene State Qualifying Tournament Friday, June 9 at McMurry University.

Albany qualified in Division II, which includes Class 1A (six-man) through Class 3A Division II. Albany qualified for state for the fifth time in its history, following Division II berths in 2015-16 and Division II berths in 2019 and 2021.

By Sam Waller

Albany Lions baseball coach David Fairchild has been recognized by his peers by being selected to coach in this year’s Texas High School Baseball Association All Star Game.

Fairchild will help coach the North team in the Class 2A-4A game, scheduled for noon Saturday, June 17 at Dell Diamond in Round Rock.

By Sam Waller

Eight Albany graduates took to courts and fields for the last time as high schoolers last week during the 2023 Big Country FCA All-Star Festival.

Local participation started Friday, June 9, with the 10th annual FCA All-Star softball and baseball games at San Angelo. On Saturday, June 10, basketball games were played in Brownwood while volleyball and football games were held in Abilene with Albany cheerleaders providing support.

Softball

By Sam Waller

The Albany Athletic Booster Club is selling raffle tickets for a custom autographed football commemorating Albany’s 2022 Class 2A Division II state championship.

The raffle is to raise money for the project to place monuments celebrating the school’s three state football titles at Robert Nail Memorial Stadium.

Tickets are $20 each or five for $100. To purchase tickets, visit the Booster Club’s website (www.albanyathleticboosterclub.com) and click on the link under Featured
Items.

By Sam Waller

Two Albany Little League teams competed in a Machine Pitch tournament last week with two more beginning postseason play this week.

Albany hosted a four-team, double-elimination bracket in the Machine Pitch tournament with opponents from Breckenridge and Cisco.

“Cisco advanced to Abilene and got beat by Wylie,” Albany Little League organizer Paul Hamilton said. “We had two teams in it, and our 7-year-olds actually beat our 8-year olds, then got beat by Cisco and Breckenridge. It was a good tournament.”

By Sam Waller

Registration remains open for the Albany Volleyball Camp, but space is running out, according to camp director M.J. Reneau.

The camp is scheduled for Monday-Wednesday, June 26-28, for students entering first through ninth grades.

“There are still a couple of spots available, but
I have over 70 campers, almost 80,” Reneau said. “That’s the best turnout I’ve had in the last five years.”

Cost for the camp is $25 per camper. The camp fee includes a camp T-shirt with sizes ranging from youth small to adult extra-large.

By Sam Waller

Plans have been finalized for Albany Junior/Senior High’s summer conditioning program, which will start Monday, June 12.

The program is open to all incoming seventh through 12th graders who plan to participate in interscholastic sports.

Summer workouts are subject to UIL regulations.

Boys sessions will be held Monday through Thursday through July 20. Workouts will be from 7:00 to 8:30 a.m. each day and include weight lifting, agility drills and conditioning.

By Sam Waller

The Albany Lions golf team was among three teams honored at a reception Sunday, June 4 by the Big Country Athletic Hall of Fame in Abilene.

Also recognized were softball teams from Hermleigh, which won the Class 1A state championship, and Stamford, which reached the Class 2A state tournament. The Lions were feted for finishing third in the Class 2A boys state tournament.

By Sam Waller

Two Albany youth sports camps have wrapped up, with two more on the schedule for June and July.

The Albany Lions & Lady Lions All-Sports Camp and the Albany Basketball Camp were held the first two weeks after the end of the school year with the basketball camp concluding Tuesday, June 6.

Next up is the Albany Volleyball Camp, scheduled for Monday-Wednesday, June 26-28, for students entering first through ninth grades.