By Sam Waller

The Albany Lions may not have gotten the prize they wanted at the Class 2A boys state golf tournament, but they definitely got a prize.

After starting the final round in second place, the Lions held on to take third in the team standings, finishing a stroke ahead of hard-charging Sonora.

“It feels good,” Lions coach Tate Thompson said of collecting a trophy and medals. “It’s not as good as it would be with a silver medal, but it still feels good.”

By Sam Waller

The Albany Lions extended the 2023 baseball season for another week by sweeping their Class 2A regional quarterfinal series against 10th-ranked Hamilton.

The Lions (23-3) advance to the regional semifinals to take on New Home in a rematch of last year’s regional final. Game 1 of the series is set for 2:00 p.m. Thursday, May 25 (today) at McMurry’s Walt Driggers Field. After a day off for graduation, the series resumes with Game 2 at 1:00 p.m. Saturday, May 27 at Lubbock Christian’s Hays Field.

By Sam Waller

Moran senior Alli Scott duplicated her medal haul from a year ago at the Class 1A state track meet on Saturday, May 13, claiming gold in the 100-meter hurdles and silver in the 300 hurdles, and setting a 1A meet record in the process.

“I was just thinking it’s my senior year, my last high school track meet,” Scott said. “I’ll never be able to run again, so I just gave it everything I had.”

By Sam Waller

Albany golfers will be relying on experience gained last year as they return to the Class 2A boys state golf tournament, to be played Monday-Tuesday, May 22-23 at Lions Municipal Golf Course in Austin.

By Melinda L. Lucas

A recap of Albany High’s athletic success during the 2022-2023 school year was given at the annual Athletic 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.

Eleven senior athletes were presented a total of 13 special awards in memory or honor of local citizens who exemplified special qualities.

The banquet was sponsored by the Albany Athletic Booster Club.

By Sam Waller

The Albany Lions were looking at elimination from the Class 2A baseball playoffs and didn’t like what they saw.

The Lions (21-3) rallied to defeat the Eldorado Eagles in three games to win their area series and advance to the regional quarterfinals against Hamilton, which defeated Colorado City 10-0 in a one-game playoff.

By Sam Waller

Albany juniors Adam Hill and Kiana Roberson had big goals for the Class 2A state track meet, held Friday, May 12, at Austin’s Mike A. Myers Stadium.

Hill achieved part of his, winning the 300-meter hurdles and finishing a close second in the 110 hurdles.

“I just had to stay with the No. 1 seed in both races and focus on my technique and stuff I’ve been working on all year long,” Hill said.

By Sam Waller

The Albany Lions took the first step in the Class 2A baseball playoffs Friday, May 5, sweeping Miles in a bi-district series played at Sweetwater.

The Lions (19-2) will meet Eldorado (15-5) in the area round on Thursday, May 11 (today), at Liberty Hill. The series winner will play either Hamilton or Colorado City next week in the regional quarterfinals.

By Sam Waller

After securing Moran’s first state track gold medal in 50 years last year, Alli Scott is looking to increase the total Saturday, May 13, at the Class 1A state meet.

The Class 1A meet will be held in conjunction with the Class 6A meet at Austin’s Mike A. Myers Stadium.

Scott, headed to state for the third year in a row, is the defending champion in the 100-meter hurdles. She also claimed silver in the 300 hurdles.

By Sam Waller

Students at Nancy Smith Elementary School will have a day to run and jump Tuesday, May 23, at the annual track meet and field day.

Principal John Gallagher said the events are being combined into one day this year after being held separately in 2022.

Gallagher said students should report to school as normal before being bused to the high school track at 9:00 a.m.

Gallagher said lunch will be provided at the track with students being bused to Webb Park for the rest of the day following the meal.