By Sam Waller

The Albany Lady Lions began their volleyball season Tuesday evening at Breckenridge after a weekend of scrimmages. Now, the Lady Lions face another busy weekend as they host their Summer Slam tournament.

The local girls won their opener against Breckenridge Tuesday night 25-23, 25-22, 25-15. Details will be reported next week.

Albany played four scrimmages last week, taking on Benjamin and Lingleville on Friday and Mineral Wells and Paradise on Saturday.

By Sam Waller

The Moran Bulldogs and Lady Bulldogs began preseason practices in football, volleyball, and cross country on Monday in preparation for the upcoming school year.

Lady Bulldog volleyball season begins Tuesday, Aug. 10 with a match at Loraine. The Bulldog football team kicks off its season Aug. 27 at Benjamin.

Football

Coach John Hughes started the week with the bare minimum six players, but has already seen that number increase and expects more players to join the team.

By Sam Waller

Albany cross country coach Tate Thompson welcomed five runners this week for the start of training for the upcoming season, and he hopes to add to that number before district competition.

Thompson said he will have four girl runners and two boys to start the season.

“The last couple of years, we haven’t had boy runners,” Thompson said. “There are not a whole lot of boy runners in the district, so that’s going to give us a good chance of advancing those two guys.”

By Sam Waller

Fans of the Albany Lions and Lady Lions athletic programs will have the chance to meet this year’s athletes at the All-Sports Athletic Booster Club Hamburger Supper, scheduled for 6:00 p.m. Monday, Aug. 9 at Bank Park.

In addition to the introduction of football and volleyball teams and cheerleaders, attendees may purchase a hamburger meal for $8.

High school athletes and coaches eat free of charge.

Along with the hamburgers and chips, cheerleaders will make homemade ice cream, which will be available to everyone.

By Sam Waller

Golfers will have six resodded greens to putt on this year at the Albany Golf Club’s annual Labor Day tournament, scheduled for Sept. 4-5.

Golf Club board member James Waters said the greens, which were damaged by February’s hard freeze, have been resodded with TifEagle Bermuda and are in good condition.

“We were going to do all nine of them, but we couldn’t get the grass,” he said. “The three we didn’t get to are rebounding, and by the time we have the tournament, they’ll be in good condition.”

By Sam Waller

It’s said that what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger.

After a season of dealing with the disruptions caused by the coronavirus pandemic, the Albany Lions began preseason practices Monday under cool, cloudy conditions.

Head coach Denney Faith and his staff welcomed 46 players for the initial practice at the high school practice field.

By Donnie A. Lucas

A meeting is scheduled Monday, Aug. 2 for high school runners interested in taking part in cross country track this fall.

The meeting is set for 8:00 a.m. Monday in the foyer of the main gym.

Coach Tate Thompson said he will hand out the required forms for runners to have signed by a parent, with the first actual workout following on Tuesday at 8:00 a.m.

Thompson will set up a workout schedule for runners, as well as discuss the season.

By Donnie A. Lucas

Two-a-day workouts for high school volleyball start Monday, Aug. 2 at 7:00 a.m. at the high school competition gym.

Coach M.J. Reneau is expecting about 40 girls in grades 9-12 to participate this season, with seven seniors off last year’s state semifinal team returning.

“We lost eight seniors from last year, but I have another big group of seniors coming up,” Reneau said. “I am expecting another good year for the Lady Lions with a solid group of returning players.”

By Donnie A. Lucas

Summer football workouts for the Albany Lions are slated to start Monday, Aug. 2 at the field house.

All the uncertainty of last August due to the coronavirus has cleared into a “regular” start for the program, including typical August weather.

“After having a fairly mild summer, the forecast calls for 100-degree temperatures next week,” head coach Denney Faith said. “We need the guys to be hydrating well this week in preparation, continuing when workouts start.”

The Albany Athletic Booster Club met on July 12 to discuss plans for the annual Hamburger Supper and other fall events.

The annual event will be held at the Bank Park on Aug. 9 at 6:00 p.m.

The meal includes a hamburger, drink, chips, and ice cream for $8.

Cheerleaders will provide ice cream for the event.

All athletic supporters are encouraged to attend the supper.

The Booster Club still needs volunteers to grill burgers.