By Melinda L. Lucas

Members of the Albany High School tennis team were on local courts March 9, hosting players from Cisco and Breckenridge in a tri-meet to prepare for next month’s district tournament.

Local players will host Anson and Rotan on Monday, March 22. Those results will be reported next week.

“These practice meets are beneficial for us because we can get several short matches in within a short amount of time,” said coach Sara Wilson. “The kids can then go on to their next activity.”

By Sandy Morris

The recent lifting of mask restrictions has changed the location of the junior high district track meet which eliminates the concession stand planned by the Albany Athletic Booster Club.

All junior high school track teams in the district will now compete at Hamlin on Saturday, March 27 instead of being divided between two communities. 

The Athletic Boosters will still host the concession stand for the high school district track meet on Wednesday, March 31. 

By Donnie A. Lucas

Albany tracksters competed against mostly larger schools, along with windy West Texas conditions last Saturday at the Pied Piper Relays in Hamlin.

The local track teams will be on the road to Eastland on Thursday (today) for the next meet, then head back to Breckenridge on March 25 in preparation for the district meet in Albany on March 31.

The Albany boys placed in all three relays in Hamlin over the weekend, while the girls finished sixth in the 800 meter relay.

By Sandy Morris

Albany High School senior Wesley Estridge continued his winning streak by topping out his weight division at the Texas High School Powerlifting Association’s Region 6 Division 3 championship  in Alvord last week, earning a trip to the state meet.

Estridge weighed in on Thursday, March 11 and competed on Friday, March 12, finishing in first place in the super heavy weight division. 

Estridge’s lift totals for the meet were 500 pounds in dead lift, 420 pounds in bench press, and 700 pounds in squat for a total of 1,620 pounds. 

By Donnie A. Lucas

The Lady Lions opened  district with a pair of decisive wins during the last week over Gorman and Baird.

The team is open this weekend, but will be back in action on Tuesday, March 23 in Cross Plains. The first pitch is set for 5:00 p.m.

Albany started district at home on March 9 with a 18-1 victory over Gorman, followed this week with a 17-2 win over Baird on Monday.

“We began district with two wins, and that is good,” coach Jimmy Fuentes said. “However, we weren’t as consistent as I would have liked us to be.”

By Donnie A. Lucas

Strong pitching performances led the Lion baseball team to a sweeping 3-0 record in the Windthorst tournament last week and gave coach David Fairchild his 400th career win.

Albany will open district next Tuesday, March 23, hosting Stamford at 5:00 p.m. The Lions will travel to Haskell on Friday, March 26 as the race for the district title continues.

Fairchild was recognized by fans and players after the third win of the tourney over Peaster, 8-5, including the unveiling of a banner, signs, and a plaque noting the milestone.

By Sandy Morris

The Moran varsity track team members competed in the first meet of the season on Thursday, March 4 in Rising Star. 

The next meet is scheduled for Thursday, March 18 at the May Tiger Relays.

Varsity Girls Results

Alli Scott placed second in long jump, first in the 100 meter dash, and first in the 300 meter hurdles.

Hannah Noble came in first in the 100 meter dash and 200 meter dash. 

Johnnie Hise was second in high jump, and fourth in the 800 meter dash.

By Sandy Morris

The Albany Girls Softball Association is ready to kick off the season and will hold a ‘Field Day’ at 3:00 p.m. on Saturday, March 13 at Webb Park on the Albany softball field. 

Registration

Jacey Shack, president of AGSA, said registration has been extended through Saturday.

“Because of the weather and other issues, some kids didn’t get a form to sign up,” said Shack. “We decided to extend registration to give everyone who wants to play a chance to sign up.”

By Donnie A. Lucas

The junior high track teams opened the season last Tuesday, March 2 in Breckenridge, followed by competing in the Albany meet on Monday.

Coach M.J. Reneau said that the Breckenridge meet was a good beginning for the eighth grade.

“All the girls have a great starting point in their events,” Reneau said. “Our goal is to improve our marks and times each week.”

Coach Ginger Norton said that the seventh graders also did a good job at the first meet.

By Donnie A. Lucas

The Lions varsity baseball team defeated ­DeLeon last Tuesday, then played four games at the Glen Rose tournament on Thursday through Saturday, with a 1-2-1 result.

The tournament that Albany was scheduled to host has been cancelled due to teams dropping out because of cases of the coronavirus at some of the schools on the schedule.