By Kathy Thomson
The Moran Bulldogs are looking for a new head coach for the upcoming season.
Harley Ethridge served as the 2018-19 coach, but he recently resigned and has accepted a position in the Oglesby school district.
“If you know of a good coach, please send them our way,” said superintendent Danny Freeman.
Moran plays six-man football in District 6-1A. Last fall they were 5-4, barely missing the playoffs.
The job is posted on the Region 14 website.
The Lion baseball team battled the Hale Center Owls and the West Texas wind last week to sweep the Region I-2A regional semifinal round in two games.
Albany picked up a 2-0 win in Game 1 last Thursday, returning Saturday to clinch the set with a 5-2 win. Both bouts were played at Hermleigh’s all-weather faciltiy, but that didn’t help either team deal with 30 to 40 mph winds.
“The wind was a huge factor in the series,” coach David Fairchild said. “It was blowing straight in towards home base and really shrunk the field. The outfield had to play up close to the baselines.”
While one sports camp was held this week for local youth, several more are still planned over the summer to help kids stay busy.
Basketball and pole vault camps are set for next week for both boys and girls, with a volleyball camp for girls to follow the week after. Tennis and cheerleading camps are also planned later.
Basketball Camp
A two-day basketball camp for both boys and girls is planned for Monday and Tuesday, June 3-4 at the local gym.
The Lion baseball team picked up a pair of decisive wins over Haskell last Thursday in the regional quarterfinal series held at McMurry University in Abilene, advancing to the fourth round of the Class 2A playoffs.
Albany (19-6) now moves on to play the Hale Center Owls (20-8) in the semifinal series with Game 1 set for Thursday (today) with a 6:00 p.m. game in Hermleigh. The first pitch for the second game is set for 1:00 p.m. Saturday, May 25 in Hermleigh. A third game, if needed, will be played 30 minutes following the end of Game 2.
Local students won’t have much time to get bored after school is out this week, thanks to a host of local camps that will start as soon as next Tuesday, May 28.
A different athletic camp is set for each of the next three weeks, along with a cheerleading camp later in the summer. A girls basketball camp is also in the works, but the dates were not available yet.
Boys All-Sport Camp
A three-day camp covering three sports – football, baseball, and basketball – is set for Tuesday, May 28 through Thursday, May 30.
The Albany Little League will once again be hosting one of the Little League District 5 machine pitch tournaments to compete against teams in the Big Country area, after hosting for the past two years.
“Sixteen teams will play in Albany on June 8,” said local little league president Paul Hamilton. “If we are the best of four, we will play in the Big Country final four on the following Monday night, June 10.”
The tournament is for teams made up of eight to nine year olds from around the Big Country area and will start at 8:00 a.m. on Saturday, June 8.
The Lion baseball team delivered a pair of shutouts last Thursday to take the area playoff round against McCamey during games moved to Coahoma due to rain in San Angelo, where the series was originally slated.
Albany handed the Badgers a 4-0 loss in the first game of the double header, followed by a 14-0 victory in Game 2 to seal the title.
Senior pole vaulter Caroline Masters matched her personal record at the UIL State Track Meet last Saturday, clearing 10-6 for sixth place in the Class 2A division.
The vaulter improved her jump and her placing over last year’s seventh place finish in the event.
“Caroline didn’t clear 10-6 until her third attempt, which was the difference in third and sixth this year,” coach Lauren Peacock said. “If she had cleared on her first attempt, she would have gotten third.”
Albany softball players earned recognition on the District 7-2A All-District team, which was announced this week following the elimination of the final district team from the playoffs.
Junior Caitlyn Holson was named the Offensive Player of the Year by the coaches for the district, while junior Aubrey Moon received the district’s Fighting Heart Award. Moon battled injuries throughout the season, still managing to compete in most of the games.
Sophomore Torie Fuentes was picked for second team All-District at the third base position.
Four Moran junior high students placed at the district tennis meet in Eula on Tuesday, May 7.
Caleb York took second in boys singles, and Daphani Crews was third in girls singles.
Brook Orsak and Emily Murk were third in girls doubles.
“This was the first year for all of these participants, and they are off to a great start,” said coach Jo Hise. “I am very proud of how well they represented Moran ISD.”
Boys Singles
Caleb York lost to a player from Eula 6-4; defeated a player from Eula 6-1 for second place.
Girls Singles
