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.

By Sam Waller

Albany will host a four-team bracket for the Texas West Little League District 5 Machine Pitch tournament Saturday, June 10, at the Albany Little League complex.

Albany Little League president Paul Hamilton said the tournament schedule has not been released yet, but games will start at 10:00 a.m. Saturday.

The bracket winner will advance to the next stage of the tournament in Abilene.

By Sam Waller

Albany’s entry in summer 7-on-7 competition came within a score and a conversion Saturday, June 3, of qualifying for state at the Texoma 7-on-7 Tournament.

Albany went 2-1 for the day in games played at Wichita Falls City View, beating Archer City and Electra to win Pool D before falling 18-12 to Childress in the qualifying game.

By Sam Waller

The Albany Lions claimed 11 spots, including six superlative awards, on the All-District 8-2A baseball team, which was selected by vote of the district coaches. Every regular starter received at least second-team honors.

The Lions went 9-1 to win the district championship and finished 24-5 overall, reaching the regional semifinal round of the playoffs.

By Sam Waller

After being limited to just one tournament last summer, Albany’s 7-on-7 program will get at least two in this year.

Albany will attend the Texoma tournament Saturday, June 3. The local team, coached by Kevin Hill and Tony Wheeler, is also entered in the Abilene tournament on Friday, June 9.

Both events allow Albany opportunities to qualify for the 7-on-7 State Tournament, scheduled for Thursday-Saturday, June 22-24, at College Station.