Sports Department

Sunday, July 25 and Thursday, July 29 Editions

Softball
Youth named MVP

Gracie Zalesky displays one of two MVP certificates she earned playing for the Razors softball team during an all-night tournament that started on July 9 and ended July 11.

In addition to playing for the Razors, a travelling team from Palestine, Gracie played for the Crockett Nitros, who finished third in district play. She is the daughter of Celeste Zalesky and grand daughter of Stephen and Debbi Zalesky, all of Crockett. Gracie is an honor roll student at Latexo Elementary School, where she will be in fifth grade.

Football
Gridiron countdown begins
Crockett Bulldogs
Crockett sets football equipment pick-up

The countdown to the 2010 Texas high school football season begins Monday, Aug. 2 when players across the state report for pre-season drills.

Two-a-days are scheduled Monday from 8 a.m. until noon with players spending part of the session in the weight room. Players will be permitted to work out in pads for the first time on Friday, Aug. 6 as the intensity level increases. Bulldog fans are invited to the annual Blue/White Scrimmage on Saturday, Aug. 7 from 10 a.m. until noon.

For the second week starting Monday, Aug. 9, the Bulldogs will shift to evening workouts from 7-9 p.m. Three scrimmages are scheduled for the Bulldogs since they are not kicking off the season on Zero Week, as they have for a number of years.

Head Coach Paul Parsons takes his crew to Westwood on Saturday, Aug. 14 for their first test against an opponent. The Bulldogs host Fairfield on Friday, Aug. 20 and then Newton comes to town for the final tune-up on Thursday, Aug. 26.

Crockett opens the season Sept. 3 on the road against Rusk and then travels to Coldspring on Sept. 10. The home opener will be Sept. 17 against Madisonville.

Grapeland Sandies

Grapeland Sandies will be under the direction of a new head coach when they report for football workouts on Monday, Aug. 2. Longtime Grapeland High School coach Jerry Richards has taken the reins as athletic director and head football coach of the Sandies.

The veteran coach joined Grapeland ISD in 1977 and has coached football, golf, baseball, basketball and tennis, except for two years.

Richards replaces Curt Faigle, who was head coach/AD at Grapeland for three seasons. Faigle resigned in June and has accepted a position at Cypress Fairbanks Cy Lakes High School as wide receiver and special teams coordinator. “I hate to see the kids go through a coaching change late in the year,” said Richards. “We have a good group of kids coming through and they stand to do well this season.”

The Sandies will hit the practice field at 7:15 a.m. on Monday, Aug. 2 and work out until 8:30 a.m. After a one-hour break, the session will resume until 11:30 a.m.

Two pre-season scrimmages are scheduled for the Sandies. They will travel to Groveton on Saturday, Aug. 14 and Leon comes to town Friday, Aug. 20.

The Sandies open the season Friday, Aug. 27 at home against Centerville.

Lovelady Lions

Lovelady Lions Head Coach Kerry Therwhanger has announced the pre-season workout schedule for high school football players. Pre-season drills begin Monday, Aug. 2 with players reporting at 8 a.m. After a mid-morning break at 10 a.m., workouts will resume until noon.

Players start working out in pads on Friday, Aug. 6 and will also report for a Saturday morning session on Aug. 7. Therwhanger said the Lions would follow the same workout schedule the first two weeks.

The Lions travel to Timpson for a scrimmage on Saturday, Aug. 14, but no other pre-season match-ups are currently scheduled. Lovelady kicks off the season Friday, Aug. 27 at New Waverly and then Garrison comes to town Friday, Sept. 3 for the Lions’ home opener.

Baseball
Lovelady

Lovelady Lion baseball player Case Gunnels was selected for the Class 1A All-Academic All-State Team by the Texas High School Baseball Coaches Association.

The award is presented to senior athletes of good moral character who have an overall grade point average of 93 or above for grades 9-12.

Volleyball
Crockett

Lady Dogs begin pre-season practice

Crockett Lady Bulldogs begin pre-season preparations on Monday, Aug. 2 Players will report to the high school gym at 7 a.m for the first workout session. At 9:30 a.m., players will take a one-hour break and then resume working out from 10:30-12:30

Coach Julie Neel says the Lady Bulldogs will be in a rebuilding phase this season after graduating seven seniors. “I’m really excited for the underclassmen to step up and build a new team,” said Coach Neel, who begins her second season with only two returning players. “I’m looking forward to making some changes and building on the good things we did last year.” Crockett’s volleyball team has not qualified for the state playoffs in several years, but Neel is optimistic as the Lady Bulldogs begin competing in class 2A.

“We’ll face some tough competition in our new district, but we’re looking to be in the hunt for a playoff spot,” said Neel. Crockett’s new district lineup includes Centerville, Groveton, New Waverly, Anderson-Shiro, Onalaska and Trinity. The Lady Bulldogs will have just four days of workouts to prepare for their season opener, a dual match Friday, Aug. 6 on the road against Buffalo and Normangee at Buffalo.

Crockett’s non-district schedule includes three tournament appearances at Fairfield, Westwood andx Madisonville. The non-district schedule also includes Palestine/Cayuga (dual match), Huntington, Latexo, Grapeland and Livingston.

Neel pointed out the Lady Bulldogs will have less time to tune up for this year’s district race. In the past, district play didn’t start until the last week in September, but this year’s district opener has been moved up to Sept. 7.

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