By Garth Shanklin
Sports Editor
The turning of the calendar from July to August officially kicks off the high school sports season.
All fall sports began practice on Aug. 1 with regular seasons shortly to follow. Golfers can participate in their first regular-season match on Friday, Aug. 5, according to Ohio High School Athletic Association regulations, while girls tennis begins one week later on Aug. 12.
Both boys’ and girls’ soccer can begin participating in regular-season matches on Aug. 19, while field hockey and volleyball squads can begin one day later on Aug. 20.
Football and cross country both get underway later in the month, with the first official regular-season contests beginning as early as Aug. 22, according to OHSAA regulations.
The New Richmond Lady Lions soccer team start off their season with a home scrimmage against Wyoming on Aug. 4 at 7 p.m. That same night, the Batavia Bulldogs soccer team will scrimmage Cincinnati Christian on the road at 7 p.m.
Clermont Northeastern ‘s golf team will be one of several teams in action this weekend as they host three other schools including Amelia for a match held at Cedar Trace on Aug. 5 at noon. Felicity’s golf team will host Georgetown at Colonial Pines at 2:30 p.m.
Also on Aug. 5, Goshen volleyball will travel to Indian Hill for a tri-match that also includes Norwood.
Two county football teams will hold intra-squad scrimmages. Bethel-Tate and first-year head coach Jeff Essig will hold a red-grey scrimmage at the high school on Saturday, Aug. 6 beginning at 9 a.m.
The Batavia Bulldogs and coach Matt Lester will take the field later that night with a green-white scrimmage at 7 p.m.
More football teams get in on the action early next week. The Goshen Warriors will host Madeira for a scrimmage on Aug. 8 at 10 a.m.
The New Richmond Lions will scrimmage Glen Este on Tuesday, Aug. 9 at 10 a.m. Williamsburg will host North Adams for a scrimmage later that same day beginning at 6 p.m.