Sports

OZARK – Before June 1, Kaelan Bedford hadn’t been mobbed by his teammates. Now that he has been mobbed by his teammates, he’s fine with being mobbed again.

Like many high school and middle school coaches around the country, the coaches at Excelsior Springs High School are using the summer vacation months to prepare their respective teams for the 2023-24 school year.

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Many dads dream of their kids following in their footsteps. For five dads with sons on the Excelsior Springs varsity baseball team, that dream has come true.

By the time you read this, Excelsior Springs will have placed third or fourth at state in baseball. At press time, the Tigers were preparing to play Fulton for third place in the Class 4 state tournament Thursday at Sky Bacon Stadium in Ozark.

DUSTIN DANNER Sports Reporter To formally cap the boys tennis season, Excelsior Springs coach Richie Marsh and his Tigers celebrated with some barbecue. Feasting on pulled pork and turkey provided by Wabash BBQ, along with side dishes and desserts provided by their parents, the Tigers staged their end-of-season banquet Tuesday at the high school.

Excelsior Springs’ track and field season is complete. The Tigers finished their season at Class 4 state competition, held May 26-27 at Jefferson City High School.

An Excelsior Springs basketball player is moving on to the collegiate level. Rakai Gantt, who graduated May 12 from Excelsior Springs High School, recently signed a letter of intent to play at McPherson (Kan.) College, an NAIA school affiliated with the Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference.

At roughly 6:53 p.m. Tuesday, Excelsior Springs varsity baseball coach Aaron Holst and his Tigers knew they would play at least one more ballgame this season.

Gavin Wilmes and Dalton Layton will finish their respective high school track and field careers at a state meet. Wilmes and Layton, both of whom graduated recently from Excelsior Springs, will compete this weekend at Class 4 state competition at Jefferson City High School.