Sports

Football season is approaching in Excelsior Springs – and not just for the high school and middle school teams. The Excelsior Springs Football Association (ESFA) is assembling five teams this fall for grades 2-6.

Jake Zapata has two seasons left to achieve a goal that narrowly eluded him in his first two seasons of playing varsity boys soccer at Excelsior Springs High School.

Excelsior Springs student athletes and coaches are getting a breather of sorts this week.

Coach Kirk Thacker’s plans for starting Orrick’s final week of varsity 8-man football team camp Monday got changed. Normally, Thacker and his Bearcats hold camp sessions outside.

Josie Casler has her athletic goals set for this school year at Excelsior Springs High School – and beyond. Casler, who’ll start her sophomore year when classes get underway in August, is a returning letterwinner in two sports at Excelsior Springs.

On Tuesday, Lucas Dillman fulfilled a dream, one that many young baseball players have: He played in a Major League Baseball stadium. Dillman, who graduated this spring from Excelsior Springs High School, achieved his dream by playing in the Ban Johnson League All-Star Game at Kauffman Stadium.

Sometimes, rivals on the playing field can be great friends who come together for a special cause. Such was the case July 21 in Excelsior Springs, when softball alumni from Excelsior Springs and Richmond faced off in a benefit game to help the family of Presley Minnick.

Last week, nearly 80 Excelsior Springs youngsters learned some of the skills they’ll need to be football players. On July 12 and 13, football coaches and players with the Excelsior Springs High School program worked with aspiring players in grades K-6 at Vic Bonuchi Field at Tiger Stadium.

Over the weekend, the ES Cyclones did something many sports teams don’t get to do – finish the season with a win. The Cyclones finished by winning the title game for the 16-and-under A Division Sunday night at the Heartland World Series.

Playing sports can bring friends and families together, as members of the Pride 14-and-under softball team will attest. The team’s core group is built upon two sets of cousins and local friends who’ve played together for seven seasons.