Central runners plan head start on campaign

~ The Tigers will have a practice session beginning just after midnight.

They won't run out to the roar of a packed arena, but Central cross country runners will get a chance to see what Midnight Madness feels like when the Tigers participate in an opening-day practice at Central beginning at 12:01 a.m. on Monday.

The team will make T-shirts to commemorate the program's first midnight practice. All-state runner Brittany Moreland came up with the idea last school year according to coach Mark Hahn.

"They think it's going to be fun, so we'll give it a shot," Hahn said.

While the Tigers' midnight practice will be optional and will include some fun elements, Hahn said the team will run.

"We're going to run, do our work quickly, and go home," Hahn said.

The midnight practice should give a reprieve from the recent run of sweltering weather, although that was not its intent. Central will have a mandatory practice from 6 to 8 p.m. on Monday.

"The 6 to 8 p.m. practice is generated by the weather, the midnight one, that's more for fun," Hahn said.

Monday marks the first day high school fall teams can officially begin practice. Among the sports starting that day are cross country, football, softball, boys soccer, volleyball, girls tennis and boys swimming.

Boys swimming previously was a winter sport.

The first day contests can be played is Monday, Aug. 21.

Amick adds baseball

Health concerns forced Scott City basketball coach Lance Amick to briefly take on a lesser role on the Rams' bench last season, but it appears those concerns are a thing of the past.

Amick will add to his duties this school year as the head baseball coach at Scott City.

Amick will take over for Mike Umfleet, who stepped down from his position after taking a principal job.

A former standout athlete at Scott City, Amick has been the head basketball coach the past three seasons.