Sports

All six Van Zandt County football teams began preparing for the 2023 season July 31 as practices were held during the heat and humidity. The Van Vandals were among those squads working out.

All six Van Zandt County football teams began preparing for the 2023 season July 31 as practices were held during the heat and humidity. The Canton Eagles, Van Vandals and Wills Point Tigers were among those squads working out. Van held its annual Red/White Intersquad Scrimmage Aug. 4 and will open their 2023 regular season schedule at home against Pine Tree in a 7:30 p.m. kickoff Friday, Aug. 25. Among those in attendance for the first Vandal football practice of the new season was Head Coach Jared Moffatt’s dog, ‘Buck.’

DAVID KAPITAN sports@vanzandtnews.com The Canton Eagle baseball program has been among the best and most consistent in the area for decades, winning district titles and making lengthy playoff runs on an almost annual basis. That sus- tained success has included multiple players that have gone on to play collegiately.

A standing room only crowd of around 500 were in attendance May 1 to witness a number of athletes receive recognition during the annual Van All-Sports Banquet at the Van High School Cafetorium. VHS Athletic Director Jared Moffatt welcomed those in attendance as he presented the opening remarks following the dinner.

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Van Zandt County track and field athletes representing Canton and Martins Mill hit the road last week, traveling to Myers Stadium on the University of Texas Austin to compete in this year’s State Track and Field Meet.

The Canton Eagles saw their 2023 season draw to a close in the Area round of the playoffs last week, dropping two of three games against a Liberty-Eylau team currently riding the high of an explosive offense.

The Canton Eaglette softball team saw another dream season draw to a close last week, falling to a talented Farmersville program in the Regional Quarterfinals. Despite the disappointing finish the Eaglettes would etch their name into the school’s record, winning the program’s first-ever district title, setting a high-water mark for wins in a season with 30 and reaching the Regional Quarterfinals for the second year in a row.

The Edgewood Bulldogs saw their 2023 baseball campaign come to a heartbreaking finish May 13 as they lost to Scurry- Rosser in the regional round of the Class 3A state baseball playoffs, 4-3, in the decisive third game of a best out of three series.