Now that the calendar has turned to the month of August, fall sports practice throughout Missouri and in particular Gasconade County are less than a week away from kicking off.

Kicking things off in Owensville will be Randy Crowe’s Owensville Dutchmen football team looking to snap a losing streak that has reached 21 games with their last win coming back in 2023 over Lutheran South in the opening round of the Missouri State High School Activities Association (MSHSAA) Class 3, District 2 Tournament.

Crowe’s Dutchmen will practice from 6:30-9:30 a..m, on Monday, Wednesday and Friday while going from 6:30-10:30 a.m., on Tuesday and Thursday during week one of fall sports practices starting on Monday, Aug. 10.

Only nine practices will remain before the Dutchmen host their preseason jamboree on Friday, Aug. 21 against Linn, Fulton, South Callaway, Hermann and Russellville.

Owensville’s regular-season opener will be on Friday, Aug. 28 when Eldon’s Mustangs comes to Dutchmen Field for Alumni Night where past Owensville High School (OHS) football players, cross country runners, cheerleaders and band members will be recognized along with the observance of the 20th anniversary of the 2006 Dutchmen football team reaching the state championship game.

Jamie Ridenhour’s Owensville Dutchgirl volleyball team will also go in the morning all of next week holding practice from 8-11 a.m., on Monday through Wednesday while also holding practice from 8-10:30 a.m., on Thursday and Friday after three days of tryouts have concluded.

Ridenhour’s volleyball Dutchgirls will have their preseason jamboree on Tuesday, Aug. 25 at Sullivan against the host Lady Eagles and Potosi Lady Trojans.

Hannah Koppelmann’s Owensville Dutchgirl softball team will begin their quest for another district title game appearance next week practicing from 8-10 a.m., all week at OHS Field.

OHS Field will also host a preseason jamboree on Saturday, Aug. 22 against Hermann, St. Clair and St. James.

Matt Candrl’s OHS Cross Country squads will start their quest for another trip to the MSHSAA Cross Country Championships at Columbia’s Gans Creek Cross Country Course with practices from 8-10 a.m., each day next week at Buschmann Park.

Candrl’s OHS harriers will open their season with a home tri-meet on Saturday, Aug. 29 hosting Fatima and St. Francis Borgia.

Moving up to northern Gasconade County, Tess (Schannuth) Yoggerst’s Hermann Lady Bearcat volleyball team will begin their quest for an 11th consecutive trip to the MSHSAA Volleyball Championships in St. Joseph later this fall with practice sessions next week from 8-11 a.m., every day.

Hermann High School (HHS) volleyball will compete in their preseason jamboree on Tuesday, Aug. 25 against Helias (Jefferson City) and Marshfield.

Jed Leeper’s Hermann Bearcat football team will start their preparation for the upcoming fall season next week going from 6-8:15 p.m., each night at Bearcat Memorial Stadium.

After competing in preseason jamboree action at Owensville on Friday, Aug. 21, Hermann will trek north to Montgomery City for their annual Highway 19 cat fight with the Montgomery County Wildcats on Friday, Aug. 28 at 7 p.m., at Montgomery County High School.

Chris Leibach’s Hermann Lady Bearcat softball team who is in a cooperative agreement with New Haven High School this fall will begin their practice sessions every night next week from 6-8:15 p.m., at Dick Ochsner Ball Park in Hermann.

Traveling to Owensville for their preseason jamboree on Saturday, Aug. 22, Hermann will open the regular season on Monday, Aug. 31 hosting South Callaway’s Lady Bulldogs at 4:30 p.m., at Dick Ochsner Ball Park.

Keely Uthlaut’s HHS Cross Country squads will practice from 7-9 a.m., meeting at the HHS track.

They will open their season over Labor Day weekend on Saturday, Sept. 5 at the New Haven Invitational.