With the calendar now on the month of August, that signals time for fall sports practices to commence not only in Owensville but throughout the state of Missouri.

Dustin Howard’s Owensville Dutchmen football team will be the first fall orange and black squad to begin preparing for their season with weight room sessions next Monday through Friday from 6:30-7:30 a.m.

They will then hold practice sessions on the Dutchmen Field turf from 3:30-5:30 p.m., every day next week.

Howard will open his first season as Dutchmen football head coach with a Highway 19 road showdown on Friday, Aug. 25 against Cuba’s Wildcats with a 7 p.m., kickoff.

Two weeks later, Howard’s Dutchmen will make their first appearance in front of their home fans on Friday, Sept. 8 when Warrenton’s Warriors visit Owensville for the first time since the 2000 when they handed the orange and black at 14-6 loss in their season opener.

Matt Candrl’s Owensville Dutchmen and Dutchgirl cross country teams will begin their pursuits of the Missouri State High School Activities Association (MSHSAA) Cross Country Championships on Monday with their first practice being held from 8-9:30 a.m., at Bushmann Park.

OHS and OMS Cross Country will open their season over the Labor Day holiday weekend on Saturday, Sept. 2 at the New Haven Invitational Cross Country meet in their city park.

Jamie Ridenhour’s Owensville Dutchgirl volleyball team will hold tryouts for their freshmen, junior varsity and varsity squads from 8-11 a.m., on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday of next week inside the OHS main gym.

After teams are selected, they will also practice next Thursday from 8-11 a.m., with next Friday’s practice times yet to be determined as of press time.

Hannah Koppelmann’s Owensville Dutchgirl softball team will kick off their opening practice week on Monday at OHS Field going from 5-7:30 p.m.

On Tuesday and Thursday they will practice from 5-7 p.m., while going from 3:30-5:30 p.m., on Wednesday and on Friday afternoon from 12:30-2:30 p.m.

Dutchgirl softball will compete in a preseason jamboree on Friday, Aug. 18 in St. James before opening their regular season on Friday, Aug. 24 and Saturday, Aug. 25 at the Peoples Bank Back to School Softball Classic hosted by Sullivan High School at the Campbell-Chapman Sports Complex.

Koppelmann’s Dutchgirls will open the home portion of their schedule on Tuesday, Sept. 5 in a Gasconade County diamond showdown against Hermann’s Lady Bearcats at OHS Field with a 4:30 p.m., first pitch.