Sports

Avalon, Palmer, Italy, Rice, Ferris return next weekend

Ennis Cross Country starts this week and beating the heat will be their first obstacle. Beginning at 6:30 a.m. on Monday, July 28, harriers will get after it in 90-minutes of conditioning. Once acclimated to the hot weather, runners will then focus on beating the clock.

Ennis opens with challenging tune-ups

New volleyball HC Isaac Esqueda is weeks away from opening his first-ever varsity camp. His theme could be determined by the meaning of his Spanish last name.

X-men; Xavier, Hendrix, roar in leading roles

Upward has been the direction of Ennis Boys Soccer in recent years. The turnout at informal workouts in recent days, with near 90 in attendance, is enough to illustrate the high interest in the sport.

Six Ennis baseball or softball teams, all of them who played this spring at Bluebonnet Park, qualified for the state tournament. Brian Norton’s Ennis Lions, who faced other baseball teams in the Age 14 & Under division, finished higher of the other five teams.

A softball up-and-comer, Caitlin Malone, is a pitcher and first baseman for the Toons team. On Wednesday, she struckout nine opposing batters. When not in the circle, she plays at first base.

Starting four years at quarterback for Italy High School, led Gared Wood to accepting a scholarship from Idaho State University of the Big Sky Conference. One of only a few Ellis County players to earn such an offer, Wood will suit up as a wide receiver. The Tigers are in the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision.

Volte-face move returns Smith to North Texas