As high school basketball heads into the postseason and winter begins to give way to spring, another group of high school athletes are preparing to dust off their cleats, balls and other equipment and brush up their skills in preparation for spring sports.

We encourage you to support our spring student-athletes in the coming season. Although football and basketball often take center stage when we think about high school athletics, the spring season might be the busiest of all, so let’s take the opportunity to cheer on these students and their coaches.

Baseball and softball are strong in Franklin County, with each county high school and Russellville High School fielding teams. We’ve also got teams at Northwest Shoals Community College again. From the crack of the bat to the cloud of dust as a player slides into home, the sights and sounds of these diamond sports are almost synonymous with spring. Whether you’re in it for the peanuts and cracker jacks or the action on the field, baseball and softball give us plenty to be excited about this spring. Root, root, root for the home team!

A few other sports are popular in our local high schools as well. For one, soccer is becoming firmly established in Franklin County prep sports. Russellville first established boys and girls soccer programs in 2017, and Tharptown has fielded teams the past several years too. This sport is likely to continue to grow.

Rounding out spring offerings for local student-athletes are tennis, golf and track. Students across Franklin County are involved in these sports and often bring home state titles as proof of their skill and dedication.

We hope you will take every chance to cheer them on and congratulate them on their successes.

With the return of sunshine as spring approaches – sure it’s still a little way off, but are we the only ones counting down the days? – watching spring sports is the perfect way to both enjoy the outdoors and show support for our young student-athletes.