Stories for 8/26

Summer is officially over as of tomorrow, when teams are allowed to start playing real games. And the newspapers are ramping up their coverage as well. As you can see below, Wednesday's stories meet a full range of interests. Also, we've added the Placer Herald to the newspaper links down the right side of the web site. Thanks to Brad Ahlf for the information.

Grant High football player Viliama Moala has been named to the MaxPreps.com preseason al-state team. Moala, a massive lineman, is one of only two juniors on the team. For the story, click here.

The Placer football team is poised for another strong season after advancing to the Section Division IV championship game last year. See Bill Paterson's story in the SacBee here.

The Elk Grove Citizen's "Two-A-Days" high school football previews continue. For a preview story on Jesuit, click here. For a preview story on Valley, click here.

The Sonora Union Democrat's Kevin Sauls has preview stories on the Sonora boys and girls water polo teams. For the boys story, click here. For the girls story, click here.

It's Capital Christian's turn to be previewed in the ESPN/CalHiSports.com high school football preview series. For the story, click here.

The Placer volleyball team advanced to the Section Division III semifinals for the first time in school history last year. And with seven seniors returning, the Hillgals are looking higher. For Todd Mordhorst's story in the Auburn Journal, click here.

Auburn Journal sports columnist Dan Krizman has a story catching up with former Placer standout Lindsay Hyatt, who won four state titles in the 800-meter dash in the late 1990s. See Krizman's story here.

The Vintage boys soccer team is hosting its annual season-opening tournament this weekend. For the Napa Valley Register's story by Marty James, click here.

The Sacramento Bee is reporting that one of the two major high school football showcases scheduled for this season, the West Coast Classic, has been canceled. See Bill Paterson's story here.

NOTES: The Escalon Times has a handful of pictures of the first week of practice at Escalon High here. ... Leslie Marley has been named the new athletic director at Armijo. See the story here. ... Galt's football field has getting a renovation. See the story here. ... Oakmont graduate Rachael Ramsey is the new volleyball coach at her alma mater. See the story here. ... Five football teams in the Modesto area have scrimmages this weekend. For the story, click here. ... Fall practice is in full swing at Oakdale High. Check out the Oakdale Leader story here. ... The Tracy Press has a preview story on the West and Tracy girls tennis teams here.