The Bowie and Nocona High School softball programs both started practices on Jan. 20.
Bowie head coach Brant Farris is his third season as coach, and his assistants are Miranda Wolsey and Breanna Jones.
Friday was the first allowable date for practices as set by the University Interscholastic League, the state’s sanctioning body on scholastic sports.
Bowie will have several scrimmages in preparation for the season ahead, against S&S Consolidated-Sadler on Jan. 31 at the high school, with junior varsity at 4:30 p.m. and then varsity at 6:30 p.m.
On Feb. 6, Bowie will play at Wichita Falls Rider with the same time format, and varsity also will scrimmage at Pilot Point on Feb. 11.
Bowie’s regular-season opener will take place from Feb. 23-25 with its own tournament. The team also will compete at the Johnson County and Fort Worth Christian Tournaments.
The District 3A-8 opener is set for March 7 at Holliday.
Bowie and Nocona will play each other on March 28 (at Bowie) and April 21 (at Nocona). Read more from this notebook in the Jan. 18 Bowie News.

Softball. (Metro art, used with permission)