Volleyball teams in pre-season jamborees

It’s hot outside, but that won’t stop the local high school football teams from opening summer practice this week. Both Lord Botetourt and James River will take to the field Thursday for the first time.

Lord Botetourt will practice from 7:30 a.m. to 2:15 p.m. on Thursday, Friday and Saturday of this week, with a break in the middle. The Cavaliers will have the same schedule on Monday and Tuesday of next week.

James River will practice from 4-9 p.m., with a break in the middle, on Thursday and Friday. River will go from 4 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday of next week.

The Knights will have their first scrimmage on August 11, away against Rockbridge and Bath County. LB will scrimmage at Dinwiddie on August 12, and the Knights and Cavs will play each other in a Benefit Game on Friday, August 18.

Volleyball practice is also set to begin. LB will participate in the Rockbridge Jamboree on August 12, while River will host a jamboree on August 19. That will include Hidden Valley, Riverheads, Jefferson Forest, Northside, Fort Defiance and Patrick Henry.

The golf season will begin a week from today, on August 2, as LB hosts a Blue Ridge District “mini-match” at the Botetourt Golf & Swim Club at 1 p.m. James River will open August 7 in the Heritage Invitational at London Downs in Lynchburg.

The cross country teams won’t open for another month. River will run in the Great Meadow Invitational on August 26, while LB won’t take the gun until the Knights Crossing event, hosted by Cave Spring, on September 9.