Well, it’s here — the start of the 2024-25 high school athletic season.

High school football practice and fast-pitch softball will begin Monday, while cross country is slated to start at the end of next week for Muldrow, Central and Roland. The Rangers and Lady Rangers will have cross country for the first time in school history this fall.

I have one fall seasonpreview story in today’s edition, and I look to have more in the coming weekly editions.

I’m getting hot and heavy into getting ready for the fall sports.

I sent you high school softball fast-pitch softball coaches as well as all you cross country coaches your respective questionnaires to fill out and return to me, or give them to me at your respective photo/media day.

I’ll be getting with you local high school football coaches, who I have not set up a date and time for a photograph/ media day, to set up such a day and time for me to come get your respective team photographs and individual headshots.

Some of you coaches already have scheduled your photography days — and I have already had those days take place. I truly thank you all.

••• Boy, was there some wheeling and dealing by the time 5 p.m. July 30 rolled around — the deadline for Major League Baseball teams to make trades to help bolster their squad for a postseason push.

Last week, I mentioned several “blockbuster” deals that happened, but even more happened after last week’s edition was printed.

The “blockbuster” trades that happened after last week’s edition was finished on July 29 for publication last Wednesday.

On July 29, the St. Louis Cardinals, the Chicago White Sox and the Dodgers were part of a three-way deal. The Cardinals got former player Tommy Pham and pitcher Erick Fedde from the ChiSox, who sent pitcher Michael Kopech to the Dodgers. L.A. got currentlyinjured Cardinal player Tommy Edman, who has yet to play this season due to off-season wrist surgery. The Dodgers sent infielder Miguel Vargas to Chicago, which also got two of the Dodgers’ top 30 prospects — infielders Jeral Perez and Alexander Albertus.

Also on July 29, the Seattle Mariners got Justin Turner from the Toronto Blue Jays. The Dodgers acquired Detroit starting pitcher Jack Flaherty and Toronto center fielder Kevin Kiermaier on July 30, but it was their National League West Division rival San Diego Padres who did even more wheeling and dealing.

The Padres acquired Miami closer Tanner Scott and his teammate, relief pitcher Bryan Hoeing, as well as getting Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Martin Perez.

The Cleveland Guardians not only got Washington Nationals outfielder Lane Thomas on July 29, but they also got San Francisco Giants pitcher Alex Cobb on July 30. By the way, am I the only one who still struggles in still wanting to call Thomas’ and Cobb’s new team the Indians?

The Pirates, one of the pleasant surprises this season, also got involved in the wheeling and dealing as they acquired Colorado Rockies veteran southpaw Jalen Beeks on July 29, then just a day later got Miami outfielder Bryan De La Cruz.

Also on July 29, the Milwaukee Brewers got Cincinnati Reds pitcher Frankie Montas, while Milwaukee’s former MLB team, the (now Atlanta) Braves, dealt for San Francisco outfielder Jorge Soler and pitcher Luke Jackson.

On July 30, the Orioles acquired pitcher Trevor Rogers from the Marlins, who also dealt first baseman Josh Bell to the Arizona Diamondbacks. Also on that same day, the O’s acquired Chicago White Sox outfielder Eloy Jimenez.

Also on July 30, the Kansas City Royals got Oakland Athletics pitcher Lucas Erceg and Chicago White Sox shortstop Paul DeJong.

In other trades occurring July 30, the Mets got Oakland pitcher Paul Blackburn, while the defending World Series champion Texas Rangers acquired Detroit pitcher Andrew Chafin.

Although they way back in the American League wild card standings, the Rays acquired St. Louis outfielder Dylan Carlson on July 30, the same day in which the Diamondbacks got Washington pitcher Dylan Floro and the Giants got Detroit first baseman/outfielder Mark Canha.

Also on July 30, Angels’ long reliever Luis Garcia went to the Boston Red Sox.

There were a lot more trades than these, but these were the ones that stood out to me as “blockbuster” trades.

Now, we’ll see if the gambles these teams took will pay off come late September and into October.

••• Last Wednesday, we got to witness one of our regional college’s stars help his new team. Former Oklahoma State Cowboy and 2022 Major League Baseball Draft selection Jackson Holliday, brother of current OSU baseball coach Josh Holliday and son of former Major League Baseball player Matt Holliday, hit his first-ever grand-slam home run for his current team, the Baltimore Orioles, as they defeated the Toronto Blue Jays 10-4. Jackson Holliday just had been recalled from the minor leagues, and he capped his return to the O’s in grand style. Congratulations to Jackson.

••• The 2024 Summer Olympic Games are in its stretch drive as they will end next weekend. So far, as of Monday morning, Team USA has won the most medals of any country with 75 — 19 gold, 29 silver and 27 bronze. China leads in gold medals won with 21.

Simone Biles and Katie Ledecky have shined once more for the United States, making them two of the best — if not the best two ever — U.S. Olympians. Congratulations to all Team USA Olympic medalists to this point.

•••

Seeley is the sports editor of The Eastern Times-Register. He can be reached by telephone at (918) 775-4433, Ext. 139 or by e-mail at davids@ cookson.news.