Grizzlies welcome Cave Springs, Dewar for lone preseason scrimmage

The Gans Grizzlies will get their only chance to fine tune things for the 2023 season when they welcome Cave Springs and Dewar for a three-way scrimmage beginning at 6 p.m. today at Grizzly Field.

“We’ve got some new personnel,” Gans coach Brian Morton said. “We’re going to try to find the best spots for these guys. There’s going to be a few guys we know who will really contribute, and we know there are guys we can bounce around to give them a look (at different positions). We’ve got some guys who we’re expecting a lot from, so we’re going to limit some time on some of these guys to get some younger ones into the game (scrimmage) a little bit more just so we can get a good look at them overall.”

One thing Morton is very proud of is the enthusiasm his players are showing this preseason, and he hopes it carries into the regular season — which will begin at 7 p.m. next Friday on the road against Oaks.

“I feel like everybody is ready to go,” he said. “Dewar is one of the top programs in the state, and our kids were the ones who wanted to bring Dewar here (for the scrimmage). That tells me the mentality is starting to change here. The mentality of our kids is changing. The kids are wanting to step up and play stronger competition, and they feel like they’re ready for it.”

If there is one key thing Morton is hoping to see out of his Grizzlies in tonight’s three-way scrimmage is being more physical than in past seasons.

“We need to show we’re more physical this year,” Morton said. “I know our skill players are stronger. They’re more developed than what we’ve had in the past, but we’ve got to be able to show we’re going to be more physical on the field. If we can do that right there, then we’ll be halfway there.”