The calendar has flipped to May, and while the month isn’t associated with football, those of you wanting to catch an early preview of the 2012 season will have your chance with spring jamborees.

Gaylesville and Spring Garden are scheduled to play at Valley Head on May 17 beginning at 6 p.m. The Trojans open the 2012 season on Aug. 30 at Cedar Bluff, while Spring Garden hosts Fayetteville on Aug. 31.

Collinsville will play at Geraldine against Fyffe and Crossville on May 17 at 7 p.m. The Panthers will open the 2012 season at home against Coosa Christian on Aug. 30 at 7 p.m.

The Cherokee County Warriors will host Scottsboro on May 18 at 7 p.m. The Warriors open the 2012 football season on Aug. 31 at Piedmont at 7 p.m.

Speaking of Piedmont, the Bulldogs won’t be having a spring jamboree this year. Their fall jamboree is set for Aug. 23 against Jacksonville.

Sand Rock’s spring game is at West End High School on May 24. The Wildcats will also have a fall jamboree at Cedar Bluff on Aug. 23 before opening the regular season at Pisgah on Aug. 31.

The area jamboree action concludes on May 25 when Cedar Bluff takes on Douglas at Cherokee County High School at 6 p.m.

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Former Sand Rock standout Justin Mackey, now playing baseball at Freed-Hardeman University in Henderson, Tenn., was recently named to the TranSouth All-Conference First Team. Mackey also garnered a spot on the conference Rawlings Gold Glove Team.

Mackey is batting .374 with 15 doubles, two triples, three home runs, 20 walks, 45 runs and 42 RBIs.

The Lions (36-21) recently won their first regular season conference championship in 15 years and received an at-large bid on Sunday to the opening round of the NAIA Baseball National Championships for the first time in school history.

Freed-Hardeman was placed in the Cleveland Bracket hosted by Lee (Tenn.) University. Lee is the No. 1 seed in the bracket while Freed-Hardeman is the No. 2 seed.

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The Green Machine recently won the Rimroccers Open Basketball Church League championship with an 84-64 victory over Sand Rock.

Malandro Chambers led the charge for the Green Machine with 23 points. Josh Fife added 18. Johnny Amison and David Barrett both finished ith 15 points. Chai Cowser chipped in 10 points.

Matt Graham led Sand Rock with 16 points. Justin Kyser came away with 13 points. Jake Ford contributed 12 points.

Green Machine led at halftime 34-28.

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Spring Garden’s Dalton Kerr shot a 90 and missed qualifying for the state golf tournament by two strokes as an individual at the Class 1A, Section 2 Golf Tournament at Silver Lakes in Glencoe last Tuesday.

Jay Prater shot a 94 for the Panthers, who carded a team score of 399 and missed the state tournament by four strokes.

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Spring Garden High School is hosting a “Future Champs Softball Camp” on May 26 from 12 p.m. until 2 p.m. at the Spring Garden softball field.

The camp is for girls ages 5-12 and will feature instruction by Jacksonville State University softball coach Jana McGinnis and Spring Garden softball coach Ann Welsh.

Following the camp, there will be competitions for fastest runner and strongest arm.

The cost is $30 per player. All proceeds go toward building an indoor softball facility for the Spring Garden softball team.

For more information, contact Brian Bryant at (256) 294-3088 or e-mail awelsh@cherokeek12.org.