Throughout the rest of October, conference titles will be up for grabs throughout Gasconade, Maries and Osage counties.

Ending up in a four-way tie last year, the Four Rivers Conference (FRC) football race got a little more complicated after this past Friday night.

Sullivan’s 20-12 victory over Hermann gave the Bearcats their first football loss overall and in FRC play.

St. Clair’s Bulldogs now remain the lone unbeaten team in terms of FRC action.

In an ironic turn of events, Sullivan will be rooting for Hermann to keep them in the FRC title hunt because the Bearcats will pay a visit this Friday night to St. Clair to face the host Bulldogs.

A Hermann victory in Franklin County Friday night would give the Bearcats, Bulldogs and Eagles each one FRC loss as long as Sullivan takes care of business on the road during their Interstate 44 showdown with St. James’ Tigers.

FRC volleyball is still to early to call with Pacific, Union and St. Clair all yet to suffer a loss to a conference opponent.

Union’s Lady Wildcats claimed an outright FRC title in softball following a win over FRC juggernaut Sullivan.

Last Wednesday in Cuba, one point decided the Gasconade Valley Conference (GVC) girls cross country team title while three points decided the GVC boys team title.

Fielding both boys and girls teams for the first time in known memory, Belle’s Lady Tigers and Tigers nearly pulled off a GVC sweep last Wednesday at Hood Park during the annual GVC Cross Country Meet held in conjunction with the Cuba Invitational Cross Country meet.

Belle’s Lady Tigers were edged by Steelville by one point while the Tigers were also nipped by Steelville by a three-point margin.

Vienna’s Eagles and Lady Eagles hosted the inaugural Show-Me Central Conference (SMCC) Cross Country meet last night (Tuesday) at Vienna City Park marking the first time they will not compete for a GVC title in over four decades.

Joining Vienna as the other Warden Publishing school competing in the SMCC will be Chamois’ Pirates.

Both the Pirates and Eagles have strong cases to make themselves as worthy SMCC champions.

St. Clair High School will also play host to the annual FRC Cross Country meet on Tuesday, Oct. 15 in Franklin County with Owensville and Hermann both looking to increase their chances of postseason success not only there but in early November during the Missouri State High School Activities Association (MSHSAA) Class 3, District 3 meet at Fulton High School.

Joining the two Gasconade County schools at Fulton for district will be fellow Warden Publishing schools Linn, Chamois, Fatima, Belle and Vienna.

Linn Lady Wildcat softball claimed the inaugural Central State 8 (CS8) Softball title with an undefeated 6-0 record.

With seeds for area district softball tournaments coming out either today (Wednesday) or tomorrow (Thursday) the coming weeks throughout October should be filled with competitive and entertaining sporting events.