There is no better time than now to be a sports fan, whether it be at the professional, collegiate or high school level.

If you’re a fan of Major League Baseball, this is the time when your No. 1 club could be making a late-season push toward the postseason. Unfortunately, Mariners fans, yes, it’s time to accept the fact the M’s are once again going to miss the playoffs.

If you follow the National Football League religiously, your squad is undefeated and Super Bowl dreams are still alive, regardless of how lofty those dreams may be. For the Seahawks and first-year man Jim Mora, there’s plenty of reason to be optimistic.

Down at the college level, it’s time to forecast how the Bowl Championship Series will ruin — or make — the season of some one-loss team that, if there were a playoff system, would probably be in the mix but not as a No. 1 seed. Regardless, there’s nothing better than college-football Saturdays and a little controversy.

High school is back in session, meaning our local athletes have hit the playing fields in hopes of big 2009 seasons. The greater Silverdale area has plenty to watch this fall, from football to cross country to girls soccer.

The Central Kitsap football team took this town by storm last fall with its remarkable run to the Class 4A state semifinals, becoming one of the final four teams standing and having the opportunity to play at the Tacoma Dome. It will be interesting to see how Mark Keels’ team, which this season is comprised of many new faces as well as a new offensive scheme, handles the new campaign after such a solid 2008.

Also on the gridiron, Olympic’s Larry Dixon is poised to break the West Sound rushing record. The workhorse running back, who appears destined to play somewhere at the next level, will carry a Trojan team that lost its first four games last season before bouncing back to make the playoffs. With Tim Albee stepping in for coach Eric Allen, who is battling cancer, expectations are high at Oly.

But there is so much more to watch in addition to football.

Central Kitsap running machine Shane Moskowitz, a senior, looks to pick up where he left off as a junior with another standout cross country season. He took second at the 2008 state cross country meet after winning league and district titles. This past spring, Moskowitz became the first male distance runner from Kitsap to win a state title in nearly 60 years, taking both the 1,600- and 3,200-meter races at the Class 4A state championships. It’s scary to think what he could do as a senior.

On the pitch, Central Kitsap, Olympic and Klahowya all have what should be competitive girls soccer teams. Talking to coach KSS coach Troy Oelschlager on the phone Wednesday, I got the feeling he is shooting big for 2009. The majority of last year’s playoff team is back and hungry for a state appearance. The Lady Eagles won the Class 2A state title in 1999.

Let’s not forget about volleyball, swimming and boys tennis, either. We were spoiled last fall on the volleyball scene, with the West Central District III 4A/3A/2A volleyball tournaments coming to the pavilion at the Kitsap County Fairgrounds, our own backyard.

Of course there are too many teams and athletes to mention in one column, but here’s to the high school coaches and athletes who make the fall sports season so great.

And let’s not forget about the junior high athletes, Pee Wee and JV players who may not be on the front page every week, but who are out there working just as hard as anyone.

See you on the sideline.