Email your sports events, youth league registration and other metro-east recreation news to nsanders@bnd.com, send a fax to 236-9773 or mail them to News-Democrat, P.O. Box 427, 120 S. Illinois St., Belleville, IL 62222.
BASEBALL
INSTRUCTIONAL CAMP -- Belleville Parks & Recreation Department and Lindenwood University-Belleville will host a youth baseball camp for players in grades 2-8 Nov. 17-18. Instructors are Lindenwood coaches and players and include training in hitting, pitching, catching, fielding and running. Fee: $50 for one session, $75 for two sessions and $100 for three sessions. To register, call 277-9785 or 233-1416.
TEAM MASCOUTAH -- Team Mascoutah Baseball Organization has openings for its 9-under through 14-under teams for the 2013 season. For tryout information on all teams, call Frank Smith at 698-2967 or email teammascoutah9u@yahoo.com.
BLUE SOX TRYOUTS -- The Blue Sox Baseball Club select program will hold tryouts for its 9-under, 10-under and 11-under teams for the 2012 fall and 2013 spring seasons. Interested players from the O'Fallon and Shiloh area should forward player information (age as of May 1, 2013, position, etc.) and contact info to otownbluesox@gmail.com.
COLLINSVILLE EXTREME -- Collinsville Extreme 12-under team is looking for a middle infielder, preferably one that can pitch, for the 2013 season. call Coach Lyday at 314-70407481 or email basethreat2@sbcglobal.net. The Collinsville Extreme 14-under team has an opening for a pitcher and an assistant coach for the 2012-13 season. Call Coach Phelps at 789-5132 or email phelpsbandt@att.net.
BASEBALL, SOFTBALL LESSONS -- The Batter's Box in Belleville is offering baseball and softball lessons in hitting, pitching and fielding. 207-4549.
BASKETBALL
JETS TRYOUTS -- The Jets Basketball Club will be holding tryouts for the 2012-13 season Nov, 18 at Belleville West High School. Grade 3-4 Boys and Grade 6-7 Girls: 1-2:30 p.m.; Grade 7 Boys and Grade 8 Gils: 2:30-4 p.m.; Grade 8 Boys: 4-5:30 p.m. Players should arrive 30 minutes before tryout begins. Dana Morgan, 514-9893 or email morgan.dana3@gmail.com
PLAYER DEVELOPMENT -- FSP Thunder coach Britt Booker, a former player at Colorado State, and Gibault High coach Dennis Rueter are offering a player development program. Coaches will focus on basketball-specific skills and drills but also stress quickness, jumping and strength. Program on Sunday evenings with each sessions limited to 12 players. For more information, call 277-7111.
GIRLS SKILLS-DRILLS -- The Family Sportsplex in Belleville is hosting a girls basketball skills and drills session coached by Southwestern Illinois College women's basketball coach Mike Juenger. 277-7111 or visit www.familysportsplex.com.
GENERAL
METRO-EAST RETIRED COACHES LUNCHEON -- The annual luncheon for Southwestern Illinois retired coaches, officials, athletic directors and school administrators is set for 10:30 a.m. Oct. 16 at Schiappa's Restaurant on the eastern edge of O'Fallon. Guest speaker is St. Louis University baseball coach Darin Hendrickson. To register, call Otto Daech at 345-6792.
HORSESHOE TOURNEYS -- Horseshoe Tournaments will be held Nov. 4, Nov. 18, Dec. 2 and Dec. 16 along with dates through April, 2013 on Sundays beginning at 11 a.m. Fee: $10. Gives an opportunity to get qualified for the world or state tournaments. Dave Shreve, 910-8558 or email hrshuz@charter.net.
GOLF
GOLF LEAGUE -- Thursday Night Men's League, a team match-play league, now forming at The Prairies of Cahokia. Wes Bell, 332-6944.
SEPT. 11 MEMORIAL WALKWAY TOURNAMENT -- Sept. 11 Memorial Walkway four-person scramble 11 a.m. Oct. 19 at Orchards Golf Club in Belleville. Fee: $80 per person; $320 per team with Proceeds will support the constrution of the September 11 Memorial Walkway of Southern Illinois at Illinois 15 and 159 in Belleville. Contests, 50/50, silent auction, attendance prizes. Dinner at Silver Creek Saloon in Belleville. 233-2015.
RANDY WELLS TOURNEY -- Fourth annual Randy Wells Foundation Golf Tournament four-person scramble at noon Oct. 26 at The Orchards in Belleville. This year's tourney will benefit Tori Riley, a 24-year-old O'Fallon women diagnosed with stage 4 colon cancer. Fee: $200 per person includes golf, lunch, beer on the course, prize bag and ticket to the after-tournament VIP party at 9 p.m. at Silver Creek Saloon featuring Whiskey Dixon. Tickets for the VIP party only are $50. Sponsorship packages also available. To register or for more information, call Deanna Kenisell at 615-469-5905 or 832-428-5283, or email deanna@BigHeartedBabes.com.
WITCHES-WARLOCKS TOURNEY -- Witches and Warlocks 2-person Couples modified scramble tourney 10:30 a.m. Oct. 28 at The Hills Golf Club in Lebanon. Fee: $55 per person includes lunch, supper, prize money, skin game and practice round. Limited to first 32 foursomes. 537-4590.
CHILI OPEN -- Chili Open tourney with tough pin placement and tee locations 9 a.m. Nov. 10 and Nov. 11 at The Hills Golf Club in Lebanon. Play either day or both, $55 includes golf, chili, skin game and prize money. 537-4590.
CROSSOVER BACKWARDS TOURNEY -- Crossover Backwards Tourney 9 a.m. Nov. 3 at The Hills Golf Club in Lebanon. Fee: $50 includes golf, food, skin game and prize money. 537-4590.
RUNNING
FRIGHTFUL FALL FINALE -- O'Fallon YMCA hosting the Frightful Fall Finale 5K, 10K and 15K run 8 a.m. Oct. 20 with start and finish at 284 N. Seven Hills Road in O'Fallon. Runners encouraged to participate with masks, makeup and costumes. To register or for more information, call 628-7701, email Charlotte at cgreene@ymcaswil.org or register online at www.ymcaswil.org.
YMCA OZARKS BLUFF TRAIL RUN -- Second annual Monroe County YMCA Illinois Ozarks 10K Bluff Trail Run 9:30 a.m. Oct. 27 in Valmeyer. Race begins at Borsch Park in Valmeyer and runs through Salt Lick Point Land and Water Reserve. Fee: $30 before Oct. 8; $35 after. Becky Keightley, 281-9622 or email rkeightley@ymcaswil.org or visit www.ymcaswil.org and click on YMCA Race Series.
GINGERBREAD 5K RUN -- Belleville Parks & Recreation Department's annual Gingerbread 5K Run is 8:30 a.m. Dec. 1 in downtown Belleville. Race host is former Olympic distance runner Craig Virgin from Lebanon, a 2011 USA National Track & Field Hall of Fame inductee. Fee: $20 adults, $15 for 18-under; late entry fee or race day fee is $25. To register, call 233-1416 or visit 510 W. Main St., in Belleville from 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.
SOCCER
ELITE FT -- Elite FT offering a six-week program in Alton (Nautilus), Glen Carbon (The Sports Academy) and O'Fallon (Vetta). Programs offered include strength and speed for athletes of all sports for ages 6 to 18; individual/team training; Juniors soccer for ages 2 to 7; soccer skills ages 8 to 14. New indoor classes start every 7 weeks. Call 972-1830, email info@eliteft.com or visit www.EliteFT.com.
Softball
SWAT 14-UNDER -- Girls select fast-pitch team is seeking a pitcher and position player. League games at Laderman Park in Belleville, plus four to six tournaments. 559-9577 or email Swatsoftball@gmx.com.
METRO-EAST SHOXX -- Metro-East Shoxx 18-under girls select team seeking a pitcher and infielder for the 2013 season. Email shoxxsoftball1@yahoo.com for more information.
K&R LIGHTNING -- Greenville-based K&R Lightning girls traveling fast-pitch teams will hold tryouts for the 2013 season for its 10-under and 14-under teams at the club's training facility in Greenville. Randy Brown, 267-9384.
MIDWEST FREEDOM -- Midwest Freedom 16-under girls select fastpitch team seeking players for the fall 2012 and summer 2013 season. For a tryout, call 401-3214.
SOUTHERN ILLINOIS FALCONS -- Southern Illinois Falcons 12-under select fast-pitch team needs an experienced pitcher and catcher for the 2013 season. To schedule a tryout, call Brad Ragland at 444-9644 or Jeff Mueller at 223-0293, or email bjragland68@yahoo.com. Southern Illinois Falcons 10-under select fast-pitch team needs one pitcher to complete its roster for this fall and the 2013 season. To schedule a tryout, call Jay Ozier at 781-4142 or email jay@officecenters.com.
LADY HURRICANES -- Highland Lady Hurricanes 14-under girls select team is seeking players for the 2013 season. Second-year 14-under team plays in Collinsville League and four to six tournaments. Jerry Holzinger, 781-4065 or email jaholzinger@plocherco.com, or call Kent Lewis at 910-8957 or email kllewis1965@gmail.com.
DYNAMITE -- The Dynamite 12-under girls select fastpitch team has openings for the 2012-13 season, especiall for a No. 1 pitcher. To schedule a tryout, call Dan Klostermann at 882-5842 or 314-517-9690 or email dkloster1@gmail.com. More information available at www.eteamz.com/dynamite.
MIDWEST FREEDOM -- Midwest Freedom girls select fast-pitch team holding 14-under and 16-under tryouts for fall league, summer league and five summer tournaments. For a tryout, call 401-3214 or email proskreen@proskreen.com.
TOMAHAWKS -- Tomahawks girls fast-pitch organization located in O'Fallon has openings for 16-under and 10-under players for the 2012-13 season. Wayne Bendall, 407-5061.
COLLINSVILLE EXTREME -- Collinsville Extreme 18-under Gold girls select fastpitch team has one open roster spot. Jen Stahlhut at 558-2931 or email js428@evansville.edu. The Collinsville Extreme 14-under team is seeking a pitcher and catcher for the 2012-13 season. Coach Murphy, 791-8403 or email j.murph312@gmail.com.
TENNIS
ST. CLAIR FALL PROGRAMS -- St. Clair Tennis in O'Fallon offering a Junior Program for ages 4-17 with after-school and Saturday morning classes available. The Excellence on the East Side program is for juniors who play in tournaments and high school tennis; focus on fitness, nutrition and mental training along with weekly competitive play session. Also available are adult beginner lessons, leagues and cardio tennis programs. Private and semi-private lessons also available. 632-1400 or visit www.stclairtennis.com.
VOLLEYBALL
SW ILLINOIS TRYOUTS -- The Southwest Illinois Volleyball Club has scheduled tryouts for the 2012-13 season at the Southwestern Illinois College intramural gym in Belleville: Girls 11-under, 12-under: noon-2 p.m. Oct. 28; Girls 13-under: 6-8 p.m. Oct. 26, 4-6 p.m. Oct. 28; Girls 14-under: 8-10 p.m. Oct. 26; 2-4 p.m. Oct. 28. Tryout fee: $10. For more information call Jeff Juenger, 971-8395.
SW ILLINOIS OPEN GYM -- The Southwest Illinois Volleyball Club will be hosting two open gym sessions for girls trying out for its 14-under teams this season from 4-6 p.m. Oct. 14 and Oct. 21 at Whiteside Junior High in Belleville. A signed waiver is required. Fee: $5. For more information, email Dave Boeger at dboeg@sbcglobal.net.
YOUTH LEAGUE -- City of Belleville Parks & Recreation Department accepting registration for a girls youth volleyball league for players in grades 5-6. League games are Friday nights at Laderman Park in Belleville. 233-1416 or 277-9785.
