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

CHRISTMAS BASEBALL CAMPS --FAC Sports and Southwestern Illinois College baseball coach Neil Fiala will hold a hitting camp 9-11:30 a.m. Dec. 26-28 and a pitchers-catchers-fielders camp from 12:30-2 p.m. Dec. 26-28 for players in grades 1-12 at the Southwestern Illinois College Intramural Gym in Belleville. Players will be placed with players of their own age and ability and be able to work on fundamental skills at each camp they attend. Instructors are Fiala, other professional payers and coaches. Fees: $75 for hitting camp, $50 for pitchers-catchers-fielders camp. 222-5371.

BACK-2-BACK BASEBALL/SOFTBALL TRAINING -- The Back-2-Back Baseball & Softball Training facility is offering private lessons, cages available for team and individual rentals, hitting leagues, camps, clinics and birthday parties. Baseball director is Jeremian Knackstedt (hitting and catching) and instructors include Stefan Neece (baseball hitting), Andy Rincker (baseball pitching), Cale Johnson (baseball pitching) and Tenequa Martin (softball). To sign up or for more information, call Jeremiah Knackstedt at 979-3252 or visit www.back2backtraining.com.

SO. ILL. SELECT LEAGUE -- The 2013 Southern Illinois Select Baseball League (SISBL) is now forming for teams ages 9-under through 14-under at the Freeburg Sports Complex. The USSSA-sanctioned league will be run by Glen Polacek and the SISBL. For more information, call Glen at 792-6880 or email southernillinoisbaseball@gmail.com.

BASEBALL, SOFTBALL LESSONS -- The Batter's Box in Belleville is offering baseball and softball lessons in hitting, pitching and fielding. 207-4549.

BASKETBALL

LITTLE SHOOTERS -- The Family Sportsplex in Belleville is offering a Little Shooters beginners basketball session for players in grades kindergarten through 3 beginning Nov. 30 with Southwestern Illinois women's basketball coach Mike Juenger as the instructor. Fee: $60 for the six-week program. 277-7111.

FOOTBALL

FLAG FOOTBALL TOURNEY -- The 42 Foundation is hosting the Jesse Hacker 5-on-5 Flag Football Tournament 9 a.m. Nov. 24 at Citizens Park in Belleville. Tourney open to boys and girls, under 18 must have parental consent. To register or for more information, call Dana Fitch at 235-2276

GENERAL

HORSESHOE TOURNEYS -- Horseshoe Tournaments will be held 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.

RUNNING

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

MUSTANGS --Mustangs 12-under girls select fast-pitch team is looking for a catcher, infielders and outfielders. Team will play in Kirkwood and Affton leagues plus tournaments. To schedule a tryout, call Clint Couch at 443-8662 or email trailhunter@gmail.com. More information available at www.mustangsfastpitch.org/

SWAT 14-UNDER -- 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.

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, especially 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 , 14-under, 12-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

THANKSGIVING JUNIOR TOURNEY -- St. Clair Tennis in O'Fallon hosting a Thanksgiving Junior Tournament, including a Hot Shots division for ages 7-10, Nov. 23-25 with a Nov. 15 registration deadline. Fee: $36 for singles, $18 per player for doubles, $20 for Hot Shots singles. Call 632-1400 or visit www.stclairtennis.com to register.

KINGS POINT ELITE PROGRAM --Kings Point in Belleville offering a Tournament Tennis Elite Program. This 13-week program designed for tournament players, high school players and players able to compete at the tournament level in their age group is limited to 12 players for each of two programs Monday-Sunday or Wednesday-Sunday. Four hours of tennis with two meetings a week. Fee: $490 for Kings Point members, $560 for non-members. 277-7715 or email kingspoint1@hotmail.com.

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.

PICKLEBALL LEAGUE -- Pickleball, a variation of tennis played with plastic balls and paddles, will be offered at St. Clair Tennis at O'Fallon with free lessons scheduled for Dec. 4. League fees are $6 for members and $8 for non-members. To register, call 632-1400 or visit www.stclairtennis.com for more information.