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.

GRIZZLIES HOLIDAY CLINIC -- Gateway Grizlies Baseball Academy and instructors Mike Breyman and Richard Barrett are offering theri Holiday Pitching and Hitting Clinic Dec. 27-28 for players ages 8-older at the Grizzlies indoor facility in Sauget. The two-day clinic will cover fundamentalss of pitching and hitting and each player will participate for two hours per day. Fee: $60. For more information or to register, call Mike Breyman at 314-655-8087 or email mike33@grizzliesbaseballacademy.com.

I-70 COACHING CLINIC -- Greenville High School will host the I-70 Baseball coaching Clinic 8 a.m. Jan. 21, 2013 featuring former Houston Astros manager Brad Mills, Mississippi State coach John Cohen, St. Louis U. coach Darin Hendrickson, Mississippi State assistant Jake Wells and Missouri strength and conditioning coach Scott Bird. Advance fees: Single coach ($50), Two Coaches ($90), Three Coaches ($120), Staff rate for four to seven coaches on same staff ($150), players ages 13-22 ($30). Rates are higher at the door on the day of the clinic. To register, call Greenville Athletic Director Joe Alstat at 664-5580 or email jalstat@bccu2.org.

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.

GENERAL

HORSESHOE TOURNEYS -- Horseshoe Tournaments will be held 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.

SOCCER

KNIGHTS SOCCER CLUB -- The Knights Soccer Club has several openings for under-8, under-11 and under-13 girls for the outdoor spring season. The teams will all practice in Belleville. For information, call Herb Foerster at 977-6511 or email herbfoerster@yahoo.com.

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.

TOMAHAWKS -- The Tomahawks girls select fast-pitch organization has openins in the 10-under, 12-under, 14-under and 16-under age groups for 2013 summer leagues and tournaments. Wayne Bendall, 407-5061 or email tomahawkscoach@aol.com.

TENNIS

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 PROGRAMS -- St. Clair Tennis in O'Fallon offering a Christmas Junior Tournament Dec. 28-30. A Ping Pong Tournament Fundraiser is 4-6:30 p.m. Dec. 16. Fee: $20 with three-match guarantee. A Family Pickleball session is 3:30-4:30 p.m. Dec. 9; fee: $15 per family. 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.