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

BACK-2-BACK BASEBALL/SOFTBALL TRAINING -- The Back-2-Back Baseball & Softball Training facility in Highland is offering private lessons, cages available for team and individual rentals, hitting leagues, camps, clinics and birthday parties. Upcoming events include Baseball and Softball Hitting Leagues and a Hitting Class (twice a week for four sessions, limited to 10 per session). More hitting and catching programs planned for the near future. Baseball director is Jeremiah 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.

SOUTHERN ILLINOIS DIAMONDBACKS -- Southern Illinois Diamondbacks select baseball team is looking for 10- and 11-year-olds. All team members will go through winter training for the upcoming season. Email finleyflooring@gmail.com

BASKETBALL

FAMILY SPORTSPLEX EVENTS -- The Belleville Family Sportsplex will host a Winter 5-on-5 Youth Basketball League for boys and girls in grades 2-6 (begins Jan. 28) and 7-8 (begins Feb. 4). A Valentine's Basketball Tournament for boys and girls teams in grades 3-8 and high school and adult teams is Feb. 9-10. A Little Shooters Camp for boys and girls in kindergarten through grade 3 begins Feb. 8 and runs for six weeks under the direction of Southwestern Illinois College women's basketball coach Mike Juenger. A Skills and Drills Clinic for boys and girls in grades 4-7 will be held every Monday in February beginning Feb. 4. To register for any event or for more information, call 277-7111 or visit www.bellevillesportsplex.com.

WESTVIEW JUNIOR LEAGUE -- Westview Junior League is offering a youth program for boys and girls going in grades 1-4 in January and Feburary at the Westview Baptist Church Multi-Purpose Building near Belleville. Fee: $25, includes eight practices and eight games. For more information, call Don Otness at 277-2353.

BATTLE IN BELLEVILLE -- Southwest Illinois Titans are hosting the Battle in Belleville-SW Illinois Titans Invitational for boys teams in grades 7-8 March 22-24 at Belleville West High School. Tourney will include some of the top 7th and 8th grade teams in the region and some nationally ranked teams. To register or for more information, call Davanon Fox at 304-8710, email dfox@swillinoistitansbasketball.org or visit www.swillinoistitansbasketball.org.

GENERAL

ELITE FT -- Elite Fitness Training will begin offering strength and speed training Jan. 24 at the Family Sportsplex in Belleville. Elite FT has been in business for over 10 years training athletes to improve overall performance throughout the metro-east and also Carbondale. The six-week strength and speed program is a fundamental training course designed to teach proper running techniques and strength building to increaase speed. Along with strength and speed training, Elite FT specializes in soccer skills training. Registration is now open for the strength and speed program, soccer skills training and other fitness training programs. 972-1830, email info@eliteft.com or visit www.eliteft.com.

HORSESHOE TOURNEYS -- The Taterdome in Columbia (122 W. Washington) will hold horseshoe tournaments Jan. 27, Feb. 10, Feb. 24, March 10, March 24, April 7 and April 21. First class at 11 a.m. and if needed, a second class will begin at approximately 2 p.m. Fee: $10, must have NHPA card to enter; this is an opportunity to qualify for world or state tournaments. To register, call Dave Shreve at 910-8558 or email hrshuz@charter.net.

KHOURY LEAGUES/YOUTH LEAGUES

WEST END KHOURY -- West End Khoury League in Belleville holding baseball, softball and t-ball registration 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Jan. 26 at the Emge Grade School cafeteria. For more information visit www.wekhoury.com.

COLLINSVILLE KHOURY LEAGUE --Collinsville Khoury League holding player registration for baseball, t-ball, coach-pitch, softball, high school baseball and softball noon-4 p.m. Jan. 27 at the Collinsville Knights of Columbus on Illinois 157. New payers need copies of their birth certificate. Umpire registration will also be held at this time. Fees vary, multi-player discounts available. Online registration begins Jan. 1 at www.mycbsl.com. Stan Vlasak, 345-5673.

RUNNING

RAMBLE INTO SPRING 5K -- McKendree University in Lebanon offering its fifth annual Ramble Into Spring 5K run or walk, 10K run and 10-mile run event 8 a.m. March 23. Walkers and strollers welcome in the 5K run-walk only. Fee: $14 for each race, or $20 on race day. Register at the McKendree fitness center or the intramural gym at the Melvin Price Convocation Center, or register online at www.active.com. 537-6420, 537-6941 or visit www.mckendree.edu/raceday.

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.

SOFTBALL

BELLEVILLE FAST-PITCH LEAGUE -- Belleville Parks & Recreation Department accepting team registration for its 2013 Summer ASA Girls Fast-Pitch Softball League for 10-under through 18-under teams at Laderman Park and SouthSide Park. Leagues will be played Monday through Thursday with 10-under and 12-under begin play the last week of April, with 14-under through 18-under teams starting in June. Fee: $1,000 includes 12 games, league fee, ASA fee and insurance fee. For more information, call Todd at 233-1416.

TRENTON BOOSTER BASH -- Trenton Booster Bash Tournament for 10-under through 18-under girls fastpitch teams is June 7-9 at Trenton City Park. Fee: $375 with four-game guarantee; pool play leading to single elimination. Larry Litteken, 224-7272 or email jlitteken@charter.net.

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.

DYNAMITE -- The Dynamite 12-under girls select fast-pitch team is seeking a pitcher and infielders for the 2013 season. The team is for transition from 10-under or from recreation level into competitive select level skills. Dan Klostermann, 882-5842 or 314-517-9690, email dkloster1@gmail.com or visit www.eteamz.com/dynamite.

SOUTHERN STORM -- Southern Storm 12-under girls select fastpitch team is seeking players for the 2013 season. Must not have turned 13 before Jan. 1. For a private tryout, call Chad at 570-8180.

XPLOSION --The Xplosion 14-uder girls select fast-pitch team is seeking a pitcher and position player. League games at Laderman Park in Belleville starting in June, plus tournaments. 402-0562 or email donwilliams66@yahoo.com.

TOMAHAWKS -- The Tomahawks girls select fast-pitch organization has openings 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

ST. CLAIR TENNIS EVENTS -- St. Clair Tennis in O'Fallon is holding a Season Tune-Up Tourney Feb. 15-17 with singles and doubles divisions for ages 6-10 and 12-18. Fee: $36 for singles, $18 per player for doubles, $20 per player for ages 6-10 with 8 p.m. Feb. 10 entry deadline. St. Clair is also holding a Presidents Day Junior Mixed Doubles Tournament 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Feb. 18 that includes a pizza lunch. Divisions are 14-under and 18-under. Fee: $36 per doubles team, 8 p.m. Feb. 10 entrry deadline. Call 632-1400 to register or for more information.

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.

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