Items for What’s Happening must be received by noon Thursday before publication. Send information to Karl Zinke, sports editor, including daytime telephone number, to What’s Happening, Sports Dept., The Examiner, P.O. Box 459, Independence, Mo. 64051, fax it to 816-254-0211 or send by e-mail (karl.zinke@examiner.net). Please include deadline or date notice should be taken out and please indicate what sport the announcement should be listed under. Dates are subject to change. Examiner is not responsible for tryouts. Please contact people listed for detailed information. The Examiner reserves the right to edit for length and content and remove any listings.
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Baseball
■ Kansas City Youth Pitching Academy, Inc., is looking for new or used baseball equipment donations. Donations will be used for families who can’t afford to supply their children with baseball equipment for next year’s baseball season. Bats, gloves, helmets, shoes, pants and other items are accepted. Kansas City Youth Pitching Academy, Inc. is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to helping develop injury-free youth pitchers through education, research and instruction. If you have any baseball gear taking up space in your home, please contact Russ Barker at rbarker@kcyouthpitching.com or 816-517-1828.
■ Tryouts, 12U AA/AAA team looking for players for 2010 season. Team will play in league, 7-8 tournaments, state and world series. Pitching/catching is a plus. For information contact Jon at 816-935-0024 or jonathan-henry@sbcglobal.net.
■ Tryouts, competitive team forming for 2010 seeking 15- and 16-year-old players from Grain Valley High School. Team focus will be to develop skills in preparation for junior and senior seasons. Detailed, position-specific instruction and training. Strong emphasis on developing players into quality student-athletes. Training will include use of video analysis software. Informational meeting and workout to be held soon. Contact Russ Barker at 816-517-1828 or rbarker@kcyouthpitching.com for more information.
■ Tryouts, Blue Springs Orioles, 13U AA/AAA team, seeking 2-3 players to round out team for spring 2010. Will be playing about 10 tournaments with no league. For tryout, call Rob Boothe at 913-400-1299.
■ Tryouts, KC Saints, 13U Major, winner of MOKAN D1 state in 2009, looking for pitching, middle IF and corner OF for 2010. Cannot be age 14 before May 1, 2010. Highly competitive team building toward high school showcase team once 15. Contact Scott for a workout at 816-582-6409 or scott@pinnaclellc.org.
Basketball
■ Bustin’ The Net Tournament, Oct. 24-25 in Blue Springs, for boys and girls teams in grades 3-12. Cost is $150 with a three-game minimum. Deadline to enter is Oct. 19. Contact Brett Kratzer at 816 213-7329 to register or for more information.
■ Blue Springs Parks and Recreation Department Men’s B & C Basketball Leagues begin the week of Nov. 1 at Moreland Ridge Middle School. Cost is $370 per team for a 10-game schedule that runs through mid-January. C division is recreational, while the B division offers a more competitive atmosphere. Deadline to register is Oct. 23. For more information or to register, call the Parks office at 816-228-0137 or visit the Web site (www.bluespringsgov.com). Register online or at City Hall (903 Main Street) during business hours.
■ Blue Springs Basketball Tournament, Oct. 16-18, for boys and girls teams in grades 4-12 at Blue Springs area schools, Missouri-Kansas certified officials. Cost is $150 per team with a three-game guarantee. Deadline to enter is Oct. 10. Contact Coach Handley at BlueSpringsTournament@gmail.com or 816-308-5672.
■ SportsCity Men’s Basketball League starts Oct. 25 (Oct. 18 deadline to register). For ages 18 and older. Sunday games. Cost is $400 per team (with a $50 discount if paid in full by the first game). For more information or to register, visit the Web site www.sportscitykc.com or contact Tammy Baldwin at SportsCity at 816-229-1314 or tbaldwin@sportscitykc.com.
■ Supreme Sports Winter Competitive Leagues begin week of Nov. 9 at SportsCity in Blue Springs and KC Sports Lodge in Independence. Grades 3-12 eligible. Divisions are grades 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 and 11-12 with three divisions in each grade – gold (highly competitive), silver (mid-level competitive) and bronze (developmental competitive). Cost is $480 per team for eight-game schedule. Team registration only. Deadline to register is Oct. 24. Register online at www.supremesportskc.net. For more information, contact Jeff Bass at 816-257-7339 or jeff@supremesportskc.net.
■ Lee’s Summit Parks and Recreation Girls Recreational League for girls in grades 1-8 begins Nov. 2 and runs through Feb. 27, 2010. ✴eams are formed through a draft based on previous season’s ratings or past experience with the goal being to balance players’ skill levels. Registration fee is $77 each with a $6 optional team and individual photo. Deadline to enter is Oct. 9 or when division fills. Registration is based on first come, first served. Volunteer coaches also needed. No experience required. Clinics will be provided. To register, contact Lee’s Summit Parks & Recreation by calling 816.969.1500 or register online at www.lsparks.net or register in person. Payment must accompany registration, Visa and Mastercard accepted.
■ Harrisonville Halloween Hoopfest, Oct. 23-25, for boys and girls teams in grades 4-12 at Harrisonville area schools. Cost is $150 per team with a three-game guarantee. Deadline to enter is Oct. 17. Contact Coach Mercer at HHHTournament@gmail.com or 417-231-2261.
■ Tryouts, new fifth grade boys basketball team needs players. Team will play league in Independence and tourneys locally in winter months. E-mail Mark at markmauer@att.net for tryout information.
■ Tryouts, Missouri Magic, an established fifth grade girls competitive basketball team, needs 2-3 players for upcoming season. Practices held in Lee’s Summit. For more information, including tryouts, please contact Marla Johnson at 816-591-9621 or mmaarrllaa@aol.com.
■ Ongoing: Blue Springs Athletic Association Basketball League. For more information contact, Steve Hyde at 816-228-4994 or visit bsaabasketball.com.
■ Ongoing: AAU basketball. For more information, write to the Missouri Valley AAU, 1815 South York, Independence, Mo. 64058 or call 816-796-8605.
BMX/Cycling
■ Ongoing: Blue Springs BMX at Pink Hill Park in Blue Springs. For more information, call the Track Hot Line at 816-392-9901 or visit bluespringsbmx.com.
Football
■ Ongoing: Pop Warner football, ages 5-14 are eligible. For more information, call Steve Bowen at 816-373-4511 or 816-550-2221 or e-mail to SSKC88@aol.com.
■ Ongoing: Blue Springs Pop Warner football, for ages 5-15. Flag football is for ages 5-8; tackle football is ages 8-15. For more information, call Leonard Fields at 816-373-3298 or Marc Busker 816-224-7991.
■ Ongoing: Blue Springs Athletic Association football leagues. For information, call the BSAA Hotline at 224-4639, ext. 3012 or visit bsaafootball.com.
■ Ongoing: Grain Valley Athletic Association youth football leagues. Flag (grades K-2) and tackle (grades 3-7) are available. For more information, visit the Web site at www.gvaasports.org.
Golf
■ Drumm Farm Golf Club in Independence will offer Family, Fun and Fitness evenings every Sunday through October. Program consists of a free rules, etiquette and golf clinic 4-4:30 p.m., 9 holes on the executive course with golf cart, snacks after the round starting at 5:30 p.m., and fun hole contests each week with prizes. The program is designed to cater to beginning players and families to encourage the growth of the game. Cost will be $20 per player or $50 per foursome. For more information, call 816-350-9900.
Hockey
■ Lee’s Summit Parks and Recreation Adult Floor Hockey League taking registrations through Oct. 16. Recreational league begins Nov. 2 and games are played on Monday evenings through Dec. 14 at Harris Park Community Center (110 SW Blue Parkway). Cost is $215 per team. Teams may have 10 on the roster with six playing at one time. Participants must be 18 years or older. For more information, call Lee’s Summit Parks and Recreation at 816-969-1500 or go to www.lsparks.net for league registration forms.
Horseshoes
■ Independence Horseshoe Club leagues run April through August. For more information, contact club president Alvin Gwinn at 816-461-1746 or league director David Thompson at 816-516-2508.
Miscellaneous
■ Blue Springs Parks and Recreation Department will offer fencing instruction starting the week of Nov. 4 at Hall McCarter School for ages 8 and older. Cost is $49 for a six-week session that runs on Wednesday evenings through Dec. 16. Introduction to Fencing, for beginners, meets 6:30-7:20 p.m. each Wednesday. The Mastering Fencing class, for more advanced fencers, meets 7:30-8:20 p.m. for ages 13 and younger and 8:30-9:20 p.m. for ages 14 and older. The instructor is Wes Kline, who has earned a Moniteur Degree from the FIE. For more information, call the Parks office at 816-228-0137 or visit the Web site (www.bluespringsgov.com). Register online or at City Hall (903 Main Street) during business hours.
Outdoors
■ Ongoing: Raytown Bass Club is seeking new members. For more information, call Dennis Mitchell at 913-787-5810, Neil Parikh at 816-506-0611 or visit the www.raytownbassclub.net Web site.
Racquetball
■ Ongoing: Independence YMCA racquetball leagues. For more information, call the YMCA at 816-254-9622.
Running
■ Tryouts, Brocaw Blazers youth cross country team, through Nov. 7. For further information or for tryout details, visit the Web site at www.brocawblazers.org or call coach David Ramsey at 816-365-7938.
■ Ongoing: Blue Springs Running Club, contact Terry Hickam at 816-229-6779.
■ Ongoing: Free Sunday runs offered at Garry Gribbles Running Sports. Check Web site at garrygribbles.com for directions and starting times. For more information, call 816-373-1100.
Soap Box Derby
■ Ongoing: Kansas City Soap Box Derby. Visit the Kansas City Soap Box Derby Web site at www.kcsbd.org or the All American Soap Box Derby Web site at aasbd.org for more information.
Soccer
* ■ Lil’ Kickers Winter I session begins Nov. 10. Lil’ Kickers is a non-competitive introductory soccer and movement skills program for ages 18 months to 9 years. Cost is $94 per person for the eight-week session. Classes are Tuesday evenings in Lee’s Summit and Thursday evenings and Saturday mornings at SportsCity in Blue Springs. The first 75 to enroll will receive a free uniform. For more information, contact Sarah McCarthy at smccarthy@sportscitykc.com or call Sports City at 229-1314 or visit www.sportscitykc.com.
* ■ SportsCity Youth Soccer League starts Oct. 24 (Oct. 18 deadline to register). For ages U8-U15 with weekend games. Discounts for U10 and younger teams. For more information or to register, visit the Web site www.sportscitykc.com or contact Tammy Baldwin at SportsCity at 816-229-1314 or tbaldwin@sportscitykc.com.
■ SportsCity High School Girls Soccer League starts Oct. 27 (Oct. 18 deadline to register). Tuesday games. For more information or to register, visit the Web site www.sportscitykc.com or contact Tammy Baldwin at SportsCity at 816-229-1314 or tbaldwin@sportscitykc.com.
■ SportsCity High School Boys Soccer League starts Nov. 30 (Nov. 16 deadline to register). Monday games. For more information or to register, visit the Web site www.sportscitykc.com or contact Tammy Baldwin at SportsCity at 816-229-1314 or tbaldwin@sportscitykc.com.
■ SportsCity Premier Cash Soccer League Session III starts Oct. 19 (Oct. 10 deadline to register). For more information or to register, visit the Web site www.sportscitykc.com or contact Tammy Baldwin at SportsCity at 816-229-1314 or tbaldwin@sportscitykc.com.
■ Ongoing: Soccer kickarounds every Sunday, 7 p.m. at Blue Springs High School’s Peve Stadium. Call 808-4978 for more information or send e-mail to bshssocceralummni@hotmail.com.
■ Ongoing: BSHS Soccer Alumni Association seeking former soccer players at Blue Springs High School to join in the year-round fun and giving. For more information, call Bob Rusert at 816-808-4978 or visit bshssocceralumni.org.
■ Ongoing: Blue Springs High School Boys Soccer Booster Club will meet on second Thursday of each month at the high school. For more information, call Bernadette Lawson at 816-616-4531.
■ Ongoing: Blue Springs High School Girls Soccer Booster Club meets the third Tuesday of every month at 6:30 p.m. in the Blue Springs High School library. For more information, contact Kathy Karst at 816-228-7458 or Janet Shelman at 816-229-5769.
■ Ongoing: Blue Springs Soccer Club. For more information, call 913-982-1240, visit the Web site (www.bluespringssoccerclub.org) or send e-mail to sewells@sprintmail.com.
■ Ongoing: Soccer Association of Independence. Visit the Web site at www.saisoccer.org or call 456-9837.
■ Ongoing: Soccer West. Visit www.soccerwestmo.com, send e-mail to soccerwest1@sbcglobal.net or call 816-229-4502.
■ Ongoing: Oak Grove Soccer League. For information contact Bruce Forthofer at 816-898-7564 or president@oakgrovesoccer.org or visit the Web site (www.oakgrovesoccer.org).
■ Ongoing: BVAC Youth Soccer Leagues. For more information, call BVAC at 816-796-8702, visit the Web site (www.bvacsports.org) or send e-mail to bvac@bvacsports.org.
■ Ongoing: Raytown Soccer Club. For more information, visit the Web site (www.raytownsoccerclub.org) or call 816-313-7721.
■ Ongoing: Jackson County Parks and Recreation Soccer Field Rental Program. Requests for field rentals are on a first-come, first-serve basis. Cost is $20 per hour, per field for daily rental and $100 per field or $30 per team for tournament or league field rental. Nets, corner flags, field painting, etc., require additional fees. To reserve a field or for more information, call 816-795-8200, ext. 1-277 or 1-270.
Softball
* ■ Lee’s Summit Parks and Recreation Fall Softball Tournament, Oct. 24 at Hartman Memorial Park (700 SW Pryor Road) in Lee’s Summit. Divisions include Men’s D and Coed D. All participants must be 18 or older. Cost is $150 per team (minimum of 10, maximum of 15 on roster) or $125 if already playing in the LSPR fall league. Deadline to register is Oct. 16 or when division fills. For more information or to register, call Lee’s Summit Parks and Recreation at 816-969-1500 or go to www.lsparks.net for registration forms.
■ Tryouts, Originals-Wingo 16U team looking for new players. Seeking players born in both 1993 and ’94 and willing to look at strong ’95. Will play both USSSA/ASA, out of town travel, college exposure tournaments. For tryout info, please contact Jeff at originals-wingo@att.net or 816-229-1227.
■ Tryouts, Lee’s Summit Storm, a fast-pitch 14U team, needs players. Team plays league at Adair and local tournaments. Team is almost fully funded by fundraisers. E-mail Mark at markmauer@att.net for tryout information.
■ Ongoing: The Exceptionals, a summer youth softball program at Hidden Valley Park Softball Complex for boys and girls ages 5-20 physically or mentally unable to participate in other programs. Contact Laurie Munzuris at 816-522-6749 or Karin Windes at 816-217-8403 for more information or to volunteer.
■ Ongoing: Blue Springs Girls Softball Association. For more information, visit the Web site (bsgsa.net).
■ Ongoing: Heart of America Senior Softball leagues, for women ages 40-70-plus, men ages 50-70-plus, and coed (women 40-plus and men 50-plus). To register or for more information, visit the Web site (www.hasskc.com), send e-mail to hasskc@sbcglobal.net or call 816-358-4277.
■ Ongoing: KC Metro 50-Plus Softball League. For details or visit the Web site (www.kcseniorsoftball.com).
■ Ongoing: Independence Adult Softball Association Adult Men’s and Coed Leagues. For more information, call Donnie Payne at 816-350-3758 or 816-212-0797.
Swimming
■ Ongoing: Kansas City Dolphins, practices at Centennial Pool-Plex in Blue Springs and Blue Valley High School in Overland Park, Kan. Signups are ongoing throughout the year. Visit the Web site (www.teamdolphins.com) for more information.
■ Ongoing: Blue Springs YMCA Swim Club, a non-competitive swim team, is available to children ages 6-18. Fundamentals of each stroke as well as personal development will be taught. Call the Blue Springs YMCA at 816-224-9620 for more details.
■ Ongoing: Tsunami Swim Team at Blue Springs YMCA, Longview Recreation Center and William Jewell College. Signups are ongoing throughout the year. Call 816-224-WAVE (9283) or visit online (www.tsunamienterprises.com).
■ Ongoing: KC Blazers swim team, at the Blue Springs YMCA and the Longview Recreation Center in Lee’s Summit. For more information, call 913-383-8342.
■ Ongoing: Centennial Pool-Plex open swim hours. Admission is $5 per person for age 4 and older ($3.50 after 5 p.m.). Ages 3 and younger are free with a parent. Season memberships are also available. For dates and times of Lap Swim, Swimnastics, Therapeutic Swim, open swim hours or additional information, call 228-0137.
Table Tennis
■ Ongoing: Open play, JACOMO Table Tennis Club in Independence, Thursday evenings, 6-9 p.m. For more information, call Dave Baker at 816-229-2253 or send e-mail to dhbakerinc@yahoo.com.
Tennis
■ Ongoing: United States Tennis Association Jr. Team Tennis, for boys and girls ages 6-18 in leagues that emphasize fun, fitness and friends. Leagues match players of similar age and ability using the Junior National Tennis Rating Program (JNTRP). To learn more go to www.missourivalley.usta.com or call 913-322-4826.
Track & Field
■ Ongoing: Eastern Jackson County Track club, for ages 6-18. Includes USA Track and Field membership. For more information, contact Chris Earley at 816-847-0252.
Volleyball
* ■ Tryouts, Invasion Volleyball Club for 2009-10 season, Nov. 7 for girls ages 14 and younger, and Nov. 14 for girls ages 15 and older, at Sunnyvale Middle School in Blue Springs. On Nov. 7, session for age 13 is 8-10 a.m., ages 11-12 is 11 a.m.-1 p.m., and age 14 is 2-4 p.m. On Nov. 14, session for ages 17-18 is 8-10 a.m., session for age 16 is 11 a.m.-1 p.m. and age 15 session is 2-4 p.m. For more information, visit the Web site at invasionvbc.com.
■ Ongoing: Blue Springs Youth Volleyball League. For more information, visit the Web site at www.eteamz.com/BSYVL.
■ Ongoing: Fort Osage Youth Volleyball League, for girls in grades 4-7. Girls in Fort Osage and Independence school districts are eligible. Contact Lyn Adams at 816-650-6294.
Wrestling
■ Ongoing: Independence Youth Wrestling program at the William Chrisman High School wrestling room. Ages 5-14 are eligible. Practices are on Mondays and Wednesdays. Tournaments are scheduled for Saturdays at area schools. Novice tournaments for first- and second-year wrestlers are Sundays. For more information, visit the Web site at www.independenceyouthwrestling.org or contact Chuck Rodgers at 816-254-3716 or Bill Jones at 816-305-2928.
■ Ongoing: Youth Jaguar Wrestling Club, team practices at Blue Springs South High School. For more information, contact Doug Black at dblack@bssd.net or 816-582-6911.
■ Ongoing: Predator Youth Wrestling Club of Eastern Jackson County seeks youth wrestlers ages 5-14. Practices are scheduled for Tuesdays and Thursdays from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at the William Chrisman High School wrestling room. For more information on joining, please contact Dawn Taff at 816-650-3979 or Mike Gempeler at 816-525-1244 or mwgempeler@gmail.com.
■ Ongoing: Mat Rat Wrestling Club, practices at Lee’s Summit West, Richmond and University of Central Missouri in Warrensburg. Team is run by UCM assistant and former Raytown South High School head coach Alan Hull. Contact Alan Hull at 816-564-1847 or hullbuilders@yahoo.com for more information.
■ Ongoing: Western Stars Youth Wrestling Club, for ages 4-15. For more information, contact Phil Howk at 816-841-9852 or visit www.westernstars.org.
■ Ongoing: Fort Osage Mat Club. Children in kindergarten through eighth in the Fort Osage School District are eligible. Practices are 6-8 p.m. every Tuesday and Thursday at the Fort Osage Multipurpose Building. For more information, Contact Jeff Cutbirth at 816-478-3994 or Bob Luke at 816-650-3516.
■ Ongoing: Mo West Wrestling Club. For more information, contact Jason Heslop by e-mail (jheslop@mowest.org) or by calling 816-471-2499.
■ Ongoing: Lee’s Summit Broncos Youth Wrestling Club. Call Bill Biggerstaff at 816-986-1499 ext. 8193 for more information. Additional registration info and practice schedule may be found at www.leesummit.k12.mo.us/lsnhs and click on athletics, wrestling and Kids Club.
