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.
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Baseball
• Tryouts, Fort Osage White Sox, 11-year-old competitive baseball team, conducting tryouts on Oct. 19, 2-6 p.m., at the Fort Osage baseball complex. Please arrive early to warm up; tryouts will begin at 2 p.m. sharp. Seeking solid, experienced players capable and willing to play multiple positions. Parents and players must be dedicated and have positive attitude. Players must not turn 12 before May 1, 2009. Comtact Tom at 816-935-2843 or visit the Web site at www.eteams.com/ftosagewhitesoxbaseball.
• Tryouts, Blue Springs Rockets 14U AAA, 13U AA State Champions will be playing AAA in 2009. Seeking solid, experienced player capable and willing to play multiple positions. Parents and player must be dedicated and have positive attitude. We play league, tournaments every other weekend, state and World Series. See team Web site at rocketsbaseball.org. Players cannot turn 15 before May 1, 2009. Contact Tom at 816-853-0861 for more information.
• Tryouts, Independence Bears, 14U AA/AAA team, still seeking few players. Tryouts and practices will be run by former Kansas City Royal Carl Blando along with William Chrisman High School varsity coach Justin Woods and his staff. Seeking future Bears from Independence area who want to play at the high school level. Contact coach Rob Knight at 816-786-6339 for more information.
• New England Catching Camp, Oct. 11-12 at SportsCity in Blue Springs. Catching clinic is Oct. 11 and coaches clinic is Oct. 12. Nationally known instructor Dave Weaver and his son, Jay, will conduct the camp. Cost of player clinic is $75 per person if registered by Oct. 4 ($80 after Oct. 4). Players must provide their own gear. Visit the Web site at www.sportscitykc.com or call 816-229-1314 for more information.
• Tryouts, Independence HiBoy, a 13U AA competition tournament team seeking players for 2009 season. Team will play league and 5-6 tournaments. Contact Phil at 816-289-3091 or phil.pinkley@crbusa.com for a tryout or more information.
• Tryouts, Lee’s Summit Hornets, 11U AA/AAA competitive team that finished second in the 10U AA World Series, seeking a few talented players to complete its roster for fall and spring 2009. Team will play in a few tournaments this fall and approximately 10 tournaments in 2009, including state and the World Series. Players must not turn 12 before May 1, 2009. Contact Ed Derks at 816-564-6447 or ederks@bakeru.edu for more information.
• The Yard, an indoor sports facility, seeking interested, qualified baseball and softball instructors. A background in baseball/softball as a former college/pro player, coach, or instructor is required. Must be able to work with athletes on an individual basis and in a small group or team setting. Applicants need to be very thorough with instruction and be able to give constructive criticism to athletes. Please contact Gerald Barker at (816) 525-YARD (9273) or www.theyardkc.com.
• Tryouts, 12U AA/AAA competitive team for next season looking to play 40-50 games and travel. If interested contact Rick at 816-405-0202.
• Tryouts, Blue Springs Vipers, a competitive 14U AAA boys baseball team, will conduct tryouts for 2009 season. Call Danny Johnson at 816-228-6318 for an appointment.
• Ongoing: Kiwanis Baseball League, for 15-16-year-old teams, is a composite wood bat league. League games to be played at Crysler, IAC and Fort Osage. League is seeking experienced scorekeepers. For more information contact John Curtis at 816-795-6503 or sigjcc@comcast.net.
• Ongoing: Blue Springs Officials Association seeking umpires. Contact Rob Michael at 816-224-4621, 816-918-6066 or jrmichael@sbcglobal.net.
• Ongoing: Fort Osage Indians Athletic Association looking for experienced umpires for summer league. Contact Josh Mitchem at 816-985-9878.
• Ongoing: Fort Osage Indians Athletic Association USSSA sanctioned baseball league for full teams and individual players ages 4-14. For more information, visit the Web site (www.fortosagebaseball.com).
• Ongoing: Blue Springs Little League. For more information go to Web site (bluespringsbaseball.org).
• Ongoing: Queen City Baseball Association. For more information, call the Queen City office at 816-796-4003, visit the Web site (www.eteamz.com/qcba/) or send e-mail to: Queencitybball@aol.com.
• Ongoing: Tri-City Baseball League. For more information, visit the Web site (www.tri-city.org) or call Donna Schroer at Tri-City at 816-795-1088, ext. 320.
• Ongoing: Ban Johnson Amateur League, 816-383-7765.
Basketball
• Blue Valley Athletic Complex Youth Basketball Camp, Nov. 11, 13 and 14 at the BVAC facility (19404 E. Holke Road) in Independence. Camp, for age 4 through fourth grade, runs 6-8 p.m. each night. Cost is $39 per person and each camper receives a basketball. Deadline to register is Oct. 22. For more information, visit the BVAC Web site at www.bvacsports.org or call 816-796-8702.
• Blue Valley Athletic Complex Youth Basketball League taking registrations. Games will be played at the BVAC facility (19404 E. Holke Road) in Independence starting Dec. 6. Boys and girls age 4 through seventh grade are eligible. Teams practice one night a week and games are played on Saturday. Cost is $70 per person and includes a team shirt. Deadline to register is Nov. 7. For more information, visit the BVAC Web site at www.bvacsports.org or call 816-796-8702.
• Blue Springs Parks and Recreation Department Men’s B & C Basketball Leagues begin the week of Nov. 2. Men’s C is recreational atmosphere while B division is more competitive. Games will be played at Moreland Ridge Middle School. Cost is $370 per team for a 10-game schedule. Deadline to register is Oct. 24. 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.
• Lee’s Summit Parks and Recreation Girls Basketball League begins week of Nov. 3. Recreational league is for girls in grades 1-8. Cost is $77 per person with an optional $6 team and individual photo fee. Deadline has passed; call for availability. Registration is based on first come, first served. For more information or to register, visit www.lsmo.net or contact Lee’s Summit Parks & Recreation at 816-969-1500.
• Tryouts, Blue Springs Jaguars, sixth grade girls competition basketball team, seeking hard-working and dedicated players to fill roster for the fall/winter 2008-09 season. Team will play competition basketball in the Supreme Sports league and 6-8 local tournaments during the season. Point guard and post position players wanted. Contact Steve Schmidli at 816-217-7413 or sschmidli@indepmo.org.
• Supreme Sports Winter Competitive Leagues begin week of Nov. 10 for boys and girls teams in grades 3-7 divisions at Supreme Sports Athletic Complex in Independence. Two divisions offered in each age group – Gold Division (highly competitive) and Silver Division (mid-level competitive). Participants must register as a team. Cost is $450 per team for grades 3-4 and $480 per team for grades 5-7 for eight-game schedule. Deadline to register is Oct. 25. For more information, contact Jeff Bass at 816-257-7339 or jeff@supremesportskc.com or visit the Web site at www.supremesportskc.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
• 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.
• 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.
Horseshoes
• Independence Horseshoe Club leagues run April through August. For more information, contact club president Alvin Gwinn at 816-461-1746 or league director Neal Straughn at 816-246-0310.
Miscellaneous
• Ongoing: YMCA youth sports (preschool children through ninth grade) offered are baseball, soccer, basketball, golf and tennis. Swim lessons for youths and adults are also offered. For more information, contact the Blue Springs YMCA (224-9620), Independence YMCA (254-9622) or the Raytown YMCA (356-9622).
• Ongoing: Kansas City Gaelic Atheltic Club. Gaelic football squad trains and scrimmages at 11 a.m. every Sunday at the Wizards practice facility in Swope Park (63rd and Lewis Road). For more information or the blog, visit the KCGAC Web sit at http://kansascity.missouri.gaa.ie/index.html or http://kcgac.blogspot.com.
• Ongoing: Kansas City Blues Rugby team. Practices are open to experienced and new players. For more information, call the Blues hotline at 816-960-1281 or visit the Web site (www.kcblues.org).
• Ongoing: Missouri State Senior Games: Call the MSSG office at (573) 882-1462 or go online (www.smsg.org/senior_games).
Outdoors
• Ongoing: Raytown Bass Club is seeking new members. For more information, call Dennis Mitchell at 913-787-5810 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/Triathlons
* • Centerpoint Sports Medicine and Wellness Free Running Clinic, 6:30-8 p.m. Oct. 14 at the Centerpoint Medical Center auditorium in Independence. Interactive clinic includes information on common causes of chronic leg pain in runners and safety prevention techniques. Register by calling 816-751-3000.
• Tryouts, the Brocaw Blazers youth cross country team, winners of 72 national team titles, is having tryouts for new team members through Oct. 31. If interested in becoming a better runner, please call coach David Ramsey at 816-365-7938 or visit the Web site at www.brocawblazers.org.
• 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.
• Ongoing: The Brocaw Blazers youth cross country team. For further information, visit the Web site (www.brocawblazers.org) or call coach David Ramsey at 816-365-7938.
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
• 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: 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: “ 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.
• Ongoing: Jackson County Futsal Leagues. Futsal is FIFA’s official indoor soccer game, a scaled down version of outdoor soccer played indoors on a smaller field with a low-bounce ball that is weighted. For more information, visit the Web site (www.premierfutsal.com) or call Jim West at 816-522-7314.
Softball
• The Yard, an indoor sports facility, seeking interested, qualified baseball and softball instructors. A background in baseball/softball as a former college/pro player, coach, or instructor is required. Must be able to work with athletes on an individual basis and in a small group or team setting. Applicants need to be very thorough with instruction and be able to give constructive criticism to athletes. Please contact Gerald Barker at (816) 525-YARD (9273) or www.theyardkc.com.
• 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: USSSA men’s and coed softball leagues at Walnut Valley Park. For more information, contact Mark Clifton at 816-918-3736.
• 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: Blue Springs Parks and Recreation Slow-Pitch Leagues. For more information, visit the Web site (www.bluespringsgov.com) or call the Parks office at 816-228-0137.
• 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 & Diving
• 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: Kansas City Dolphins – Dolphins swim at Henley Aquatic Center, Blue Springs Pool Plex and Raytown YMCA. Signups are ongoing throughout the year. Call Aaron Dean at 816-204-4297, send e-mail to adean@usswim.net, or visit online (www.kansascitydolphins.org).
• 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: JACOMO Table Tennis Club plays Sunday and Thursday evenings, 7-10 p.m. For more information, call Dave Baker at 816-229-2253 or send e-mail to dhbakerinc@yahoo.com.
Tennis
• Ongoing: Independence Tennis Association: If you would like to know more about the ITA, contact Jody McClain at jmcclain39@hotmail.com.
Track & Field
• Ongoing: Missouri Valley AAU Association. Visit the Web site (www.region8aau.org/movalley).
Volleyball
• 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: Youth Jaguar Wrestling Club. For more information, contact Doug Black at dblack@bssd.net or 816-224-1315.
• 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: Independence Wrestling Club is seeking wrestling enthusiasts on all levels interested in joining or forming an all-inclusive wrestling club in the Kansas City area designed for the promotion and advancement of wrestling. Greco-Roman, catch-as-catch-can, collegiate, Olympic and pro wrestling participants, fans, coaches and promoters are welcome. Major goal is to establish a physical presence in the KC area. Available to all interested. For more information, call 816-461-5405 or visit the Web site (http://www.angelfire.com/ny5/lansky2000/wrestling/iwa.html)
• 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: 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, contact Chuck Rodgers at 816-254-3716 or Bill Jones at 816-305-2928.
• 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.
