Neighbor Sports

Neighbor sports

Baseball, softball

Hoffman Estates Travel tryouts: The Hoffman Estates-based 12U travel baseball team will hold tryouts from 5 to 8 p.m. today and 4 to 6 p.m. Saturday at Cannon Crossing Field No. 4, 1600 Nicholson Drive, Hoffman Estates (Shoe Factory Road and Route 59). To be eligible, players cannot turn 13 before May 1, 2008. The team plans to play 40 to 50 games during the season and hopes to travel to Cooperstown for the Hall of Fame tournament. For information, call Mike Barwacz, (847) 757-2122 or Greg Comstock, (847) 309-0882.

Mavericks tryouts: The Mount Prospect Mavericks Boys 14-and-under travel baseball team tryouts for the 2008 season will be from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. Saturday and, if necessary, Sunday at Friendship Park (Seymour and Algonquin Road). Candidates should be properly equipped and bring their own mitts, bats and spikes. Players are restricted to Mount Prospect Park District members and Mount Prospect residents. For more details, e-mail mpmavericks@yahoo.com.

Northwest Tryouts: The Northwest Travelers Baseball will hold 2008 team tryouts Saturday and Sunday according to the following schedule:

•10-year-old team (players with birth dates on or after May 1, 1997), 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. For details, call Frank Fortunato at (847) 612-4117 or e-mail forch@earthlink.net.

•11-year-old team (players with birth dates on or after May 1, 1996), 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. For details, call John Plantz at (847) 963-1399 or e-mail JP6261@aol.com.

•12-year-old team (players with birth dates on or after May 1, 1995), 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. For details, call Nick DiGioia at (847) 705-6565 or e-mail ndigioia@comcast.net.

•13-year-old team (players with birth dates on or after May 1, 1994), 10 to 11:45 a.m. For details, call Rich Burke at (847) 903-3302 or e-mail rmbinc@comcast.net.

•14-year-old team (players with birth dates on or after May 1, 1993), 11:45 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. For details, call Kevin Luthringhausen at (312) 343-5273 or e-mail cloverlex@gmail.com.

The tryouts will be held on the Northwest Travelers Baseball home diamond at Harper College in Palatine, (entrance off Roselle Road just north of Algonquin Road).

For the 11- to 14-age groups, players only need to attend one tryout. It is recommended that 10-year-olds attend both tryout dates. Aug. 25 and 26 are reserved as rain dates or if an additional day(s) is needed to complete the tryout process.

For details, visit at www.nwtb.org.

Sports Academy travel tryouts: The Sports Academy-Northwest will hold Full Time Travel Baseball tryouts Saturday and Sunday at Woodland Twin Ponds Park, 2500 N. Buffalo Grove Road, Buffalo Grove, at the following times.

•10-year-olds, 9 to 10:30 a.m.

•11-year-olds, 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

•12-year-olds, 1 to 2:30 p.m.

•13-year-olds, 3 to 4:30 p.m.

•14-year-olds, 5 to 6:30 p.m.

For information, call Jon Anderson, baseball director, at (847) 279-3934 or visit www.tsanorthwest.com.

Fastpitch tryouts: Illinois Chill girls fastpitch softball will hold tryouts for its 2008 summer teams on Saturday and Sunday. Tryouts are for the 18-under ASA Gold, 18-under "A", 16-under and 14-under age levels. The Chill is a competitive travel softball program open to residents of all communities. For detailed information on tryout times and locations for each age group, call the Chill tryout hotline at (847) 604-3960 for a recorded message.

For information on the Chill program, call Gerry Quinn at (847) 772-9107 or e-mail gtq33@yahoo.com or check the Web site at www.eteamz.com/penguin.

Heat fastpitch tryouts: The Elk Grove Heat, part of Elk Grove Girls Softball, which operates under the Elk Grove Park District, will hold tryouts for the 2008 season. The Heat plans to field fastpitch softball teams at the 10U, 12U, 14U, 16U and 18U levels with a goal of as many teams per level as possible. If enough girls are interested, there may be two or three teams at each level. Tryouts will be held Sunday at Elk Grove High School, 500 W. Elk Grove Blvd., at the following times:

•10U registration and warm-up, 7:30 a.m.; tryout, 8 to 10 a.m.

•12U registration and warm-up, 9:30 a.m.; tryout, 10 a.m. to noon.

•14U registration and warm-up, 12:30 p.m.; tryout, 1 to 3 p.m.

•16U registration and warm-up: 2:30 p.m.; tryout, 3 to 5 p.m.

•18U -- Call the travel coordinator to arrange tryout.

If a girl is interested and cannot make the appropriate time, she is allowed to come at another time.

The cost this season is $400 for Elk Grove Village residents and $450 for non-residents. This includes two uniforms, tournament fees, umpire fees, bat bag, etc., and extensive winter and off-season indoor training.

For details, contact Eric Liewergen, heat coordinator, at home, (847) 956-8663; cell, (847) 528-7748; or e-mail card723@comcast.net. Program and team information is at www.elkgroveheat.org.

Crushers tryouts: The Northwest Crushers (formerly the Stone Authority Crushers) U13 Boys Travel Baseball Team will hold tryouts for the 2008 season from 3 to 5 p.m. Sunday and Aug. 25 at Cannon Crossing Field No. 1. The field is located two blocks south of Shoe Factory Road and McDonough in Hoffman Estates. Players must not be older than 13 on or before May 1, 2008. Non-Hoffman Estates residents are welcome to try out. The team plays a competitive schedule in the Mid-Suburban Baseball League from April to July. The team will play about 50 to 55 games total. Players should attend both tryout dates. For information, call coach Ed Korus at (847) 202-1970 or coach Mark Bart at (847) 428-4777.

Arlington Heights Travel tryouts: The Arlington Heights Travelers baseball 14-and-under team will hold tryouts for the 2008 season from 2 to 4 p.m. Sunday at the Hersey High School J.V. field behind the school at 1900 E. Thomas, Arlington Heights. All players interested in trying out for the 14-year-old-and-under travel team must be born on or after May 1, 1993. There are no residency requirements.

The Arlington Heights Travelers baseball program is entering its third season, and plans to field two teams for the 2008 season with many spots open. The teams will participate in the Mid Suburban Baseball League and also play in several tournaments from April to July. For more information, call (847) 212-0910 or e-mail Arlington travelers@msn.com.

AHYA Fastpitch tryouts: Arlington Heights Youth Association will hold tryouts for the Arlington Hurricane 2008 fastpitch travel softball teams on Aug. 25 at Thomas Middle School, Arlington Heights Road and Thomas Street at the following times.

•13U and 14U teams -- Noon to 2 p.m. Players must be 13 or 14 or younger on Jan. 1, 2008.

•12U team -- 10 a.m. to noon. Players must be 12 or younger on Jan. 1, 2008.

The rain date is Aug. 26 at the same times.

For information on the 14U team, contact Myles Naughton at or (847) 971-9200 or mylo@mindspring.com

For the 13U team, contact Francis Fu at (847) 274-3898 or fcyfu@comcast.net.

For the 12U, call John Day at (847) 772-0160 or dayfamily@wideopenwest.com.

Mustangs Travel tryouts: The Rolling Meadows Mustangs 14-and-Under Travel softball team is looking for girls to play on a highly competitive travel team for the 2008 season. The schedule consists of about 45 games, including tournaments. Registration will be held at 1 p.m. and tryouts at 1:30 p.m. Aug. 26 at Rolling Meadows Community Center, Field No. 2 (behind Park Central), 3000 Central Road, Rolling Meadows. To be eligible, players must be ages 14 or younger on Jan. 1, 2008.

More information regarding costs, uniforms, training and expectations will be available to parents at the tryouts. For information, call Bill Suchecki at (847) 259-1236 or e-mail Big dogslug@comcast.net.

Team Illinois Travel tryouts: Team Illinois is seeking players for its 14-year-old travel team for the 2008 season.

Based on the geography of the teams, definite practice facility, times and number of weekly practices are yet determined. Practice will be scheduled twice a week starting the end of January. Play begins twice a week in mid-April, with tournaments every other weekend starting in May. The first tournament will be in March in Missouri.

Anyone interested in try-out information, dates, times and locations, call Team Illinois at (847) 517-1111.

Basketball

3-on-3 tourney: Prospect High School Athletic Boosters are sponsoring its annual preseason 3-on-3 basketball tournament Oct. 14 at Prospect High School, 801 W. Kensington Road, Mount Prospect. The tournament is open to boys and girls in fourth through 12th grade. There will be separate brackets for each age group, except for high school juniors and seniors who will be combined. Other grade levels may also be combined depending on registrations. Different competition levels may also be added based on registrations. Efforts will be made to coordinate playing times so participants in other fall programs may participate.

The entry fee of $100 per team guarantees each team a minimum of three games. All proceeds benefit Prospect Athletic Boosters. For information or a registration form, contact Lori Frasco, (847) 670-7811) or Bill Reed, (847) 272-6010 or the Web site at www.prospectknights.com.