Neighbor Sports

Baseball

Tryouts: The 14U Arlington Hammerheads, a team that has played in the MSBL for five seasons, will hold individual tryouts for the 2008 baseball season. Players must be born after April 30, 1993. Games start early in April and run through July with some weekend tournaments. Team practice will start in January. Interested players should call Tony Ferrante at (847) 226-4386 for a tryout date.

Basketball

Training camps: The Net Burners will hold camps for boys and girls in fourth to 10th grade. In the Paint: Post and Guard Training Camp will be held from 6:30 to 7:45 p.m. Wednesday through Oct. 17. In the Ultimate Impact Training Camp, held from 7:30 to 9 p.m. Wednesdays through Oct. 17, everything is covered including fundamentals, speed and agility and techniques. Both camps will take place at Palatine Birchwood Recreation Center, 435 W. Illinois St., Palatine. Those who sign up for two camps will receive a discount. Call Toron at (847) 791-5033 to sign up.

Teams forming: Next Level Basketball Academy, located in the Schaumburg, Hoffman Estates area, is forming fall and winter basketball teams for boys in fifth to 10th grade. The fall season begins in September and the winter season starts the second week in November. Anyone interested, call (847) 508-2721 or e-mail nlba1@yahoo.com.

Soccer

K of C contest: Local 4483 Holy Rosary Council, Knights of Columbus, will sponsor the 2007 Soccer Challenge for all 10- to 14-year-old boys and girls at 2 p.m. Sept. 16 at Melas Park Athletic Complex, 1500 W. Central, Mount Prospect. The winners of the annual event will progress through local, district and state competitions based on scores from the state-level competitions. Everyone will compete in their respective age divisions, and all contestants on the local level are recognized for their participation. Participants must furnish proof of age and written parental consent. Entry forms are available and can be filled out at Melas Park prior to competition. For information, call John Urban at (847) 577-8240.

Championship win: The FCX U14 Black team, a soccer club based in Barrington, defeated Rio Vista FC Riot from New Mexico 1-0 to win the U.S. Soccer Club National Cup competition July 28-31 in Burlington, N.C.

The club held tryouts in May to form a team to enter the U.S. Club Soccer National Cup competition. With limited time to practice together, it qualified for the national event by winning the Regional Championship in Indianapolis the weekend of July 4.

The team traveled to North Carolina to face winners from all eight regions. On the way to the championship, the team defeated The SJ Barons Banchees from New Jersey 2-0. They faced the Tornados FC Rush Nike White '93, a California team, and walked away with a 2-0 victory.

FCX qualified for the finals with a 3-1 win against the Inter SC Boston WB team from Massachusetts. The final game against the team from New Mexico was close throughout, but FCX prevailed with tough defense, effort from all, and a lone goal scored by Jennifer Freeman.

During the four days in North Carolina, the FCX team was led on offense by Elise Kotsakis (two goals), Emily Hyde (two goals), Dana Nelsen, Hannah Drogosz and Nikki Pagnamenta.

The midfield controlled the ball throughout the competition, with contributions from Kelsey Holbert (one goal), Nicole Leginski (one goal), Sarah Fox (one goal), Alexis Tice, Lindsay Onysio, Catie Curran, and Siobhan Klinkenberg.

The opposition only scored one goal throughout all games including the finals -- which was a penalty kick. The outstanding defensive performers were Dana Kopp, Jennifer Freeman, Taylor Connington, Elise Gordon, Nina Metropoulos, and exceptional goal play by Kelly Pedersen.

While in North Carolina, the team trained at Duke University under head coach Ryan Snyder, assisted by John Koeune and lead scout Rob Mitchell.

Volleyball

September tryouts: The Sports Academy-Northwest at 355 Hastings Drive, Buffalo Grove, will hold tryouts for the boys 2007-08 volleyball season at the following times.

• 15- and 16-year-olds (freshmen and sophomores) -- 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. Saturday, 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. Thursday, 9 to 11 a.m. Sept. 15, 9 to 11 a.m. Sept. 16 and 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. Sept. 19.

There will be a parent meeting from 7 to 9 p.m. on Sept. 20.

• 17- and 18-year-olds (juniors and seniors) -- 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Thursday, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sept. 15, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sept. 16, and 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Sept. 19.

There will be a parent meeting from 7 to 9 p.m. Sept. 20.

The age definitions are:

• 18 and under (18U) -- Seniors born on or after Sept. 1, 1989 or players who were born on or after Sept. 1, 1988, and a high school student during some part of the academic year.

• 17 and under (17U) -- Juniors born on or after Sept. 1, 1990.

• 16 and under (16U) -- Sophomores born on or after Sept. 1, 1991.

• 15 and under (15U) -- Freshmen born on or after Sept. 1, 1992.

• 14 and under (14U) -- Eighth-graders born on or after Sept. 1, 1993.

• 13 and under (13U) -- Seventh-graders born on or after Sept. 1, 1994.

• 12 and under (12U) -- Sixth-graders born on or after Sept. 1, 1995.

Both the TSA tryout registration/waiver and the USAV tryout waiver and release must be completed by parent/guardian before tryouts.

For more information about TSA Club volleyball tryouts and the 2008 TSA Team USA travel program, call (847) 279-3934 or go to the Web site at www.tsanorthwest.com.

Tryouts: Chicago Bounce Volleyball Club will hold boys tryouts on Wednesday and Thursday. Seventh- and eighth graders, and incoming freshman tryouts will take place from 7 to 8:30 p.m., and sophomores to seniors from 8:30 to 10 p.m. The cost is $20 per tryout. Girls tryouts will be held in November.

Chicago Bounce is joining with "Joy of the Game" in Deerfield this year to use their topnotch facility and location. For information, call the office at (847) 791-1020 or visit the Web site at www.chicagobouncevolleyball.com.