Neighbor Sports

Neighbor sports

Baseball, softball

Pitchers' clinic: Two-time Fireman-Award winning MLB relief pitcher Juan Acevedo will conduct a Professional Training Clinic for Serious Pitchers Only at The Sports Academy, 355 Hastings Drive, Buffalo Grove (in Chevy Chase Business Park). The clinic covers pitching strength, pitcher's fielding practice, mechanics, mental toughness, the pitch selection, grip and delivery.

The clinic for pitchers ages eighth grade through high school will be held from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. Wednesdays and 10 a.m. to noon Sundays from today to Feb. 20.

For the cost, registration form or more information, call TSA at (847) 279-3934 or go to the Web site at info@tsanorthwest.com.

Prospect Heights/Wheeling registration: Walk-in registration for the 2008 Prospect Heights/Wheeling Youth Baseball and Softball League season will be from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday and 7 to 9 p.m. Jan. 24 at the Gary Morava Recreation Center, 110 W. Camp McDonald Road, Prospect Heights. Registration is also scheduled for 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Jan. 19 at the Wheeling Rec Center, 333 W. Dundee Road, Wheeling. Visit www.phwybs.org or call (847) 622-5311.

Basketball

Basketball skills: Three-time NBA champion Dickey Simpkins will be leading a basketball skills and development program for fourth- to seventh-graders Sundays, Jan. 13 to Feb. 24 at the JCYS Northwest Family Center, 1700 Weiland Road, Buffalo Grove.

The program will include fundamental basketball skills and a controlled competitive game at the end of every session. Each player will have the opportunity to play a significant amount of minutes in every game. The fee is $95, which includes a jersey and basketball.

The JCYS is an independent, nonprofit agency that provides educational and recreational programs nurturing individual growth and promoting responsibility to others.

For details call (847) 279-0900 or visit www.jcys.org/northwest

Hockey

Spring registration: Inline Hockey will hold registration for the spring season from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday at Rainbow Falls in Elk Grove Village. A special guest will be at registration courtesy of the Chicago Blackhawks. The program is open to players between the age of 4 and 18 of all skill levels. The league fee, which includes 12 games, practices, playoffs, mid-season tournament and a hockey jersey, is $90 for Elk Grove Village residents and $108 for nonresidents.

The Mighty Mite program of skill development and guided scrimmages is available for children in preschool or kindergarten. The fee is $40 for residents and $50 for nonresidents.

Players in first through 12th grade play in one of five divisions depending on their age. Games are played at three outdoor inline hockey rinks in Elk Grove Village. Extra skills clinics are offered during the season at no additional charge.

Registration is also available at the Elk Grove Park District Pavilion through the end of January. For additional information, call Patti Siwicki at (847) 437-5388 or visit the Web site at www.egvsports.com.