Neighborhood sports

Baseball

Registration:ŒHanover Park Little League will hold its final registration for the 2008 season from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and noon to 4 p.m. Sunday. Players who bring a new, non-family member to register along with them will receive $10 off their registration fee. A spot can be reserved with a $20 deposit.

Download registration forms from the Web site at www.hanoverparklittleleague.com. There are limited openings for boys and girls ages 5 to 18.

Throw Faster Clinic: Fastball USA, near the York and Grand intersection on Diversey in Elmhurst, will host a one-day clinic from 9 a.m. to noon Jan. 21. Pre-registration is required.

The clinic will teach baseball players how to throw harder and farther while improving overall throwing ability. The class will be led by former college coaches and baseball scouts.

The satisfaction-guaranteed clinic will offer players a start at building and enhancing throwing velocity. Discounts are available for the first 12 students to register.

For more information, call (630) 532-5107 or visit www.fastballusa.com.

Hitting clinic: Professionals at The Sports Academy, 355 Hastings Drive, Buffalo Grove in Chevy Chase Business Park will work with athletes on fine tuning bat mechanics for game-time performance. Sessions will be held Jan. 27 to Feb. 24 from noon to 1 p.m. for second- to fourth-grade players and 4 to 5 p.m. for fifth to eighth graders. The cost is $150.

For a registration form or more information, call TSA at (847) 279-3934 or visit info@tsanorthwest.com.

New players sought: The Chicago North Men's Senior Baseball League seeks new players for the upcoming 2008 season. This is baseball using MLB rules, not softball. There are four age divisions: 25 and older, 35 and older, 45 and older and 55 and older. The season runs from May to September with between 25 and 30 games, played at fields in Des Plaines, Northbrook and Bensenville. Players come from the Chicago area, and have a wide range of baseball backgrounds. Some have played college and minor league ball, while others joined directly from the softball field or after a 20 or more year layoff. Everyone's desire is to play baseball.

The signup deadline is Feb. 28. A league-wide new player evaluation session will be held at 1 p.m. March 1. The cost per player is approximately $300 for the season. For more information or to sign up, contact Mike Bryskier at (773) 592-1575 or at cnmsblppd@comcast.net For more information, visit playbaseballagain.com.

Travel openings: The Northwest Crushers, formerly the Stone Authority Crushers, U13 Boys Travel Baseball Team has openings for the 2008 travel season. Non-Hoffman Estates residents are also welcome to try out. Contact Coach Ed Korus for an indoor tryout.

Players must be no older than 13 on or before May 1, 2008. The team plays a competitive schedule from April to July in the Mid-Suburban Baseball League, which includes approximately 50 games, including two out of town weekend tournaments. Home games are at Cannon Crossing in Hoffman Estates. For more information, call Coach Korus at (847) 202-1970.

Travel baseball: The 9- to 10-year-old Schaumburg Seminoles travel baseball team seeks players.

The Seminoles are a travel team in the MSBL 10B league. For more information, e-mail manager Bob Perna at bperna@aaronequipment.com.

Baseball/softball

Coaching assistants: Palatine Youth Baseball and Softball is seeking volunteers to assist coaches for the 2008 season. Volunteers can help 7- to 12-year-old girls learn the fundamentals of softball. Anyone who played softball in high school or college and would like the chance to develop talented young players is welcome. PYB/S is an affiliate of the Palatine Park District.

For more information, contact Robin at PYB.com or send an e-mail addressed to boisvert3967@comcast.com.

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 ages 4 to 18 of all skill levels. League play, which includes 12 games, practices, playoffs, mid-season tournament and a hockey jersey, costs $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 grades play in one of five divisions depending on 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.

Inline Hockey is a way to experience the speed and fun of hockey without the expense of most ice hockey programs. Because there is no checking, boys and girls play on mixed teams. There are also no blue lines or red lines so learning the game is fun and easy.

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

Softball

Registration: The Schaumburg Athletic Association will hold walk-in registration for the 2008 softball season from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday or Jan. 19 at The Barn, 231 Civic Drive, Schaumburg. SAA offers a girls softball program for girls ages 5 to 19 from Schaumburg and surrounding communities. The program is committed to instruction and promoting good sportsmanship. Anyone who wants to have fun, make new friends, and learn the game, may come to registration which costs $120 per player and includes a complete uniform. Each team is required to find one sponsor in the amount of $150.

The league structure is: Tee-ball (pre-k and kindergarten), must be 5 by March 31, 2008; Pee Wee (first and second grade), player pitches 2, then coach pitches 3; Juniors (third and fourth grade), modified fast pitch, Intermediate (fifth and sixth grade), modified fast pitch; Majors (seventh and eighth grade), fast pitch; and Seniors (high school or up to age 19), fast pitch.

In the Tee-ball and Pee Wee leagues, girls are placed on teams based upon school/area and preferences. Juniors through Majors are placed on teams based on results of evaluations held in February. Fast pitch rules have been established for Juniors through Majors and vary depending upon level. Evaluations are not held for players in the Senior league.

SAA Softball is an all-volunteer program including commissioners, coaches and parents who work to provide a positive environment for the girls while developing fundamentals, teamwork, commitment and sportsmanship.

For more information, call Lou Anderson at (630) 872-1320 or check the Web site at www.saa-online.com.