Neighbor Sports

Baseball/softball

Hitting Bash:ŒFastball USA (Elmhurst) will hold a Presidents Day Hitting Bash from 9 a.m. to noon Feb. 18. It includes a three-hour hitting clinic plus free hitting time for one hour after the clinic. All players will be tested on bat speed, exit speed, timing and technique. A video evaluation, along with classroom session, is included. Students will learn drills to maximize technique and to improve timing to increase percentage of hard-hit balls. An online video lesson will be added for students to review technique and drills at home.

The Hitting Bash at Fastball USA, 137 Diversey, Elmhurst, will be led by an associate scout with the Seattle Mariners, coach Mike Ryan. Discounted registrations will be honored for the first 12 registered. Call (630) 532-5107 or go the Web site at www.fastballusa.com.

Players wanted: The Chicago North Men's Senior Baseball League, which uses MLB rules, is seeking new players for the 2008 season. There are four age divisions -- 25 and over, 35 and over, 45 and over and 55 and over. The 25- to 30-game season runs from May-September and is played at fields in Des Plaines, Northbrook and Bensenville. The signup deadline is Feb. 28, and the league-wide new player evaluation session will be held at 1 p.m. March 1. The cost is approximately $300 per player for the season.

Players come from the Chicago area and have a wide range of baseball backgrounds. Some played college and minor league ball, while others joined straight from the softball field or after a long layoff.

For information or to sign up, call Mike Bryskier at (773) 592-1575, e-mail him at cnmsblppd@ciomcast.net or go to the Web site at play baseballagain.com.

Coaching assistants: Palatine Youth Baseball and Softball is seeking volunteers to assist its 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 information, contact Robin, the volunteer coordinator, at PYB.com or e-mail boisvert3967@comcast.com.

Basketball

2 Ball Competition: Get a partner and join the Chicago Bulls and Palatine Park District for the free 2 Ball Competition Feb. 18 at the Community Center Gym, 250 E. Wood St., Palatine.

Participants will compete as a team of two for one minute trying to score as many points as possible from eight designated spots on the court. Divisions will include boys, girls, and adult and child. Ages of children eligible range from 9 through 14 years. Pre-registration is recommended and you must have your own partner. Partner must be listed on the entry form. Rules and waiver forms will be sent to all registered participants one week prior to competition. The online registration deadline is Monday. Children must bring a birth certificate the day of the event. Registration will only be available at the Community Center on the day of event.

Sponsors of this event are Northwest Community Hospital, Score! Educational Center and the Palatine Park District. For information, call the Palatine Park District at (847) 991-0333.

AAU tryouts:ŒThe Netburners will hold tryouts for boys and girls Feb. 29 at Birchwood Recreation Center, 435 W. Illinois Ave., Palatine at the following times.

• Fourth and fifth grade -- 6 to 7 p.m.

• Sixth and seventh grade -- 7 to 8 p.m.

• Eighth, ninth and 10th grade -- 8 to 9 p.m.

The registration fee at the door costs $10 or $5 by e-mail before Feb. 27.

Contact Lonnie Welch at (847) 338-7099, by e-mail lonnie.netburners@gmail.com or visit netburners.com.

Football/cheer

Pop Warner registration: Hoffman Estates Hawks Youth Football and Cheer will hold early registration from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday at Eisenhower Junior High School, 800 Hassell Road.

Hoffman Estates has the only Pop Warner Little Scholars program in the area and players from all Northwest suburban towns are welcome. Pop Warner is the largest youth football and cheer organization in the country. For information go to www.popwarner.com.

There are several levels of tackle football and cheer for ages 5 to 14 based on experience. Flag football is also offered for youngsters 5 to 8 who don't want to play tackle football. The program accepts all players regardless of tumbling skills or football experience.

Hoffman Estates is also forming Challenger program flag and cheer teams for 5- to 14-year-olds with disabilities so they can experience everything Pop Warner offers. The Challenger program is a part of the Pop Warner program, and several towns in the Chicago area conference will have teams.

The Chicagoland Pop Warner conference champions of football and cheer will qualify for the Mid-America regional championships made up of an 11-state region. The region winner travels to Disneyworld for the Pop Warner Superbowl seen on ESPN.

For more information, e-mail hawkpres@comcast.net or go to the Web site at www.hoffmanhawks.org for online registration.

Falcons registration: Streamwood Falcons Football & Cheerleading will hold registration for 2008 at the following times and places in Streamwood.

• Feb. 15 -- 6 to 9 p.m., Streamwood Community Center ,777 S. Bartlett Road.

• Feb. 16 -- 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., Streamwood Community Center, 777 S. Bartlett Road.

• March 1 -- 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., Park Place Family Recreation Center, 550 S. Park Blvd.

The Streamwood Falcons traveling football program gives participants the opportunity to learn how to play football and cheer in a structured environment. Participants learn the value of teamwork, sportsmanship, physical fitness and athletic competition. The football program is open to 5- to 13-year-old players, and the cheer program includes those in kindergarten through eighth grade. The season begins in early August and runs though the end of October, excluding playoffs.

A minimum $100 payment per child is required at registration. The total fees are $255, which includes $70 of total refunds at the end of the year. The program is also open to nonresidents of Streamwood.

For information, call (630) 640-3765 or visit www.streamwoodfalcons.com.