Neighbor sports

Baseball

Youth competition:ŒRoselle Rampage will host a free Aquafina® Major League Baseball® Pitch, Hit & Run™ Competition for area youth from 4 to 6:30 p.m. May 4 at Alexian Field, home of the Schaumburg Flyers.

The program provides youngsters with an opportunity to compete, free of charge, in a competition that recognizes individual excellence in baseball skills.

Competitors are divided into four age divisions: 7/8, 9/10, 11/12, 13/14, and have a chance to advance through four levels of competition, including team championships at major league ballparks and the national finals at the 2008 MLB™ All-Star Game®.

The individual pitching, hitting and running champions, along with the all-around champion in each age group at the local competition will be awarded and advance to the sectional.

All participants must bring a copy of their birth certificate and fill out a registration/waiver form prior to the start of the competition. Anyone with questions or to pre-register, contact Dan Lombardo at Rampage-PHR@comcast.net or go to the Web site at www.eteamz.com/rosellerampage.

Baseball/softball

Registration: Baseball and softball registration is under way in Palatine for players ages 15 to 29 for 2008 summer recreational leagues. The baseball leagues include Colt for boys ages 15 to 17 and Palamino for boys ages 18 to 29. The softball leagues for girls are high school, age 18 and younger, and women ages 19 to 29. Register at the Palatine Park District offices, Community Center, 250 E. Wood St. or Birchwood Recreational Center, 435 W. Illinois Ave. You can also register at palatineparks.org.

Practices begin in May and games will be played during June and July. For more information, call the park district at (847) 991-0333 or visit pbabaseballsoftball.com.

Fishing

Members wanted: Midwest Bassbusters, a bass fishing club, seeks new members at any level of experience. The group fishes one weekend a month, April through October. Monthly meetings are held at Where Else Lounge, Higgins and Kively roads, Elk Grove Village. For more information, contact Len Digate at (847) 870-7070 or at ltd_financial@wideopenwest.com.

Football

Summer camps:ŒChicago Bears Youth Football Camps will be offered in June and July. The camps are non-contact day camps for youngsters 6 to 14 years old and teach athletic, football and life skills for young athletes. The camp will be taught by professional educators, along with former Chicago Bears Mickey Pruitt, Kris Haines and Wendell Davis. Chicago Bears youth camps offer comprehensive skill instruction while maintaining a 10:1 student to instructor ratio. Local camps include the following:

• June 16 to 20 -- 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., St. Alphonsus Church, 411 Wheeling Road, Prospect Heights.

• June 23 to 27 -- 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Barbara Rose School, 61 W. Penny Road, Barrington.

• June 23-27 ---- 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Deerpath Middle School, 95 W. Deerpath Road, Lake Forest.

• July 7 to 11 -- 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Campanelli YMCA, 300 W. Wise Road, Schaumburg.

• July 14 to 18 -- 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Poe School, 2800 N. Highland Ave., Arlington Heights.

• July 14 to 18 -- 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Laura B. Sprague School, 2425 Riverwoods Drive, Lincolnshire.

• July 21 to 25 -- 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Barbara Rose School, 61 W. Penny Road, Barrington.

• July 21 to 25 -- 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Highland School, 310 W. Rockland Road, Libertyville.

Sign up by April 11 and save $25 on the summer camp registration. Each camp maintains a 10-to-1 student-to-instructor ratio. First-aid trained staff and an athletic trainer are available at all camps to ensure a safe and healthy experience.

For information, call Chicago Bears Youth Football Camps at (312) 226-7776 or go to the Web site at www.prosportsexperience.com/bears/

Golf

Substitutes needed:ŒThe Elk Grove Village Senior Men's Golf League, which plays on Tuesday mornings at Fox Run Golf Links, needs substitutes. This is a handicapped league with four flights and tee off at 7:30 a.m. Substitutes will fill in for absent members, are guaranteed to play, and do not have to be Elk Grove Village residents.

The season starts April 22 and runs until Sept. 2. There will be a meeting of members and substitutes to organize teams and explain rules on April 15. For information, call Gerald Aleksy at (847) 910-1247.

Women's league: The Smiler's Women's 9-Hole Golf League seeks new members and substitutes. The league plays at Arlington Lakes Golf Course Thursdays teeing off from 7:45 to 8:07 a.m. April 17 through Sept. 4. Golfers are of all skill levels. For more information about joining, call Donna Rosko at (847) 895-7295.

Ladies league: The Palatine Ladies 9-Hole Golf League plays Mondays at the Palatine Hills Golf Course, 512 W. Northwest Hwy., with tee times from 7:15 to 8:27 a.m. April 28 to Aug. 18. Annual fee, $45, and greens fees are paid weekly to the course. An established handicap is not required. For more information about the league, visit golfchat.org or call Nancy Boborci at (847) 577-7204.

Ladies league: The Twilighters of Rob Roy Golf Course in Prospect Heights is looking for ladies to join its league which plays Monday afternoons from April 28 through Aug. 25. Tee times start at 3:50 p.m. and end at 4:22 p.m. Anyone interested, call Dyan Kintzler at (847) 818-0249 or e-mail d.kintzler@comcast.net.

Couples league: The Friday night couples "fun golf" league seeks players. The league plays at the Mount Prospect Golf Club from May through August with tee times starting at 5:20 p.m. There are weekly themes and an end-of-the year banquet. Weekly play is not mandatory and substitutes are not required. For more information, contact Karen and Mark Ackermann at (847) 394-3524 or address an e-mail to k.ackermann@comcast.net.

Mixed golf league: The Monday twilight mixed "fun golf" league seeks players. The league plays at Old Orchard Country Club, May through August, with tee times starting at 4:15 p.m. Weekly play is not mandatory, and discounted greens fees are available for Prospect Heights nonresidents. There will be contests each week, and an annual tournament in September at another course with cash prizes.

For more information, contact Len Digate, (847) 870-7070 or by e-mail at ltd_financial@wideopenwest.com.

Members wanted: The Palatine Hills Golf Association seeks new members to play on Thursday, Saturday or Sunday. Part-time substitutes and full-time members are welcome. For more information, visit phgagolf.com.

Senior golfers: Palatine Hills Golf Association offers golf groups for men and women that play every Thursday, as well as Tuesdays, Saturdays and Sundays. The Golf Enjoyed More program gives senior members, who might not play like they used to, a way to compete favorably in all sanctioned events played at Palatine Hills. Senior members can also compete with younger players. To review the member package, visit phgagolf.com.

The organization also offers several holiday and traveling events per year. The Tuesday group of retired members seeks new members. The group travels to play area courses. For more information, call Palatine Hills Golf Association at (847) 358-3506.

Hockey

Youth camp:ŒWest Meadows Rink in Rolling Meadows will host a Chicago Blackhawks Youth Hockey Dream Camp from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. July 14 through 18 for boys and girls ages 6 to 14 years old. Dream Camps provide comprehensive hockey instruction and fitness training. Each program maintains 5:1 student-to-instructor, on-ice teaching ratio.

Check out the camp schedule and curriculum and register by calling Chicago Blackhawks Youth Hockey Camps at (312) 226-0002 or www.BlackhawksCamps.com.

Racing

Team signups:ŒElite Athletic Development is currently recruiting swimmers, runners and bicyclists of all levels for its new racing team. Anyone, whether running their first 5K or 20th triathlon, will benefit from group training and tips from professional coaches. Come to Elite's open house between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. April 19 at 12 W. College Drive, Unit B, Arlington Heights (between Arlington Heights Road and Kennicott, just off University Drive) to learn more or for priority signup. Signup is also open for Summer Youth Athletic Development Camps.

For information, call (847) 394-8110 or go to www.eliteathletic.com.

Soccer

Registration: The Inverness Soccer Club will hold registration from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. April 26 at Holy Family Community Church, 2515 Palatine Road, Inverness. ISC offers recreational soccer for boys and girls in kindergarten to eighth-grade. The fall season runs from August through October. The cost is $75 for Inverness Park District residents and $85 for nonresidents.

Early signup is also available for the ISC/MLS Soccer Camp Aug. 4-8. A late registration fee of $35 applies after April 26.

The program is open to residents of Inverness, Palatine, Barrington, Hoffman Estates and Rolling Meadows. For more information, visit invernesssoccer.com or call (847) 289-4390.

Holiday tournament:ŒGrove United Soccer Association, a not-for-profit organization, will hold an annual soccer tournament May 23 to 26 at Willow Stream Park. The association wants to raise money for scholarships to give less fortunate kids an opportunity to play soccer at a competitive level.

The cost for the Memorial Day Shootout is U8-U11, $425 and U12-U19, $475.