Local sports briefs

Heartland Soccer Club
SEBRING The Heartland Soccer Club is inviting all interested players, parents and coaches to attend an information meeting on Monday, Feb. 8 at 6:30 p.m. at the YMCA. The Club is currently registering players for a 3-on-3 league. Games will be played in Lake Wales and Bartow. Games start Saturday, Mar. 13 and the season ends May 15. The registration fee is $50, and please provide a copy of the players' birth certificate.
For more information, contact Gelene Cochran at 863-385-2888 or Paul Brown at 863-382-9241.

Highlands Archery club
SEBRING The Highlands Bowhunters will host a 3-D shoot on Saturday, Feb. 14 at 8:15 at the range located on Haywood Taylor Boulevard, immediately on the left when you turn off of Highway 98.
Registration will begin at 8:30 a.m. All interested archers are invited to attend. Guest cost is $10 to shoot two rounds of 20 targets with a shotgun start. The Club holds 3-D shoots the second Saturday of each month through August, which is when a Broadhead shoot takes place.
For more information, contact Randy at 863-655-6770.

Special STARS softball
SEBRING The Special STARS are getting ready for its 11th annual co-ed softball league season at the Highlands County Softball Complex. Practices are from 3-5 p.m. every Sunday, Feb. 21 and 28 and Mar. 7. The tournament will be at 8 a.m. on Saturday, Mar. 13. Players and coaches are needed.
The team will consist of four special athletes, three men and three women on the field at all times. Athletes need to be at least 16 or older to play. It is slow pitch co-ed softball. Team sponsorships are available for $250, which includes shirts for the entire 15-member team with the sponsors' logo on it, publicity and recognition at the event.
For more information, contact Special STARS coordinator Cindy Marshall at 863-443-0438.

Thakkar mixed doubles
SEBRING The Thakkar and Thakkar Valentine's mixed doubles tournament will be held on Saturday, Feb. 13 at the Thakkar Tennis Center. Registration will begin at 8 a.m., with a cost of $35 for HCTA members and $45 for non-members. The registration deadline is Thursday, Feb. 11 at 5 p.m.
For more information, contact Lynda at 863-471-0389 or e-mail her at ladycgull@comcast.net.

LP Chamber bass tournament
LAKE PLACID The 13th annual Greater Lake Placid Chamber of Commerce bass tournament will be held on Sunday, Mar. 14 at Lake Istokpoga. This is a team tournament, with only two participants per boat. The entry fee is $100 per team, which includes a $10 big bass.
Contact the Chamber of Commerce at 863-465-4331 or chamer@lpfla.com for more information.

Valentine's 5K run/walk
SEBRING The Junior Achievement of Highlands County is accepting applications for the Valentine's "Run Your Heart Out" Family 5K run/walk. This year's event will take place on Saturday, Feb. 13 at 8 a.m. at Highlands Hammock State Park. Registration begins at 7 a.m. Awards will be given for age group winners, overall winners, best Valentine's costume and best school spirit.
Contact Scott Crutchfield at 863-402-5650 or Greg Harris at 863-385-8448 for more information. The deadline for pre-registration is Feb. 5.

Group adult golf lessons
SEBRING Nell Frewin Hays, a PGA professional at Golf Hammock Country Club, is offering group golf instruction for adults. The group clinic will cover all aspects of the game and be held every Saturday at 1 p.m. through March 2010. Cost is $12 per person for one hour of instruction, including range balls. Men and women are invited to sign up by calling the Golf Hammock pro shop at 863-382-2151. Class size is limited to the first 10 players to sign up.

Sebring memorial golf scramble
SEBRING The Sebring Eagles No. 4240 Memorial Golf Scramble for Igy Soler and Chuck Geary to benefit the Humane Society will be held on Saturday, Feb. 20 at the Country Club of Sebring. The scramble format will begin at 8:30 a.m., and lunch will follow at Sebring Eagles on U.S. 98. The cost is $55 per person, which includes golf, one mulligan, door prizes and closest to the pin for men and women. Hole sponsors are available for $50 per hole.
For more information, contact Paul Morris at 863-446-2064, or Joe Waters at 863-214-8005.

Basic training class
SEBRING Lisa Celentano is starting a basic training class on Mondays from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. at the Highlands County YMCA. She is known county-wide as one of the top trainers in conditioning and core strength training. Her class will also offer a sound nutritional program that will help you keep fit and energized. Cost is $79 for members and $99 for nonmembers. This is a four-week course and classes fill up quick. Call 863-382-9622.

Kegel Bowling Academy
SEBRING The Kegel Youth Bowling Academy is looking for kids interested in bowling. Ages are from 5-20, with bowling every Saturday morning at 9 a.m. and practice on Friday afternoons at 4:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. Registration fee is $45, which includes shirt, sanctioning fee, first and last week of bowling. Cost is $10 weekly. For more information, call Kegel at 863-382-2643.

Sebring Lakeside Golf Winter Series
SEBRING The Sebring Lakeside Golf Resort presents the 2010 Winter Tournament Series, which began Jan. 16 at Sebring Lakeside Golf Resort. The teams of four (men, women and mixed) will compete in a scramble nine-hole tournament. Lunch is served immediately afterward. Individual certificates are awarded to first-place teams and international bragging rights last at least one month. The first hole-in-one receives 10 free play golf passes, and a closest-to-the-pin is awarded one guest pass. Cost per player (includes BBQ) is $15.
For more information, call Mark or Maria Baker at 863-385-7113.

GOLS indoor soccer league
AVON PARK Registration for the GOLS Indoor Soccer League will be Feb. 6 from 9 a.m. to noon at the First Baptist Church of Avon Park. Sign-ups will take place in the Family Life Center (old Avon Park Recreation Center across from the tennis courts in downtown Avon Park). The GOLS Indoor Soccer League is a co-ed league for 13- to 18-year-olds. Registration is $12 and is limited to the first 40 players to sign up. For insurance purposes, please bring identification with proof of age. Each team plays one game a week at 6:30 p.m. (either Tuesday or Thursday) from Feb. 16 until Apr. 22.
For more information, contact Coach Severn at 863-452-1250 or Coach Virkler at 863-385-3235.

McKinney golf tourney
SEBRING The Sons of Am-Vets sixth annual Bob McKinney golf tournament will be held on March 13 at 8:30 a.m. at Sebring Municipal Golf Course. It will be an 18-hole best-ball scramble with a shotgun start. There will be A, B and C flights, with a cost of $45, which includes food and drink to be served at Am-Vets Post 21 after play.
Contact John Kloet 863-385-1493 for more information.

Winter 9 hole league
AVON PARK River Greens Golf Course is hosting the 9-hole winter league on Thursday afternoons, which began Jan. 14. Cost is $16.82 per person plus tax, with tee times starting at 2:45 p.m. each week. The league is limited to the first 20 people, and a closest-to-the-pin and longest putt contest are awarded each week.
Call 863-453-5210 to sign up or for more information.

Youth bowling league
LAKE PLACID The Royal Palms Youth Bowling League (ages 7 and up) is looking for bowlers. Sign-up is $20, which includes a shirt. Bowling is every Saturday at 9 a.m. through April 10. Cost weekly is $11 and includes three games of bowling, shoes and a prize fund. All youth league bowlers are eligible for a reduced rate open bowling and free bowling with instructions on Fridays, 4-6 p.m., and must be accompanied by an adult. Contact Frank Peterson at 863-382-9541 for more information.

Sebring All-Sport Passes now available
SEBRING Sebring High School is selling All Sport Passes for the 2009-10 school year. The pass is valid for all home sporting events, excluding FHSAA sponsored playoffs and tournaments.
The cost of the pass is $75 per adult and $50 per student. They are on sale in the front office, check payable to Sebring High School.

Junior tennis after-school program
SEBRING A nine-week junior tennis after-school program for kids ages 4-18 will be through Mar. 5 at the Thakkar Tennis Center at Sebring Country Club. The program will be run by Horace Watkins, a USPTA certified pro with more than 25 years experience teaching junior tennis.
Call Watkins at 863-414-2164 or the Country Club at 863-386-4282.

Golf lessons
SEBRING Sun 'N Lake Country Club is holding junior clinics every Friday from 3:30-5 p.m.
Professionals Andy Kesling and Marty O'Hora will teach all the fundamentals of the game, including the grip, stance, full swing, chipping, putting, rules, etiquette, etc. No need to sign up; just show up. Cost per clinic is $15.
For more information, contact Kesling at 863-385-4830.

Horseshoe club
SEBRING The Highlands County Horseshoe Club league play at the Lee Palmer Complex in Sebring is open to all men and women that like to pitch horseshoes. Contact Irve Swihart at 863-452-6899 for more information.

Junior clinics
SEBRING Sebring girls coach Debby McNall and Kim Darrow will host junior golf clinics beginning Thursdays at 4 p.m. at the Sebring Municipal Golf Course.
The cost is $10 per junior (ages 5 and up), and those participating will receive instruction in all aspects of the game. Contact McNall at 863-257-1108 or 863-386-9492 for more information.

LP Chamber 5K run/walk
LAKE PLACID The third annual Greater Lake Placid Chamber of Commerce 5K run/walk will be held on Feb. 6. Entry forms can be obtained on the chamber Web site at www.visitlakeplacidflorida.com or by calling the Lake Placid Chamber of Commerce at 863-465-4331.

Highlands County YMCA
SEBRING The Highlands County YMCA offers four certified personal trainers specializing in many areas to meet your fitness needs. Personal trainers are available for members and non-members. Trainer Mike Ritacco focuses on pre-teen to teenage sport specific and a variety of heath fitness training; Heidi Crutchfield specializes in multi-sport and triathlon training; Sandy Hollinger concentrates on active older adults and weight loss; and Stephen Baily works with power strength training and weight loss.

Sebring Youth Baseball
SEBRING Sebring Youth Baseball is now accepting registrations for the following age groups: T-Ball (4-5), Pitching Machine (6-8) and Minors (9-10). Registration is being accepted at Custom Prints, 2805 Alt 27 S., Sebring (behind Publix). Registration forms can also be downloaded from sebringyouthbaseball.com and mailed to Post Office Box 1178, Sebring, Fla. 33871. Cost of registration is $75 per player. The cost for families with two players is $65 for each additional player. For more information, call Israel Gomez at 471-2007

Heartland Soccer offers program
SEBRING The Heartland Soccer Club is offering a soccer skills enhancement program for prospective boy and girl players ages 11 through 18.
The program runs every Tuesday and Thursday from 4 to 6 p.m. at the rearmost soccer field at the County Complex off Highlands Avenue in Sebring. Well-known British soccer coach and technical director Paul Brown will guide the players through a series of key drills and scrimmages. The drills and scrimmages are designed to develop or improve the vital defensive, ball handling, dribbling, and passing skills necessary for effective play at the recreation league, middle school, and high school level.The cost is only $20 to those who want to develop or improve their skills and $50 for those who also want to play in the upcoming 3-on-3 tournament in Lake Wales and Bartow.
The program will continue through the summer until the fall/winter soccer season.
For more information, call Gelene Cochran at 385-2888 or Paul Brown at 382-9241.