Local sports briefs

Avon Park youth baseball
AVON PARK The Avon Park Dixie Youth Baseball registration will be held at the Durrah Martin Complex on Jan. 9, 16, 23 and 30 from 9 a.m. to noon. Registration will include the following age groups: pitching machine (ages 7-8) and minors (9-11), with an age as of May 1. Registration fee is $50 for the first child and $45 for each additional child. Registrations also are available at the Top Shop in Avon Park, and will only be excepted if a copy of birth certificate, recent picture, and full payment are provided.
For more information, contact Heath Townsend at 863-443-0673.

Tanglewood golf tourney
SEBRING The Tanglewood Golf Association is sponsoring a tournament on Saturday, Jan. 16 at 8 a.m. The scramble format/shotgun start at Harder Hall Country Club is open to both men and women, with an entrance fee of $50 per person. Lunch will be immediately following the tournament on the grounds of Tanglewood. Raffle tickets, 50/50 tickets and mulligans will be available for sale. Registration deadline is Wednesday, Jan. 13.
Contact Buck Anderson at 863-446-0541 to sign up, and hole sponsors are available by calling Larry Lynn at 863-214-8767.

Winter 9 hole league
AVON PARK River Greens Golf Course will host the 9-hole winter league on Thursday afternoons beginning 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.

Lake Placid youth baseball
LAKE PLACID The Lake Placid youth baseball is now accepting registrations for the 2010 season. Forms are available at the Holiday Inn Express on Lakeview Road in Lake Placid, or at www.townoflp@htn.net. The registration deadline is Jan. 14, when draft day also will be held at 5:30 p.m. The age groups: T-ball is $30 (ages 5-6); registration fee for league ages 7-8 and 9-10 is $40. A copy of the player's birth certificate is required.
The Lake Placid girls softball is also accepting registrations for the upcoming season. There will be a mini camp at the Lake June Ballfields during the week of Jan. 11, starting at 6 p.m. each night. Registration fees are $40 and a copy of the player's birth certificate is required.
Contact Sonja Warner at 863-441-4504 or Heather Carr at 863-465-9187 for more information.

Highlands Hammock half-marathon & 5K
SEBRING The second annual Highlands Hammock Half Marathon (13.1-mile) and 5K run/walk has been set for Saturday, Jan. 23 at Highlands Hammock State Park. The half marathon will begin at 7:30 a.m., with the 5K starting 15 minutes later. Early entry fee for the half marathon is $30 through Jan. 11, and $40 from Jan. 12 through race day registration. The entry fee for the 5K is $15 through Jan. 11 and $20 after that date.
Entry forms may be obtained by e-mailing cbrojek@comcast.net. Awards will be given for overall, masters, grand masters and various age divisions.

AP soccer fundraiser
AVON PARK The Avon Park soccer program will host its "Kick in the Grass" golf tournament on at River Greens Golf Course. It will be an 8:30 a.m. shotgun start, with all the proceeds going to the Avon Park soccer program. The cost is $50 per player, with a 50/50 drawing and other prizes available. Sponsorships are available for $100 ($250 for displaying company sponsorship).
For more information, contact assistant coach John P. Vincent III at 863-381-6526 or jpvincentIII@hotmail.com

Wooden bat league
SEBRING A wooden bat league is being formed for those interested softball players who are 50 years or older. Teams will be selected in a draft and the league will start Jan. 12. All games will be played at the Highlands County Sports Complex. Those interested should contact Harry Bell at 863-382-0542 or Bill Todd at 863-385-5632.

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 morning 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. Contract 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 with no additional fee required. 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.

Avon Park Dixie clinic
AVON PARK The Avon Park Youth Baseball Clinic will be held on Saturday, Jan. 30 from 9 a.m. to noon at the Durrah Martin Complex. The cost is $15 per child, which includes a hot dog, drink and chips. Players must be at least 4 years of age, and athletes will placed by ability. The coaching staff will cover the fundamentals of throwing, fielding, hitting, base running, speed and agility work and game situations.
Sign-up is available during any spring season registration dates (Jan. 9, 16, 23 and 30), and also at the Top Shop in Avon Park.

Sebring Youth Baseball
SEBRING Sebring Youth Baseball is now accepting registrations for the following age groups: T-T-Ball (4-5), Pitching Machine (6-8) and Minors (9-10). Registration will take place Jan. 9 and 16 from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. at Max Long Field and Jan. 6 and 13 at Max Long Field from 6 p.m. - 8 p.m. Registration is also 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, Florida 33871. Cost of registration is $75 per player. Families with two players the cost is $65 for the each additional player. All registrations must be received by 2 p.m. on Jan. 16. For more information, call Israel Gomez at 471-2007.