Local sports briefs

Travel baseball
SEBRING The Heartland Bandits Machine Pitch Travel Baseball Team will host tryouts Sunday March 21st. Tryouts will be open to children 8 and under that are interested in travel tournament baseball. Tryouts will be at Max Long Field at 4pm.
For more information contact 863-414-5958.

SFCC Panther 5K Run/Walk
AVON PARK The SFCC Foundation Inc. and Bill Jarrett Ford Mercury are sponsoring the inaugural SFCC Panther 5K Run/Walk on Saturday, April 17, at the South Florida Community College, Highlands campus. Proceeds benefit the college's intercollegiate athletics programs. The entry fee is $20 through April 7 and $25 from April 8 through race day. Students with a current I.D. may register for $15.
Registration is 6:30-7:15 a.m. on race day in the parking lot in front of the SFCC University Center. Awards will be presented to the first three finishers in each age and gender category as well as Overall and Masters. Entry forms are available at the SFCC Web site, www.southflorida.edu. Participants can mail their copies and entry fees to the SFCC Foundation Inc., 13 East Main St., Avon Park, FL 33825.
To enter with a credit card or for more information about the SFCC Panther 5K Run/Walk, call the foundation at 453-3133.

Kiwanis Charities Golf Classic
SEBRING The 26th Annual Kiwanis Charities Golf Classic will be held at 8:30 a.m. on Saturday, April 24 at Sun 'N Lake Golf and Country Club Deer Run Course. Proceeds from the tournament benefit the Judge Kelly Law Education Program in Highlands County schools as well as many other services for children in Highlands County.
Cost for the four-person scramble is $60 per person, which includes hot dogs and sausage sandwiches and cold beverages on the course and an all you can eat buffet after play. Prizes will be given to the top three teams in each flight, closest to the pin, longest drive, and hole-in-one on each Par 3. Registration forms are available at the Sun 'N Lake Golf Pro Shop or by calling Rhonda Beckman at 863-446-1579 or 386-4183.

Peace River golf
SEBRING A four-person scramble golf tournament will be held on March 20 at 8:30 a.m. at the Country Club of Sebring to benefit the Peace River Refuge and Ranch. Cost is $55 per person. For more information, contact Lisa Stoner at 863-735-0804.

Lake Placid Youth Baseball
LAKE PLACID Lake Placid Youth Baseball ages 11-12 and 13-14 and Lake Placid Youth Softball ages 10-12 and 13-15 is now accepting registrations. You may submit completed forms at the Holiday Inn Express in Lake Placid. Forms are also available at public and private schools and at the concession stand at the Lake June ball fields.
For more information, contact Sonja Warner at 441-4504 or Heather Carr at 465-9187.

Avon Park Dixie Ball
AVON PARK The Avon Park Dixie Youth Baseball league is accepting registrations for T-ball (4-6 years old), Majors (ages 11-12) and Dixie Boys (ages 13-14). The cost is $50 for first child and $45 for each additional family member. There is a $25 fee for draftin up from Minors to Majors. A copy of birth certificate and a recent picture are required. Registrations will be at Durrah Martin Complex on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays through the end of March or you can register at the Top Shop at 108 Forest Ave. in Avon Park from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.
For more information, contact Heath Townsend at 863-443-0673.

Nick Sottile Memorial Golf Tournament
LAKE PLACID Golfers get ready to T-off at the Lake Placid Athletic Association's Annual Nick Sottile Memorial Golf Tournament at Placid Lakes Country Club on Saturday, April 17.
The event is a four-person scramble with cash prizes for the winning teams in each flight. Golfers can win hole-in-one prizes at four holes as well as closest-to-pin prizes and other great gifts. Lunch at the Lake Placid Athletic Association (LPAA) golf tournament is spectacular with a feast of culinary delights including jumbo shrimp, pulled pork, BBQ chicken and all the accoutrements.
Sponsorship ranges from $1,000 to $50 hole-sponsors and lunch tickets are included with most sponsorship levels. For more information or to register, contact Darrell Heckman at 441-0417.

AP mall festival 5K
AVON PARK The 25th annual Avon Park Mall Festival 5K and 1-mile Fun Run will be held on Saturday, March 27 at 8 a.m. The Mall Festival 5K will feature custom performance T-shirts, award plaques and medals to the top three in 16 five-year age divisions. Entry forms are available at the Avon Park Chamber Office, or by e-mailing race director Chet Brojek at cbrojek@comcast.net or calling him at 863-385-4736.
Early race entry fee is $15 through March 20 and $20 through race morning. Registration will begin at 7 a.m. at the First Baptist Youth center on Verona Avenue.

Water ski tournament
FORT MYERS The ninth annual Deuceapalooza Barefoot Endurance will be held on Saturday, April 10. All ages are welcome, with trophies, cash prizes and free T-shirts available to the participants.
For more information, contact Deuce at 239-693-1975.

YMCA co-ed soccer league
SEBRING The YMCA co-ed soccer league, ages 15 and up, is accepting registrations now through March 23. The cost is $25 for members, and $35 for nonmembers, who will complete on teams that consist of 7-15 players, with seven on the field at one time. Games will be played at 12:30 p.m. Saturdays at the YMCA soccer fields.
Also, the YMCA beach volleyball tournament will be held at 9 a.m. on March 27. The cost for YMCA members is $15 ($20 for nonmembers), which includes lunch and a T-shirt. Interested participants can sign up individually or part of a team for the 4-on-4 competition.

Memorial fishing tourney
LAKE PLACID The downtown breakfast Sebring Kiwanis Club is again sponsoring the Leon Tolar Memorial Fishing Tournament, which will be held on March 14 at H.L. Bishop Park. Registration starts at 7 a.m. and fishing is from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., for both adult and kid teams. Prizes and lunch will be provided, and the tournament proceeds help support the youth groups in Highlands County.
For more information, call 863-382-9099. Entry forms can be picked up at Highlands Angler, 2159 U.S. 27 N. in Sebring.

Sebring youth baseball sign-ups
SEBRING Sebring Youth Baseball is now accepting registrations for the following age groups: Majors (11-12) and Dixie Boys (13-14). Registration will take place March 20 from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. at Max Long Field and March 17 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 P.O. Box 1178, Sebring, FL 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 March 20. Tryouts for players not already on a team will be on March 24 at 6:00 p.m. for Dixie Boys and March 25 at 5:45 p.m. for Majors. For more information, call Israel Gomez at 471-2007.

NU-HOPE golf tournament
AVON PARK The 13th annual NU-HOPE Elder Care Services golf tournament will be held on Apr. 3, with the shotgun start at 8:30 a.m. at Pinecrest at Lotela Golf Course. The tournament format will be a two-person scramble format.
Entry fee will be $60 per person ($120 per team), which includes after play meal and refreshments during play. Registration forms are available at the participating golf pro shop or can be mailed or faxed by calling Sandy Foster at 863-382-2134 Ext. 325.

Union Congregational golf tourney
AVON PARK The Union Congregational golf tournament will be held on Saturday, March 20 at River Greens Golf Course. The cost is $50 per person for the 8 a.m. shotgun start, which is a four-person scramble (flighted). The cost includes greens fees, cart, lunch and prizes (50-50 drawing, gift certificates, closest-to-the-pin competitions). The deadline to sign up is March 12, and the tournament is limited to the first 144 people.
For more information, contact Lisa or Amber Davis at River Greens at 863-453-5210 or Gloria Hart at 863-453-3345.

SFCC sand volleyball clinic
AVON PARK The SFCC volleyball team will host sand volleyball clinics through July 18. Individual clinics are $20 per half-hour session ($35 per hour), two-player clinics are $30 per player per hour, three-player clinics are $25 per player per hour, and four-player clinics per player per hour.
Interested players can schedule their sessions by calling 863-835-2377 or 863-784-7037.

Sun 'n Lake Women's Invitational
SEBRING The Sun 'n Lake Women's Golf Invitational will be held on Friday, March 26 at Sun 'n Lake Country Club. The shotgun start will begin at 8:30 a.m., with registration starting at 7:30 a.m. The cost is $50 per person, which includes green fees, cart, lunch and prizes. The deadline to register is March 17.
For more information, contact Daniela at 863-385-0793.

River Greens golf program
AVON PARK River Greens Golf Course is bringing adults into the game of golf in a fast, fun and affordable way through the new Get Golf Ready in 5 Days program, which is comprised of five introductory lessons offered by PGA professionals. The program runs through March 20. Insight will include techniques regarding chipping, putting, full swing, half swing and bunker play.
For more information, or to register for the Get Golf Ready program, contact River Greens at 863-453-5210.

LP Chamber bass tournament
LAKE PLACID The 13th annual Greater Lake Placid Chamber of Commerce bass tournament will be held on Sunday, March 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.

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. 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.

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.

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. Weekly cost 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 run now through May 14 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.

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.

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.