Portage High School hosting softball clinic

PORTAGE | The Portage High School softball team and coaching staff will conduct its annual clinic for players eighth grade and younger March 13 from 1-5 p.m. in the high school fieldhouse. Subjects covered will include hitting, pitching, bunting, catching, position play and base running. Cost is $30 in advance, $35 at the door. Checks should be made out to Portage High School and mailed to: Softball Coach, Portage High School, 6450 U.S. Highway 6, Portage IN 46368.

For more information, call Gil Arzola at 309-3662 or e-mail garzola212@comcast.net.

Knights of Columbus send locals to state free-throw finals

PORTAGE | Ten youths won Knights of Columbus regional free-throw titles Sunday at a competition hosted by Nativity of Our Savior Council No. 9114 at Portage High School. Girls winners were Holly Riley (age 10, Crown Point, 16-of-25 free throws made, 4-5 in the tiebreaker), Daly Sullivan (11, South Bend, 22-25), Chelsea Groves (12, Walkerton, 22-25), Cailin Trezak (13, Hobart, 17-25) and Hannah Strange (14, Walkerton, 21-25). Boys winners were Ben Dermody (10, LaPorte, 17-25), Blake Maris (11, Crown Point, 21-25, 4-5, 5-5), Jacob Miecznikowski (12, Chesterton, 18-25), Mitchell Gerlach (13, Crown Point, 22-25) and Nick Adjer (14, Crown Point, 23-25). They will advance to state competition at 1:30 p.m. March 21 at Greenwood Middle School in Greenwood.

Adult baseball team looking for pitchers and middle infielders

An NWI NABA baseball team is looking for pitchers and middle infielders ages 27 and older. For more information, call Nick Bizic at (219) 736-8242 or e-mail nwinababaseball@yahoo.com.

Girls basketball team holding tryouts in Merrillville

MERRILLVILLE | The Lady Baylor Bucs girls high school-age basketball team is holding tryouts from 6-9 p.m. March 2 and 4 at Merrillville Intermediate School. The Baylor Boys basketball team is holding tryouts from 6-9 p.m. March 5. For more information, call Toi Baylor at (219) 306-9932 or go to WWW.BAYLORYOUTH.ORG.

Valpo Cal Ripken baseball signups underway

VALPARAISO | The Valparaiso Department of Parks and Recreation is offering Cal Ripken baseball registration for ages 9-12. The season begins in early May. Games will be played weekday evenings and Saturdays at either Westside or Kirchhoff Park. Cost is $60, $50 with resident discount. Registration is being taken at the Parks Administration Office, 3210 N. Campbell St. For details, call (219) 462-5144.

Portage Parks offering Tumbling Tuesdays

PORTAGE | The Portage Parks and Recreation Department will offer children ages 2 and older an opportunity to learn the fundamentals of tumbling. Session four begins March 2 at the Portage Yacht Club, and it runs for six consecutive Tuesdays. The cost is $35 for residents and $40 for non-residents. Ages 2-3 meet from 5-5:50 p.m., ages 4-5 meet from 6-6:45 p.m. and ages 6 and older meet from 7-7:50 p.m. A maximum of 15 students is permitted for each class. Registration deadline is March 1. For details, call (219) 762-1675.

Valparaiso Parks Spring Soccer signups underway

VALPARAISO | The Valparaiso Department of Parks and Recreation is offering Spring Soccer registration for children ages 4-12. The cost is $45, $35 with resident discount. Deadline is March 4. Games will be played on Saturdays, running April 10 to May 15 at Westside Park. Registration is being taken at the Parks Administration Office, 3210 N. Campbell St. For details, call (219) 462-5144.

Portage Parks offering youth indoor tennis program

PORTAGE | The Portage Parks and Recreation Department will offer a youth indoor tennis program. Children will receive 45 minutes of instructional practice followed by 45 minutes of match play. There will be two divisions: 10-and-under and 8-and-under. Cost is $35 per resident, $40 per non-resident. Participants must provide their own racket. The program is held on Wednesdays through March 31 in the Oakwood Grand Hall at Woodland Park. Registration deadline is today. For details, call (219) 762-1675.

Chili Open rescheduled Saturday at Creekside

VALPARAISO | After being postponed because of weather, the inaugural Chili Open has been rescheduled for 10 a.m. Saturday at Creekside Golf Course and Training Center. The nine-hole/four-man team event has an entry fee of $10 per person. The entry fee will cover a chili lunch and prizes. For details, call Creekside at (219) 531-7888.

Boys and Girls Club holds hoops signups

VALPARAISO | The Valparaiso unit of the Boys and Girls Clubs of Porter County will hold registration for its spring instructional basketball program through March 5. The program is open to children ages 5-13 who are in grades K-8. Registration times are 2-7 p.m. Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays. Participants must be members of the club. A full-year's membership is $25 per child. Basketball program fees are $15 for ages 5-7, $25 for ages 8-11 and $30 for those 12-13. For details, call Cory at (219) 462-2182, ext. 233, or go to www.bgcpoco.org.

Dollars for Scholars tourney April 17

VALPARAISO | The Dollars for Scholars 3-on-3 basketball tourney will take place April 17 at Valparaiso High School. Teams can consist of four players, which includes three starters and a substitute. Cost is $100. Entry forms can be picked up at Blythe's Sports Shop and the Dairy Queen at Cumberland Crossing. Make checks payable to Dollars for Scholars. Send all information to Dollars for Scholars, 3801 N. Campbell St, Valparaiso, IN, 46385. All entries must be postmarked by April 2. For details, call Mike at (219) 465-0763.

Seniors sought for low-key basketball activity

Play It Again, Sam Sports is calling out for seniors ages 60 and older interested in participating in a low-key basketball activity. For details, call Joe Gerlach at (219) 365-5791.

Indians Cabin Fever March 6

PORTAGE | The Portage Indians Athletic Department Cabin Fever event will take place from 7-11 p.m. March 6 at the Oakwood Room in Woodland Park. Tickets are $20. For details, call (219) 764-6050.

YMCA Bowl-A-Thon Sunday

PORTAGE | The 21st annual Portage Twp. YMCA Bowl-A-Thon will take place at noon Sunday at Camelot Bowl. Entry fee is $60 per team. For details, contact either Lindsey Miller (lindsey@ymcaofportage.org), Janet Grant (janet@ymcaofportage.org) or call (219) 762-9622.

Valparaiso Parks offers youth sports programs

VALPARAISO | The Valparaiso Department of Parks and Recreation is offering a variety of instruction-based sports programs and leagues for youth ages 3-16. Registration has begun for Kick Start Soccer (coed 3-5), Babe Ruth Baseball (boys 13-15), Girls Softball (girls 5-16), Valparaiso T-Ball (coed 5-6) and Cal Ripken Rookie League (coed 7-8). Ages are as of April 30, 2010, except Girls Softball where ages are as of Dec. 31, 2009. Registration is being taken at the Parks Administration Office, 3210 N. Campbell St. For details, call (219) 462-5144.

Indiana Invaders seeking players

The Indiana Invaders 13-under baseball team is looking for players for this season. For details, call Steve at (219) 816-1652.

Indiana Breakers seek baseball players for travel teams

REGION | The Indiana Breakers are seeking players for their 13U, 14U and 16/17U travel baseball teams. The Breakers will provide professional instruction for player development. For details, call Scott Ellrich at (219) 759-0208.

Duneland Flyers baseball team looking for 14U players

CHESTERTON | The Duneland Flyers 14-and-under travel baseball team is looking for one more player to fill its 2010 roster. For details, contact Bob Rusboldt at (219) 878-6909 or 4boldts@comcast.net.

U.S. Baseball Academy holding one-day camp at Andrean

MERRILLVILLE | U.S. Baseball Academy will hold one-day fielding and baserunning camps March 14 at Andrean High School. The camp will be run by site director and Andrean coach Dave Piskur. Sessions will be offered for grades 1-12. Cost for three hours of instruction is $50. For details, call (866) 622-4487 or go to WWW.USBASEBALLACADEMY.COM.

Adult baseball league looking for players and teams

The NWI National Adult Baseball Association is looking for teams and players for the 2010 season. The league is for ages 27 and older. For details, contact Nick Bizic at (219) 736-8242 or nwinababaseball@yahoo.com, or Manny Rosaria at nwinababaseball@msn.com.

Baseball video recruiting combine Sunday

PORTAGE | The Northern Indiana Baseball Recruiting Video Combine will take place Sunday at Portage High School. The first session is for pitchers and catchers. It runs from 9 to 11 a.m. The second session is for positional players. It runs from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. A limit of 15 spots has been set for each session. The cost is $299. Registration deadline is Friday. If there are openings the day of the event, an additional $50 charge will be added to the fee. For details, call Jake Chapman at (219) 613-3069.

State Park signups still available

CHESTERTON | Signups are still available for State Park Little League's baseball, softball leagues. Interested parties for junior/senior, major and minor baseball and softball can register at www.stateparkleague.com until Friday. Registration for challengers, T-ball and instructional baseball is available from 11:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday at Chesterton High School (entrance 34). It's also available online. For details, contact Linda Elmore (baseball) at (219) 395-1657 or lindaelmore@msn.com, Michelle LaFreniere (softball) at (219) 617-5151 or shellzam@comcast.net or Niki Sakaleris (challengers) at (219) 929-1146 or nikisak@earthlink.net.

Region Hitting and Pitching Academy offering lessons

UNION TWP. | The Region Hitting and Pitching Academy, located at 351 W. County Road 500 North, is offering lessons for baseball and softball players. Hour-long sessions will be conducted on alternating Saturdays beginning at 2 p.m. Cost is $30 per child. Groups will be limited in size to six to maximize instruction.

For more information or to register, call Joe Kovats at (219) 405-1037.

Softball umpire clinic at Portage High School

PORTAGE | Indiana ASA will hold a fastpitch and slowpitch softball umpire clinic from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. March 14 at Portage High School. Registration is from 8 to 9 a.m. Cost is $35. Lunch will be included. New umpires will be able to purchase ASA equipment and clothing at the clinic. For details, call Gary Warwick at (219) 406-3399.

Indiana Raiders White 12U softball team looking for player

The Indiana Raiders White 12U softball team is looking for a utility player to fill out its 2010 roster. Those interested should contact Dave Jercha at (219) 617-2512 or jersh_1@comcast.net.

Part-time travel softball team looking for players

An 11-and-under part-time travel softball team is looking for a pitcher/fielder. The team will be a full-time travel team after the summer season starting in August and into fall ball. Players must have a 1998 birth date. Call Mark Ericksen at (219) 384-7414.

Valparaiso Parks softball roster forms available

VALPARAISO | Softball roster forms for the summer season are available at the Valparaiso Department of Parks and Recreation. Completed rosters, consisting of at least 12 players, will be accepted on a first-come, first-serve basis through April 1. Team fees are $550 plus a $10 for each non-city resident team member. Team fees paid after April 1 start at $590. For details, call (219) 462-5144 or go to www.valparaisoparks.org/schedules.

Portage Parks summer softball signups continue

PORTAGE | Registration for Portage Parks' adult summer softball leagues continues through April 9. The cost is $500 per team. Men's leagues run Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays, while the coed leagues play Thursdays. Forms are available at Woodland Park. A $100 deposit must be paid to pick up a roster.

Chesterton Parks softball packets available

CHESTERTON | Registration packets for the summer softball season are available at the Chesterton Park office, 1415 S. 23rd St. Team fee is $500. Registration deadline is April 19. For details, call Hillary Thomas at (219) 926-3000.

Kouts Youth Soccer League signups end Friday

KOUTS | The Kouts Youth Soccer League is taking spring registration through Friday. Signup forms can be picked up at Kouts Elementary School or registration can be done online at www.koutsyouthsoccer.com. Final signups and a used equipment exchange will take place at 6 p.m. Friday during the Kouts boys basketball junior varsity and varsity games at the high school. For details, call Joe Furdeck at (219) 766-0018.

Indoor prep tourney in Portage

PORTAGE | The Portage Parks and Recreation Department will host a 3-on-3 high school soccer tournament Sunday at Woodland Park. Cost is $30 per team. There is a maximum of six players per roster. Registration deadline is Thursday. For details, call DJ Cole at (219) 331-1599.

Millennium U-17 boys team seeks players

Millennium Soccer Association's Under 17 boys soccer is in search of players for the spring season. For details, contact DJ Cole at either (219) 331-1599 or coachcole5@verizon.net.

Portage Parks spring soccer signups continue

PORTAGE | Portage Parks spring soccer signups continue through March 26. The league is open to those ages 3-14. Cost is $40 for residents, $45 for non-residents. A $10 late fee will be assessed for signups after March 26.

VU holds pair of VIP soccer camps

VALPARAISO | Valparaiso University's men's soccer program will host a pair of VIP soccer camps. The first camp runs June 14-16, while the second runs July 16-18. The camp is open to high-school age players with aspirations to play college soccer. For details, go to ValpoSoccerVIP.com or contact VU assistant coach Jeff Oleck at Jeff.Oleck@valpo.edu or (219) 464-5059.

Portage to host officials meeting

PORTAGE | Portage High School will host a preseason meeting for IHSAA track and field officials at 7 p.m. March 15 in the LGI room. Use entrance M, located at the back of the school near the tennis courts. For details, contact Barry Poole at poole.barry@gmail.com or Jay White at jwhite@portage.k12.in.us.

LaPorte YMCA 10K March 27

LAPORTE | The seventh annual LaPorte YMCA 10K run and 5K run/walk will take place March 27 at Soldiers Memorial Park. The 10K starts at 9 a.m., and the 5K events begin at 9:15. Registration begins at 7:30 a.m. The entry fee is $17, but $22 after March 19, for the 10K. Fees for the 5K are $15, but $20 after March 19. For details, contact senior program director Mark Schreiber at either (219) 325-9622 or mschreiber@lpymca.org.

Northwest Indiana Flag Football League call-out

PORTAGE | The outdoor spring session of the Northwest Indiana Flag Football League will start at 9 a.m. March 28. Team fee is $450 plus a once-a-year USFTL fee of $25. Payment must be received by March 19. There will be eight games plus playoffs. Format is 8-on-8, 100-yard field, kickoffs, punts, field goals and USFTL rules. There will be upper and lower divisions. For details, go to WWW.LEAGUELINEUP.COM/NWIFFL.

Hunter Education Safety Course at Lemon Lake

CEDAR LAKE | The Hunter Education Safety Course will take place from 6 to 9 p.m. March 12 and from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. March 13 at Lemon Lake County Park, 6322 W. 133rd Ave. All hunters born after 1986 are required to attend both sessions and pass a written test. Those who pass the test will receive a certified hunter's education card that is good for life. Children 12 and younger are required to have an adult present throughout the class. To pre-register, which is required, call (219) 947-7275. For details, go to WWW.IN.GOV/DNR.

Memberships available at VCC

VALPARAISO | Memberships are available at Valparaiso Country Club. Regular membership dues have been reduced $100 per month for this year. Dues don't begin until April. For details, go to www.valparaisocountryclub.com or call (219) 462-3812, ext. 20.