Track Club set
to start back up
The Emporia Track Club is a non-profit organization that provides track and field/running opportunities for all ages with an emphasis on youth. The focus is on instructional learning and enjoyment of the sport. The Emporia Track Club sponsors youth meets in track and field and cross country, fun runs and conducts youth clinics. The track club also has competitors travel to regional and national meets to compete successfully at the highest level.
Designed for competitive athletes who desire to compete in out-of-town USATF competition, the club is open to grades 1-12 at the middle school track. Practices will be held Monday and Wednesday at 7 p.m. starting April 23 for grades 1-7, May 14 for grade 8, and June 5 for grades 9-12. Starting June 5, the club will practice Monday through Thursday at 7 p.m. on the middle school track.
Contact Mark Stanbrough at 620-342-7253 or mstanbrough@emporiatrackclub.org
School district benefit golf tournament
The USD 253 Spring Scramble Golf Tournament will be held Saturday at the Emporia Municipal Golf Course. Proceeds will go to a new Leadership Scholarship for graduating seniors and the Emporia High School tennis team. The team plans to attend the U.S. Open in New York in September.
Tennis coach Matt Irby and team members are organizing what they hope will be an annual event for the new scholarship fund and other group fund raisers. Money and prizes will be awarded for the top three teams in each flight. There will be prizes for additional contests, and lunch will be provided.
The entry fee is $260 per team or $65 per person (season passes will be honored for part of the entry fee.) The entry form is available on the district web site, www.usd253.org. Entry forms and more information also are available by contacting Matt Irby at (316) 841-9392 or by e-mail at mirby@usd253.org.
Hornet Golf Scramble and Alumni Weekend
The Hornet Football Golf Scramble will take place at 1:30 p.m., April 21, at the Emporia Country Club.
Cost is $55 per person or $220 per team. The entry fee includes a round of golf and cart, ESU football T-shirt and lunch provided by the Emporia Country Club.
First, second and third places all will be recognized. There also will be an opportunity to show off your game and win prizes at specific holes, where contests such as longest drive will be held.
All proceeds go to benefit the Hornet Football Program.
For more information, call ESU head football coach Garin Higgins at 341-5504 or email him at ghiggins@emporia.edu.
Optimist Junior Golf Championships
Entries are now open for the 2007 Kansas District Optimist Junior Golf Championships, sponsored by Optimist clubs throughout the state.
The finals will be held in Salina on June 14. Awards are given in both the boys’ and girls’ divisions for the following age groups: 10-11, 12-13, 14-15, and 16-18.
All age group winners, as well as other top-placing golfers, qualify for the OIJGC International Championship Tournament held in July at the famous PGA National Resort & Spa in West Palm Beach, Fla., home of the PGA Honda Classic.
The Kansas District of Optimist International will sponsor the four age group winners in 14-18-year-old divisions to the Florida Tournament. Boys 14-18 must participate in a pre-qualifier prior to the Salina State Championship.
Pre-qualifying tournaments will be held at the following locations:
• May 30 — Derby, Hidden Lakes GC
• June 4 — Topeka, Lake Shawnee
• June 5 — Olathe, Heritage Park
• June 6 — Salina, Salina Municipal
The entry fee for players 14-18 years of age is $50. Boys and girls from 10-13 years of age pay a reduced entry fee of $30.
Log on to www.kansasoptimist.org/oijgc for details, entry blanks and pre-qualifier information, or call Jim or Judy Morris at (316) 788-1186. Entry forms also should be available at your local golf course.
Melvern Pride turkey
hunting-calling contest
Melvern Pride is sponsoring a spring turkey hunting contest. Plaques and cash prizes of $100, $50 and $25 will be presented to the top three “Top Gun Award” winners.
Harvested turkeys will be scored using the point system of the Department of Wildlife and Parks.
Contest dates are April 13-15 and April 20-21 at the Melvern Railroad Park. Contestants must register before April 11. Registration forms and other information can be received by calling Jim Irey at (785) 549-3678 or Darrell Schultze at (785) 549-3240.
A $10 entry fee per tag must accompany the registration form. Turkey tag numbers must be on the entry form.
On April 21, Melvern Pride will be hosting a two-person gobbling/strutting calling contest and other entertainment beginning at 7:30 p.m. at the Melvern Community Center.
A $3 donation will be taken at the door. A concession stand will be available in the community center.
Those interested in participating in the gobbling/strutting contest should contact Jim Irey at (785) 549-3678. Cash prizes will be paid to the top three winners.
Also on April 21, other contest are being planned at the Melvern Railroad Park during the day. There will be food, fun and games for all ages. A list of activities will be announced at a later date.
Baseball, slow-pitch softball tournaments
USSSA and Fun Valley will be hosting two slow-pitch softball tournaments and one baseball tournament in the next two months.
The first slow-pitch tournament for men’s and co-ed teams on April 21-22. Entry fee is $150 per team, and the deadline is 5 p.m. on April 17.
The Invitational Slow Pitch Tournament for men’s, women’s and coed teams will be held on April 28-29 in Hutchinson. Entry fee is $150, and the deadline is 5 p.m. on April 24.
The Baseball Salt City Shootout Open N.I.T. will take place on May 5-6 in Hutchinson. This tournament will be for 10-, 11-, 12-, 13- and 14-year-old teams. Entry fee is $225, and the deadline is 5 p.m. on May 1.
Send entries and fees to: Fun Valley, P.O. Box 1985, Hutchinson, KS, 67504-1985. For more information, call (620) 669-9999.
Sports Shorts runs each week on Thursday. If you have a sports-related announcement that you would like to see in Sports Shorts, e-mail your announcement to sports@emporiagazette.com or fax it to (620) 342-8108 attn: sports. Please include how long you would like your announcement to run.