Sports Shorts
By The Emporia Gazette (Contact)
Originally published 01:13 p.m., February 14, 2008
Updated 01:13 p.m., February 14, 2008
USSSA Umpires
Meeting
On Wednesday, Feb. 20, Tony Coates from USSSA will be at the Emporia Recreation Commission at 7 p.m. for anyone who is interested in getting registered to umpire USSSA events this year.
For more information, call Amanda Gutierrez at the Lee Beran Recreation Center at 340-6300.
Bowl for Kids Sake Teams Forming
Teams are being formed for the Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Flint Hills’ 26th annual Bowl for Kids Sake event, which will be held April 3-6 at Flint Hills Lanes. This year’s theme is “Old-Time Rock ’N’ Roll.”
To participate, a team of four or five bowlers must be formed and a team captain selected. Select a theme or a team name, and wear your favorite 1950s apparel (this is optional). Each team member receives a pledge sheet that will be used to raise money for a total of $400 per team. No money is collected up front; sponsors are billed by BBBS.
Teams that raise $400 receive a T-shirt, two free games of bowling and shoe rental. Refreshments and contest prizes will be given away throughout the event. Teams that raise more than $800 receive a sweatshirt.
There are four bowling events teams can choose to compete in: College Bowl Night, April 3; Youth Night, April 4; Community Night, April 5; and Agency Day, April 6.
The event supports youth in the community who benefit from the local programs.
Teams can mail entry forms to P.O. Box 684, Emporia, KS 66801, or fax to (620) 340-8023.
For more information, contact Courtney Graves or any staff member at Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Flint Hills by phone at 342-5645 or by e-mail at courtney@bbbsfh.org.
Youth Hunting
Essay Contest
Kids 16 years and younger are invited to take part in the 2008 Youth Essay Contest Giveaway put on by the Flint Hills Gobblers Chapter.
In 500 words or less, writers are to explain why they choose to hunt with all the other options they have for spending their time.
The winner of the contest will receive a guided spring turkey hunt and also a new turkey shotgun.
Participants must have completed a hunter safety course and must be able to hunt during the 2008 spring turkey season. If chosen, the winner also must purchase a Kansas spring turkey hunting permit.
The winner will receive a two-day guided spring turkey hunt during the 2008 hunting season. He/she also will receive a turkey hunting vest and other hunting items donated by Bluestem Farm and Ranch Supply.
Submit essays, including name, age, address and phone number, to: Gib Rhodes, 1643 360th St., Madison, KS 66860 or Shelley Sparks, 1789 Road B5, Emporia, KS 66801. Entries need to be received by March 13, and the winner of the contest will be announced March 24.
For more information, contact Rhodes at (620) 437-2012.
Spring Turkey
Hunting Clinic
The Seventh Annual Spring Turkey and Hunting Clinic will be held from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, March 29, at Camp Alexander in Emporia.
The clinic is presented by the Flint Hills Gobblers Chapter of the National Turkey Federation and the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks hunter education program.
The free program provides information for anyone interested in how to become a better turkey hunter. Youth are especially invited to attend.
Lunch will be provided along with free T-shirts. A drawing also will be held for a loaded turkey vest.
Those who plan on attending need to RSVP by March 10. Sign-up is limited to the first 100 people.
For more information or to reserve a spot, contact Gib Rhodes at (620) 437-2012.
Track and Field
Certification Clinic
Kansas State track and field will be holding an Official’s Certification Clinic put on by USA Track and Field at 2 p.m. on Sunday at Ahearn Field House on the Kansas State University campus in Manhattan.
The clinic will allow individuals to be officials at track meets.
The clinic itself is free, but to be certified by USATF, there are fees. The certification fee is $25, and for liability reasons, participants must be a member of USATF, with membership costing $29.95.
Those interested in participating should contact Andy Eggerth at aeggerth@ksu.edu or call (785) 587-7871.
Spring TRYSA Soccer Registration
Registration for the Spring TRYSA soccer season is underway.
The recreational league is open to all girls and boys 4 years old and older. Registration forms can be downloaded from the TRYSA Web site at www.trysasoccer.org.
For questions, call 343-6970.
Women’s National
Softball Exhibition
The Topeka Shawnee County Sports Council and Visit Topeka Inc., announce that tickets are available for the USA/ASA Women’s National Softball Exhibition game at Hummer Sports Park in Topeka on June 10.
The Women’s National Softball team will represent the United States at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, China.
General admission tickets are $15, and are can be ordered online at www.kasasoftball.org/b4b_Home.htm, or by calling the Hummer Sports Park Office at (785) 295-3750. Mastercard and Visa are accepted.
Spartan Boys Spring
Basketball League
Sign-up has begun for Spartan Spring League Basketball, a league for boys in first through ninth grades.
The program includes a 12- to 15-game schedule of transition basketball in a competitive atmosphere. Games will be played during weekdays (no weekends) beginning April 3. A league tournament will be held during the first week of May.
Cost is $50 per individual, with a family rate of $20 for each additional son. Cost does not include T-shirt uniform.
Registration dates are Monday, Feb. 25 and Tuesday, Feb. 26 from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Emporia High School Cafeteria Commons. Forms also can be found at Mike’s Sporting Goods or Jock’s Nitch. Deadline for registration is Monday, March 3.
Registration forms can be mailed to Coach Rick Bloomquist, Emporia High School, 3302 West 18th Ave., Emporia, KS 66801. Parents can also register online at www.emporiabasketball.net.
For more information, contact Bloomquist at 341-2365 or 343-5102, or e-mail rbloomqu@usd253.org.