Spring youth sports right around the corner

Published 8:01 pm Wednesday, January 19, 2011

Softball team: The 10-and-under Holland Havoc softball team finished as runners-up in its end of the season tournament last June. The Havoc was Sydney Hoffman, Savannah Conklin, Harley Hoffman, Morgan Stevens, Samantha Myers, Amiah Murphy, Danielle Huffman, Sara Matthews, Holly Ellis, Kaitlyn Robertson, Tisha Copeland, Triniti Fennell, Talitha Roberts, Karli Daughtry and Makayla Dickens.

Big league Spring Training is about a month away, and youth baseball and softball leagues around Suffolk are preparing for another season, too.

Suffolk Youth Athletic Association is having baseball, softball and soccer sign-ups during the next three weekends.

Baseball and softball registration will be held at SYAA’s complex on King’s Fork Road on Jan. 22 and Jan. 29 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., as well as at Westminster Reformed Presbyterian Church, 3488 Godwin Blvd., on Jan. 29 and Feb. 5 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

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Registration fees for baseball and softball are $60 for T-ball, $70 for Pinto (ages 7-8) and Mustang (9-10) leagues and $80 for Bronco (11-12) and Pony (13-14) leagues.

Spring soccer sign-ups are being held on Jan. 22 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the SYAA concession stand on the baseball/softball side of the complex, then on Jan. 29 and Feb. 5 at Westminster Church from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

SYAA offers recreational and advanced soccer teams. Ages 3-18 can play in the recreation league. The advanced teams are for ages 8-18. For more information on the advanced teams, call 328-3155. Opening day for both levels at SYAA is Mar. 12

SYAA baseball and softball play in the PONY (Protecting Our Nation’s Youth) League. SYAA’s advanced soccer teams play in the Tidewater Advanced Soccer League.

Holland Athletic Association, which is also a member of PONY Baseball and Softball, is holding registration for its spring baseball and softball leagues. Both are open to ages 4-18.

Sign-ups will be held Jan. 29-30 and Feb. 5-6 from 10 a.m. to noon on Saturdays and from 2 to 4 p.m. on Sundays, above the concession stand at the Holland Athletic Complex, located on South Quay Road just south of Holland. The cost is $75 and it includes a full uniform.

For more information, contact Holland’s president Les Matthews at 537-3362, baseball commissioner Tommy Edwards at 435-3625 or softball commissioner Gene Groves at 630-8181.

Nansemond River PONY is holding sign-ups Jan. 22 and Jan. 29 from 10 a.m. to noon both days at its concession stand on the fields behind John Yeates Middle School.

The registration fee for T-ball is $60 and $90 for all older baseball and softball leagues. Nansemond River PONY has teams for ages 4-16.

Nansemond River is offering Sunday Select Baseball for the first time this spring. The new program is designed for players interested in playing at a higher competitive level. Playing in Sunday Select is meant to be in addition to, and not in place of, playing for a recreational PONY team.

Bennett’s Creek Little League has online registration open until Feb. 6.

Anyone interested should go to bennettscreek.org and follow the registration link in the “Spring 2011 Fast Approaching” box. Registration fees are $65 for T-ball (ages 4-6), $85 for coach pitch (6-9) and $100 for Minor League (7-11) and older. There will be a $25 late registration fee after Feb. 6.

Bennett’s Creek is also adding a Sunday Select program for ages 9-14. For more information about Sunday Select, call Lorri Kitchens at 375-0853.

BCLL is a long-time member of Little League’s Challenger Division. Challenger games are for mentally or physically disabled children and designed to provide the enjoyment of playing baseball and the importance of being part of a team.