Blaze on fire at South Bay Shootout

The Orcutt United Soccer League’s Blaze went undefeated to win the annual South Bay Shootout in Los Osos over the weekend.

The girls under-12 All-Star team swept through pool play with three shutout wins; 4-0 over the San Luis Obispo All-Stars, 1-0 over the Los Osos Flying Ninjas and 3-0 over the Templeton All-Stars.

The Blaze won the championship with a 7-0 victory over the Atascadero Tidal Waves in the finals.

The Blaze are back on the road again this weekend with a trip to the Atascadero Freeze Tournament.

Madrid wins Orange County Tournament

The Madrid Premier Girls U12 soccer team recently won the Orange County Tournament of Champions in Irvine.

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Consisting of players from the Five Cities, the Santa Ynez Valley and the Lompoc Valley, Madrid competed in their first tournament of the year which featured 146 teams from all over California.

Madrid began the tourney on Saturday defeating two premier teams from Southern California, NHB Black (Huntington Beach) 1-0 and Laguna Niguel 2-1.

On Sunday they posted another shutout in the semi-finals, defeating Newport Mesa 1-0.

In the finals Madrid played the Pacific Soccer Club out of Tustin. Pacific had beaten the tournament favorite San Diego Surf in their semi.

In a physical and demanding game Madrid was able to hold off Pacific with a 1-0 victory.

Coached by Rob Cantrell, Madrid Premier will begin preparing for the State Cup at the beginning of the year.

Hancock Holiday Baseball Clinic

Allan Hancock College is holding it’s Holiday Baseball Clinic beginning this Saturday, Dec. 20 and continuing Monday, Dec. 22 and Tuesday, Dec. 23. All three days the clinic will run from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. The clinic offers young ballplayers the chance to spend winter break improving their baseball skills.

Players ages six through 18-years-old are invited to sharpen their hitting, fielding and pitching skills at the three day clinic. Instructors will include the entire Allan Hancock College coaching staff as well as former major league pitcher Bryn Smith, Santa Maria Valley Packers Head Coach Scott Nickason, and Tom Beyers, current minor league manager with the Chicago Cubs. Various current Hancock players will also be part of the instruction staff

The cost for the clinic is $100 and $75 for each additional family member. All camp participants will receive a free T-shirt. Registration forms can be picked up at Play it Again Sports on South Broadway in Santa Maria or by calling Clarence Griego, AHC assistant coach at 922-6966, Ext. 3904.

Nipomo Youth Softball registration

The Nipomo Youth Softball League is now accepting player registration applications for the upcoming 2009 softball season.

Coach and Player applications are available online at www.nipomosoftball.com. or you can obtain an application at a walk-in registration event.

The league's first walk-in registration will take place on Saturday, Jan. 17 with a Hawaiian barbecue luau from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Longs Drugs parking lot in Nipomo.

For more information and future registration dates, visit www.nipomosoftball.com or call Shawn Fuggs at 345-8929.

Cal Stars softball tryouts coming up

The California Stars Coast Girls Fast Pitch Softball Association is holding tryouts on Saturday, Dec. 20, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at St. Louis de Montfort Church’s softball field located at 5075 Harp Road in Santa Maria.

Tryouts are for the 12U and 14U teams. All interested players who would like to compete and excel against the best travel teams from all over the nation are encouraged to attend.

The California Stars Coast Girls Fast Pitch Softball Association is a non-parent coached organization dedicated to increasing the athlete’s skills and showcasing their talents. The Cal Stars Coast have qualified and competed at the USA/ASA National tournaments the past two years. The Stars have also qualified to compete each year in Triple Crown, USSSA and AFA championship events.

For more information, contact Carolyn Kleinsmith at 598-5423 or visit www.leaguelineup.com/californiastars.

Kris Kringle Klassic at Rancho Maria

The annual Kris Kringle Junior Golf Klassic at Rancho Maria Golf Club will be held on Tuesday, Dec. 30. The Tournament tees off at 11 a.m.

No one goes home empty-handed as every participant wins something.

The entry fee is $15 and includes green fee, lunch, range balls, trophies and prizes.

There are three age divisions for boys and two for girls.

For more information or to sign up, call Rancho Maria Golf Club at 937-2019.

Packers Comedy Night at the Ballpark

The Santa Maria Valley Packers are hosting Packers Comedy Night at the Ballpark at the Santa Maria Country Club on Saturday, Jan. 10, 2009.

The evening begins at 5:30 p.m. with an autograph session and no-host bar. Dinner will be served at 6:30 and will be followed by a live auction.

The evening’s featured speaker will be Tom Browning, a former pitcher with and current coach of the Cincinnati Reds. Browning threw a perfect game against the Dodgers on Sept. 16, 1988 and is also the author of “Tom Browning’s Tales from the Reds Dugout.”

Browning will be joined by several former major leaguers who are Central Coast natives including Casey Candaele, Roy Howell, Robin Ventura and Bryn Smith.

The audience will enjoy a question and answer session with Browning, a kangaroo court with Judge Bryn Smith presiding and a special edition of the Abbott and Costello classic “Who’s on First?” to open the festivities.

The auction, conducted by former California state champion auctioneer Jim Glines, will have just five items — a fishing trip for two to the Bahamas, four tickets to a Dodgers/Cardinals game with pre-game on field passes, a trip to Spring Training, a trap shoot at a local ranch and dinner for 10 at the Hitching Post in Casmalia.

There will also be a raffle with 25 items up for winning including baseball jackets and hats and several dinners at local restaurants.

The cost is $100 per person. Each ticket includes a season pass for two seats at every Santa Maria Valley Packers home game during the 2009 season and one raffle ticket.

To purchase tickets or for more information, call Scott Nickason at 878-0242 or Bryn Smith at 451-8516.

Tickets may also be purchased at Play It Again Sports on South Broadway in Santa Maria, at Giavanni’s Restaurant in Orcutt or on-line at www.packersbaseball.com.

December 17, 2008