Our Town Sports

Horseshoes anyone?: Anyone interested in pitching horseshoes is welcome at 7 p.m. every Thursday at Broken Arrow. Contact Wynne at 843-8450.

Aquahawks openings: The Lawrence Aquahawks swimming team is always accepting new members. The Aquahawks are a year-round USA Swimming-sponsored competitive swim team. The Aquahawks offer a swim lesson program and competitive swim team for all ages. The Aquahawks are coached by professional coaches with weekly practices geared toward a variety of skill levels. For information contact Justin at 785-393-2468 or justin@aquahawks.org

Cycling team: Join Team GP VeloTek (www.gpvelotek.com) to improve your road cycling. Open to youth and adults from beginners to advanced cyclists. We even have free loaner bikes for kids, too. Contact coach Jim Whittaker at 913.269.VELO or  velotek@aol.com

FUNdamental Softball: Learn the proper mechanics and techniques to playing softball. Emphasis placed on fundamental instruction teaching the aspects of pitching, catching, fielding, base-running and hitting. Coach and team consulting available, too. Sessions held at Big Springs Sports Facility. For information contact LuAnn Metsker at 785-331-9438 or dmgshowpig@aol.com

Table tennis club: The Lawrence Table Tennis club meets from 7:30-9:30 p.m. Mondays at the Lawrence Jewish Community Center, 917 Highland Drive (just east of Ninth and Iowa). Beginners welcome. Call Jonathan Paretsky 832-8993 or Neil Brown 843-0527

Ad Astra Area Aquatics: Ad Astra Area Aquatics is always accepting new swimmers. For information, contact coach Patrick at 331-6940 or coach Katie at 766-7423 or visit the website at adastraareaaquatics.org

KU Rugby club: The KU Rugby club will hold workouts Tuesday and Thursday nights from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Any level from very beginner to someone who has been playing for years is welcome. Website is KUrugby.org

Fast-pitch: A 12U fast-pitch softball team is looking for a first baseman and a utility player for the fall season. The team practices in the Lawrence area and has indoor facilities for winter. Contact coach Andrew at 785-840-7193.

Hammer lessons: Gary Hammer, PE teacher at Schwegler and boys basketball coach at Veritas Christian School, is conducting private and small-group basketball lessons. Contact him at gjhammer@sunflower.com or call 785-841-1800.

U11 baseball seeking: Competitive U11 baseball team looking for one dedicated player for 2013 Season. Cannot turn 12 before May 1, 2013. Team will play in several tournaments. Contact jooser44@gmail.com for tryout information.

Basketball academy: The Reign Basketball Academy, designed for ages 7-17, is Lawrence’s newest basketball-specific training. The academy offers 1-on-1 and group training. For information, contact Rebekah Vann at 785-766-3056 or reignhoops@me.com or visit the academy on Facebook (Reign Basketball Academy).

Indoor baseball/softball practice facility: Big Springs Sports Center provides indoor batting cages and a large open turf area for team practices. For information, call 887-6700.

Holiday hoops clinic: Coach Bonnie Henrickson and the Kansas University women’s basketball team will be conducting its annual Holiday Hoops Clinic from noon-2 p.m. on Dec. 30 in Allen Fieldhouse. The clinic is open to girls and boys in kindergarten through eighth grade. The cost is $15 per child and $5 per participating adult. All children registered for the clinic will receive a voucher for three tickets to one of the upcoming KU women’s basketball games: Kansas State (Jan. 2), Baylor (Jan. 13) or Texas (Jan. 23). Check-in for the clinic will be at 11:45 a.m. on Dec. 30, in the north concourse of Allen Fieldhouse. To register, visit KUAthletics.com and print out a registration form.

Winter Baseball Academy: Free State and Lawrence high schools will be hosting their winter baseball academy again this year. Players grades K-8 will have the opportunity to work on defense, pitching, catching and hitting Sunday evenings at LHS and Free State. Dates are Jan. 13, 20 and 27 and Feb. 10, 17 and 24. Team rates are available. For information, contact Brad Stoll at 785-550-4657 or bstoll@usd497.org

LHS Girls Basketball Alumni Night: All former Lawrence High girls basketball players are invited to participate in Alumni Scrimmage Night taking at 6 p.m., Dec. 20 at the LHS main gym. Registration ($25) by Dec. 6 guarantees a T-shirt; after Dec. 6, fee is $30 and no T-shirt guaranteed. For information, visit lawrencehighbasketball.weebly.com

Youth baseball: Lawrence Parks & Rereation is taking team deposits for the 2013 DCABA and Heinrich baseball leagues. Deadline for team entries is the first eight teams per division. Registration information is available at www.lprd.org or contact Lee Ice at ice@lawrenceks.org for information.

Jayhawk baseball camps: The Jayhawk Baseball Camp has several camps in the coming months. The Holiday Skills Camp will be from 9:30 a.m.-3 p.m. Dec. 27-29. There are also a variety of hitting, pitching and catching academies in January-April, as well as a Spring Training Camp in March. Contact the KU baseball office for information at 785-864-7907 or visit http://www.kuathletics.com/camps/kan-camps.html

Baker softball camps: Baker University softball will host two winter camps for players in grades 7-12. The offensive clinic will be 1-5 p.m. Dec. 30 and will concentrate on hitting. The defensive clinic will be 1-5 p.m. Jan. 6 and will break down individual positional concepts. Information can be found by emailing Jamie Stanclift at JStanclift@bakeru.edu or head coach Matt Windle at MWindle@bakeru.edu or visit http://www.bakeru.edu/sports/softball

Next level lessons: Next Level Baseball Academy offers year-round private and semi-private baseball lessons ages 8-18. Locations in Lawrence, Big Springs and New Century. For information, email Duncanmatt32@yahoo.com or visit NextLevelBaseballAcademy.com

Baseball academy: Next Level Baseball Academy will host a high school development camp and showcase for 2013-17 grads from 1-4 p.m., Dec. 28 at the Big Springs Sports Center. For information, email Matt Duncan at duncanmatt32@yahoo.com.

Winter baseball camp: Big Springs Sports Center will host a winter baseball camp for youths ages 6-13 from 6-7:30 p.m. Dec. 27. For information visit bigspringssportscenter.com

Five Tool league meeting: Five Tool Softball League will hold an informational meeting about the 2013 summer league at 8 p.m., Dec. 18 at First Southern Baptist, 4300 West Sixth Street. The league is for 14U and 16U teams. Cost, scheduling and other offerings will be discussed at the meeting. For information, contact Steve Seratte at 760-1446.

Salvation Army league: The AAU Salvation Army Basketball Draft League will run January through March and is taking coaching applications. All players who register and participate in tryouts will be placed on a league team. There will be one or two practices a week and one game a week for two coed leagues: D-1 (fourth and fifth grades) and D-2 (grades 1-3). Tryouts will be Jan. 12 and 13 at the East Lawrence Rec Center. Times TBA. For information, email rick@4squareathletics.com or visit 4squareathletics.com

LPRD registrations: The Lawrence Parks & Recreation 2013 indoor soccer (futsal) registration deadline for grades K-6 is Jan. 1. Practices will begin the week of Jan. 21, with games beginning Saturday, Feb. 2. The boys middle school intramural basketball and USD 497 registration deadline is Jan. 10 for grades 6-8. Practices will begin the week of Jan. 21., with games beginning Feb. 2. For information, call 832-7940.

LPRD coaches needed: Lawrence Parks & Rec needs volunteer coaches for its K-6 indoor soccer (futsal) and boys 6-8 intramural basketball programs. For each, there will be one practice per week starting the week of Jan. 21. Games will be played on Saturday mornings starting Feb. 2. If interested, contact Duane Peterson at 832-7949.