BETWEEN the LINES (thru 01-25)

HYL sets baseball signups

BROOKSVILLE - Hernando Youth League (HYL) has scheduled baseball signups from 6-8 p.m. on Tuesdays on Jan. 20, Jan. 27, and from 10 a.m. until noon on Saturdays, Jan. 10, Jan. 17, Jan. 24. All registrations will at Ernie Wever Youth Park recreation trailer. 
For more information, contact Bruce Price at 797-7999 or (813) 714-1054 or online at
bruce67price@hotmail.com.

Leopard JV Baseball Tryouts

BROOKSVILLE - Hernando High will be holding junior varsity baseball tryouts after school until 5 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 28, and Thursday, Jan. 29. Prospective players must have a physical and proper paperwork completed by parent.
For more information, contact Head Coach Tim Sims at (352) 279-4030.

Do you live and breathe sports?

BROOKSVILLE - If you love sports -- all kinds of athletics -- perhaps you would like to write about local games for Hernando Today.
We are always looking for aspiring sports writers. You won't make a lot of money, but you'll attend games free and write a report on the game for publication.
Being a sports correspondent enables you to talk with the coaches and players.
If you're not a journalist, we'll help you tell your story so readers will understand the game.
We will give you tips on exciting sports writing style and story formatting.
Necessary tools? Aspiring writers need a computer (preferably a laptop), a cell phone, dependable transportation and a willingness to learn.
If you are interested, talk with sports editor, Tony Castro, by calling him at 544-5278. 

Spring Hill Dixie Softball signups

SPRING HILL - Spring Hill Dixie Softball has set registration dates for its upcoming season from 6-9 p.m. on Jan. 21, from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. on Jan. 24 and from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. on Jan. 31 at the Anderson Snow Sports Complex pavilion. 
For additional information, contact Glenn Primavera at (352) 442-1957 or visit www.shdixiesoftball.com.

YMCA celebrates re-opening ceremony

SPRING HILL - The Hernando County Family YMCA has announced the completion of their second expansion/renovation project to serve the growing needs of the community. The community is invited to the Opening Ceremony which will take place at 10:30 a.m. on Friday, Jan. 16, at 1300 Mariner Blvd. Immediately following the ceremony, lunch will be served compliments of Green Iguana of Tampa.
Keynote speaker Lew Friedland, President of Jireh, Inc, Director of Ironman Marathon and founder of the Hernando County Family YMCA.
With a new 10,000 square foot expansion including a new wellness center, double in size from its original design, new cardiovascular machines, strength training equipment, and large screen plasma TVs. The YMCA has always responded to community needs.
The YMCA opened in 1988 currently serves over 7,500 people in the Spring Hill community with a Jr. Olympic family pool, wellness center, cycling room, a kid's zone babysitting area doubled in size, group exercise studios, teen center, outdoor basketball courts and baseball fields, playgrounds, locker rooms /showers.

Junior Invitational Tennis Tournament
 
SPRING HILL - The Nature Coast Tennis Foundation would like to announce its fourth annual Junior Invitational Tennis Tournament to be held Jan. 24-25 at Delta Woods Park on Deltona Blvd.
The tournament is open to all elementary, middle, and high school students. 
For more information, please contact Louise Downey at 666-0658 or visit www.nctf.usta.com. 
Registration deadline is Jan. 17.

New Gulf grouper, amberjack and triggerfish rules

LAKELAND - The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission advises anglers that new rules to help manage gag and red grouper, greater amberjack and gray triggerfish in Gulf of Mexico waters took effect on Jan. 1.
The recreational daily bag limit for gag grouper is now two fish per person within the five-grouper aggregate limit in all Gulf waters, and the recreational harvest of gag grouper in all Gulf waters is prohibited from Feb. 1 through March 31.
The recreational daily bag limit for red grouper in Gulf state waters is now two fish per person within the five-grouper aggregate limit.  However, the recreational red grouper limit in Gulf federal waters is still one fish per person within the aggregate limit.  Florida state waters extend 9 nautical miles offshore in the Gulf, and federal waters extend beyond state waters.
The Feb. 15 - March 14 closure to the recreational harvest of red and black grouper in Gulf federal waters is still in effect. This recreational closed season does not apply in Gulf state waters.
In addition, the recreational minimum size limit for greater amberjack is now 30 inches fork length, and the commercial and recreational minimum size limit for gray triggerfish is now 14 inches fork length in all Gulf waters.
More information on Gulf grouper, amberjack and triggerfish management is available online at MyFWC.com/marine/grouper/index.htm and MyFWC.com/marine/AmberjackTriggerfish.htm.

Hernando-Sumter Umpires to hold clinics

SPRING HILL - The Hernando-Sumter Umpires Association, the largest baseball/softball umpires association in the area, is hosting its third annual umpire clinic. These clinics are designed to train any one who wants to become an umpire and even help the most seasoned umpire to become better.
The clinics will take place at 1 p.m. on Jan. 25 at the Anderson Sports Complex and at 1 p.m. on Feb. 8 at the Ridge Manor Sports Complex.
Registration is open to men and women 16 and up. Registration for these events will begin at 12:30 p.m.
Cost is $15 for each participant.
To register in advance, or for additional information, contact Jerry Theilen at (352) 428-0071.

Seeking boys volleyball players

SPRING HILL - The Hernando Juniors (nonprofit volleyball club) is looking to form boys volleyball teams in three age groups (16U, 14U and 12U).
To register or for additional information, contact Doug Liddle at (352) 556-8054 or Dan Murphy at (352) 650-7363 or visit www.hernandojuniors.com.

Youth baseball, softball coaching clinics

BROOKSVILLE - The City of Brooksville Recreation Department is hosting a series of educational coach training clinics for all youth baseball and softball coaches, the clinic is offered through the National Youth Sports Coaches Association.
A baseball coaches clinic is set from 1-4 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 14 and from 6-9 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 18 at the Jerome Brown Community Center, 99 Jerome Brown Pl., Brooksville.
A softball coaches clinic is set from 1-4 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 21 and from 6-9 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 25 will also at the Jerome Brown Community Center.
The coach of each clinic is $20.
Pre-registration is required.
To signup or for additional information, contact the City of Brooksville Recreation staff at (352) 540-3835.

U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary boating courses

HERNANDO BEACH - The U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary will be offering safe boating courses over the coming weeks at the Auxiliary Building at 4340 Caliente St., Hernando Beach.
Navigating with a GPS (Global Positioning System) will be presented from 9 a.m. until noon on Jan. 24. Fee is $35, which includes text on use of a GPS.
Boating Safety (three-session course) runs from 7-9:30 p.m. on Feb. 2-3 and Feb. 6. Fee is $30 which includes text. Class serves as a basic overview of boating safety and includes all information to qualify for the Florida Boating Safety ED card.
How to Read a Nautical Chart runs from 9 a.m. until noon on Feb. 14. Fee is $35 and includes excellent text on charts. Subjects include types of charts, capabilities and limitations of charts, interpretation of symbols and how to select a chart for your use.
Hernando Beach Coastal Navigation runs from 9 a.m. until noon on Feb. 21. Fee is $15. Learn how to navigate the area through the use of charts, instruments used in plotting courses and a compass. Practical exercises on development of routes on the coast of Hernando Beach will be conducted.
For more information, contact Cathy at 754-1104 to reserve a seat for any of the above courses or visit the Web site at http:/a0701508.uscgaux.info/.

Spartans seek players

SPRING HILL - The Spring Hill Spartans, a competitive Under 11 Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) travel ball baseball team, is seeking additional players. Players cannot turn 12 before May 1, 2009.
Practices will be held at the Anderson Snow Sports Complex in Spring Hill and Kennedy Park in Brooksville.
For more information, contact Jeff Hamilton at 346-1802, Gary Myers at 650-9070, or Angelo Sparacia at 428-9032 or online at asparacia@tampabay.rr.com.

AAU Bombers 13-U seeking players

BROOKSVILLE - The Bombers Baseball Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) travel ball team is seeking players 13-and-under.
For a tryout, contact Shawn Laferty at 813-267-8530 or online at claferty5@yahoo.com.

Free vessel check

HERNANDO BEACH - The U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary is offering free vessel safety checks.
The auxiliary will come to your boat wherever you keep it.
Contact Jackie at 666-7239 to set up an appointment.
For more information on the auxiliary visit online at http:/a0701508.uscgaux.info.

West Florida Panthers baseball tryouts

SPRING HILL - The West Florida Panthers, a 14-and-under Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) elite travel baseball team based in Hernando County, will be hosting open tryouts for the spring season.
If you wish to play at a higher competitive level, contact Coach Scott Treverton at 263-9302 or email him at trev7172@bellsouth.net.

SH Wrestling Club seeks additional members

SPRING HILL - The Spring Hill Wrestling Club is the place to learn the fundamentals of wrestling.
Practices will began Dec. 2 and runs through March, 2009 in the wrestling room at Springstead High School. Grades K-3 will practice from 6-7 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays; Grades 4-8 from 7-8 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
Cost is $80. Checks should be made out to Springstead Wrestling. For more information, visit online at www.springhillwrestling.com or contact Springstead Head Coach Eric Swensen at 797-7010, Ext. 347.

Learn to scuba
    
SPRING HILL - Learn to scuba at the Hernando County Family YMCA. Classes began Jan. 6 and run Tuesday and Thursday evenings from 6-9:30 p.m.
This course includes six class and pool sessions for ages 12 and older in good physical health and comfortable in and under the water.
There will also be classes from 8:30 a.m-4:30 p.m. for ages 10 and older, plus open water dives on Thursday and Friday in the Gulf of Mexico or Rainbow River at $20 per day.
Upon completion of the classes persons will be certified as Open Water Scuba Diver, recognized worldwide.
The cost is $120 for YMCA members and $140 for non-members, plus $60 for use of scuba equipment.
Personal equipment, mask, fins and snorkel are not included, but can be purchased at a discount from instructors: Jack Farrell at 727-861-3483 or 800-633-1633 and Mark Butler at 352-214-1171, who are YMCA, PADI and NAUI instructors.
For additional information, contact Olivia Matles at the YMCA at 688-9622.