News, notes and announcements from the Tribune area sports world.

Elkin spring baseball, softball sign-ups

Registration will continue through Feb. 29 for spring baseball and softball in Elkin.

Players can sign up at the Elkin Recreation Center.

Surry County Cal Ripkin Baseball: This program will start in mid-March and end in late May. Ages are 9-10 and 11-12 (age as of April 30, 2008).

Players must attend Elkin City Schools or live in Wilkes or Yadkin counties. Space is limited.

The cost is $55 for Elkin residents and $75 for non-residents.

Surry County Fast-Pitch Softball: This program will start in mid-March and end in late May. Ages are 9-10 and 11-13 (age as of Jan. 1, 2008.)

Space is limited. The cost is $30 for Elkin residents and $60 non-residents.

Chase Swisher Hitting Clinic: This clinic, put on by the former Elkin High and Surry Community College standout will be for ages 6-14 on Saturday, March 8 from 12-3 p.m.

Participants are encouraged to bring their own bat. Space is limited.

The cost is $15.

Cheerleaders needed for Special Olympics

Special Olympics Surry County needs more cheerleaders.

Practices are on Sundays at 2 p.m. The group's first competition is Feb 9 and the State Games will be held in March.

The volunteer head coach is Sarah Holleman. The team's assistant coaches are Dara Parson, Abby Axsom and Tammy Bryant.

Call 401-8236 for information, to volunteer or to help with team expenses.

Thundercats need players

The Carolina Thunder Cats fast-pitch softball organization has openings for quality 12U players for the 2008 season.

Call Donnie Moore at (864) 533-3005 or Dan Hughes at (864) 573-7581 for more information.

Spring soccer sign-ups

Surry County Parks and Recreation will hold sign-ups for its spring soccer program this month.

* Feb. 1-22 -- at the parks and recreation office (Government Center in Dobson), 8:15 a.m. until 5 p.m.

* Feb. 23 -- at Fisher River Park (concession shelter), 9 a.m. until noon.

Here are the leagues being offered:

* Instructional League Soccer (4-5 year olds): A player cannot turn 6 before March 1 and must be 4 before March 1 to participate

* Pee Wee Division (U-8): A player cannot turn 9 before March 1 and must be 5 before March 1.

* Division I (U12): A player cannot turn 13 before March 1

* Division II (U14): A player cannot turn 15 before March 1

The registration fee is $35. Anticipated game days are Saturdays, Tuesdays and Sundays. The season will last 8-10 weeks. Practice nights will vary.

For more information, contact Surry County Parks and Recreation at 401-8236

Starmount planning annual kicking camp

The 16th annual Starmount Kicking Clinic will be Saturday, April 5 from 8:45 a.m. until 4 p.m.

Instruction in place-kicking, punting and snapping will be provided by Carol A. White (former coach at Georgia Tech and current director of the Auburn Kicking Academy) and a group of North Carolina and Georgia players active at colleges in the Southeast.

This one-day clinic is designed as a supplement to spring football workouts and as a means to encourage the development of shared practicing throughout the summer months. Graduating seniors should plan to attend.

White is the first woman to actively coach at the Division I-A level, working with Billy Curry and Bobby Ross at Georgia Tech.

The cost for the camp is $40 for place kickers and punters and $35 for snappers. Lunch will be provided.

For more information about the clinic, contact Starmount head coach Scott Johnson or assistant coach Joe Hutchens (468-2891, 468-8686). For more information on White, call 1-706-549-2695 or 1-404-351-8991, or visit the Web at www.kick-aid.com.

Surry Storm hoops tryouts

The Surry Storm Girls Basketball Club will be holding tryouts for the 2008 season on the following dates at Mount Airy Middle School:

February 17

12U Team - Players born on or after July 1, 1994 1:00 - 2:30

13U Team - Players born on or after July 1, 1993 2:30 - 4:00

14U & HS Age Players born on or after July 1, 1992 4:00 - 5:30

February 24

12U Team - Players born on or after July 1, 1994 1:00 - 2:30

13U Team - Players born on or after July 1, 1993 2:30 - 4:00

14U & HS Age Players born on or after July 1, 1992 4:00 - 5:30

Players participating on school teams cannot actively participate, but are encouraged to come to tryouts if you are interested in playing. Further information can be obtained by calling Gerald

Culler at (336) 786-6522, or our website at www.eteamz.com/surrystorm.

Ten Star basketball camp

Applications are now being evaluated for the Ten Star All- Star summer basketball camp.

The Ten Star camp is by invitation only. Boys and girls ages 10-19 are eligible to apply.

Past participants include: Michael Jordan, Tim Duncan, Vince Carter, Jerry Stackhouse, Grant Hill and Antawn Jamison.

Players from 50 states and 10 foreign coutries attended the 2007 camp. College basketball scholarships are possible for players selected to the All-American team. Camp locations

include Blacksburg,Va., Prescott, Ariz., Thousand Oaks, Calif., Babson Park, Fla., Gainesville, Ga., Champaign, Ill., Glassboro, N.J., Lebanon, Tenn. and Commerce, Texas.

There is also a summer camp available for boys and girls ages 6 to 18 of all skill levels. For a free brochure on the summer camps, call (704) 373-0873 or visit www.tenstarcamp.com.

Hoops camp

Registration is now open for the 30th annual Bryan Adrian Summer Basketball Camp.

Boys and girls ages 5-18 are eligible. There are overnight camps at N.C. Wesleyan College in Rocky Mount July 20-24 and Mars Hill College from July 27-31. There is also a day camp at St. Ann's Catholic School in Charlotte from July 21-25. Members of the camp staff include Derrick Phelps, Donald Williams and Jason Capel.

For a free brochure, call (704) 377-6387.

Become an Outdoors Woman

Becoming an Outdoors Woman, the hands-on learning experience offered by the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission, is headed for the hills.

A weekend retreat is scheduled for April 11-13 at Camp Cheerio in Alleghany County, near Stone Mountain State Park and the Blue Ridge Parkway. The facility is an hour drive from Winston-Salem and a two-hour drive from Charlotte.

Amenities include heated cabins with toilet and showers, a first class dining hall and beautiful views.

"This is a fun way to learn healthy, outdoors activities and it's a comfortable place to stay," said BB Gillen, the state coordinator for Becoming an Outdoors Woman. "Participants talk about the camaraderie as much as they do the thrill of trying new things and gaining valuable skills."

Instruction includes bird watching; basic camping and backpacking; canoe skills; digital photography; wilderness survival; outdoor cooking; stream ecology; rock climbing; shotgun and rifle marksmanship; and basic fishing, fly-tying and an introduction to fly-fishing.

The cost is $185, which includes lodging, class materials and meals. Participation is open to women ages 18 and older. Registration is on a first-come, first-served basis with fees paid in advance. Registration deadline is March 31. For additional information, call (919) 707-0172.