Each week, The Lima News publishes a calendar of events of local interest. Events should be submitted by noon Wednesday of each week to The Lima News Sports Department, 3515 Elida Road, Lima, OH 45807. Events can be faxed to 419-229-2926 or e-mailed to [email protected].
AEROBICS
Senior classes
Senior Citizen Services, 3400 W. Elm St., Lima, offers classes open to the public at a cost of $5 per class. Classes include Aqua Zumba (10:45 a.m. Saturdays), Zumba (4:45 p.m. Mondays), Step Aerobics (4:45 p.m. Wednesdays) and Water Aerobics (5:15 p.m. Mondays and Thursdays). Call 419-991-8811 for details.
Aqua Zumba
Bluffton Family Recreation is now offering Aqua Zumba under the instruction of Kealy Goodale. Classes are 9 a.m. Saturdays at Maple Crest, Bluffton, The first class is free. For details or to register, call 419-358-4150.
ARCHERY
Columbus Grove
The Columbus Grove Archery Club will be hold recurve shoots at 7 p.m. and 8:15 p.m. Tuesdays until the end of April. The shoots are open to the public. For additional info call Tom Frick at 419-384-3033.
BASEBALL
Ohio City
Ohio City Youth Activities plans its Summer Ball Signups from 9 a.m. to noon 12 at Ohio City’s village hall on Main Street. Categories include boys and girls T-ball (3-7); Coach Peach (6-8 boys and girls), boys farm league (7-10), girls farmette league (7-10), boys little league (11-12), girls buckeye (11-12), boys pony league (13-15) and girls 4 country (14). Fee is $35 for one child, $60 for two children and $75 for three.
Ottawa Legion
The Ottawa American Legion Post 63 is prepared for its summer season. Sign-up meeting for parents and players is 6 p.m. May 8 at Ottawa American Legion Post 63, 218 W. Main St., Ottawa. Open tryouts are at Memorial Field, 724 N. Locust St., Ottawa, from 2 to 4 p.m. May 15 and 22. If your high school team is still in the state tournament, you can’t work out but you should still show up to show your interest. For more information, visit ottawalegionbaseball.com.
Struthers
The 2016 Bob Cene All Ohio Challenge Wood Bat Tournament for teams ages 16 through 18 will be held June 23-26 at the Bob Cene Baseball Complex. Contact Ken Quinn at 330-719-0581 for information.
Bath
The Bath High School baseball program has its annual Best of the Northwest youth baseball tournament June 10, 11 and 12. There will be a 12-U, 10-U and 8-U coach pitch division. Cost for each division is $200 with a three-game guarantee. Awards will be given to the top four teams in each division. To register, call Jeremie Magrum at 419-233-3232 or email [email protected].
Delphos
The seventh annual Nathan Miller Memorial Baseball Tournament is June 3, 4 and 5 at Delphos Stadium Park. The tournament is a 16-20 team tournament for boys age 11-12, with age cutoff of April 1. The tournament is pool play with a three-game guarantee. Players must be from the same school district. Cost is $150. Deadline to enter is May 13. For details, call Sam Miller at 567-825-8631 or Brent Binkley at 419-235-7919.
Elida
BYAA will be having registration for all boys in grades kindergarten to sixth grade that live in or attend school in the Elida Schools district. Registration times will be 9 a.m. to noon March 12. For additional information and to print off the registration form go to elidabyaa.com or contact Matt Burton at 419-204-6131.
Lima
The Lima Wood Bat Classic is June 17-19 at Faurot Park, Lima. Teams are guaranteed three games minimum. All fields have fences, with three lighted field. 12-U age group only, with registration of $200 per team. Bats will be provided and used for all games. For details or to register, contact Brian Gephart at 419-303-3597 or call [email protected].
St. Marys
The St. Marys Father’s Day Classic at KC Geiger Park is June 17-19. There are four divisions, 9-U, 10-U, 110U and 12-U. Each team will be guaranteed as least three games. Entry is $25. For details, call Russ Bailey at 419-733-4527 or email [email protected].
BASKETBALL
Bath
The 13th annual Bath boys fifth and sixth grade basketball tournament is coming up. Boys is March 12-13. Entry fee is $125 per team with Saturday pool play and single-elimination tournament Sunday. Only 18 teams per grade will be accepted. Call Mike Frey at 419-234-2400 or email [email protected] to register. The funds benefit the varsity basketball programs at Bath.
Lima
There will be a meeting for parents and players in grades seven through 12 interested in playing AAU girls basketball this summer at 7 p.m. Monday at Lima Central Catholic High School’s Monsignor E.C. Herr Gymnasium.
For more information contact Kevin Wilkerson at [email protected].
Van Wert
Tryouts for boys in grades 9, 10 and 11 for the Northwest Ohio Basketball Club will be 6 p.m. March 20 at Van Wert YMCA, 241 W. Main St., Van Wert. The AAU team travels in the summer. For details, call Rob or Al Welch at 419-771-9443 or email [email protected].
Ottoville
The 15th annual Ottoville Shoot Out is Friday, April 1-Sunday, April 3. The tournament for fifth and sixth grade boys basketball and sixth grade girls basketball teams, sponsored by the Big Green Athletic Boosters, has three full-size gymnasiums at the new high school and old high school gymnasiums. Teams are guaranteed four games, with a round-robin forward. Teams play two 15-minute halves, with trophies awarded to four places in each division and awards and a free meal for all participants. No all-star teams, and players must be enrolled at the schools they represent. Entry fee is $125, made out to Big Green Athletic Boosters. To enter or for details, contact Shannon Schlagbaum at 419-230-6415 or [email protected] or mail an entry form to 2016 Ottoville Shoot Out; c/o Dave Schlagbaum; P.O. Box 452; Ottoville, OH 45876.
Lima
The Lima Express camp will be held July 25-28 at Lima Central Catholic. Sessions will be 9 a.m. to noon (third through fifth grade), 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. (sixth through eighth grade). Cost is $100. For more information call 419-549-6426 or send email to [email protected].
CYCLING
Lima
Crankers Critical Mass Ride will start at 1 p.m. March 20. The ride brings community awareness that cyclists are back on the streets. Event starts and finishes at the future home of Crankers Cycling, 401 N. Main St., Lima, with a 10-mile route of city streets, bike routes and the Riverwalk. For details, call 419-516-0131.
FOOTBALL
MSROHIO Developmental Combines
Two MSROHIO Developmental football combines will be held in March. One will be at Stars Indoor Sports Facility in Columbus on March 13, and the other is at Kingdom Athletic Center in Franklin on March 20. Registration is 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and combine testing beginning at 1 p.m. at either event. Any Ohio high school football player in the classes of 2017, 2018 and 2019 is eligible to participate. Players will be tested in the 40-yard dash, the vertical jump, the broad jump, the three-cone, the pro-shuttle and the power ball throw. For details or to preregister, visit msrohio.com. For additional information, call John McCallister at 419-294-5129 or email [email protected].
Lima
The Lima YMCA spring flag football league registers through March 27, with practices beginning April 1 and games starting April 20. The league is for 5- to 9-year-olds at the Lima Family YMCA, 345 S. Elizabeth St., Lima. Fee is $25 for YMCA members and $50 for non-members. Contact Alicia Bell at 419-223-6045 ext. 114 or [email protected] for details.
Bluffton
Bluffton Family Recreation has a co-ed spring flag football league for youth ages 7 to 8 and 9 to 11. Games are Saturdays from March 28 through May 7. Cost is $50 for BFR members and $60 for non-members. Registration deadline is March 14. Contact at 419-358-4150 or [email protected] for details. Registered players receive a flag and a jersey.
GOLF
Lima
The 16th annual Rhodes State College Tee Off for Scholarships Outing has a shotgun start at 8 a.m. Friday, July 29, at Colonial Golfers Club. For details or to sign up, contact Kevin Reeks at 419-995-8081 or [email protected], or visit RhodesState.edu/TeeOff.
PERSONAL PROTECTION
Lima
Lima YMCA instructor Mark Hunter will offer a women’s only protection workshop at the Lima Family YMCA, 345 S. Elizabeth St., Lima, from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, March 19. Fee is $10 for YMCA members and $30 for non-members. The class focuses on the most common grabs and holds, to handle violence physical attacks and nuisance date situations. Call 419-223-6045 to register.
PICKLEBALL
Lima
Pickleball is played from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. every Tuesday and Thursday at the Bradfield Center. Beginners are welcome.
Lima
The Lima YMCA has pickle ball from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Monday through Friday and 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday and Thursdays at the Lima Family YMCA Annex, 345 S. Elizabeth St., Lima. The game is a combination of ping pong, tennis and badminton, and it’s open to young adults, adults and seniors of different ages and abilities. It’s free for Lima YMCA members, $3 per visit for non-members or $20 per month for unlimited play for non-memebrs. Register online at www.limaymca.net or at the YMCA Annex security office.
Lima
The YMCA Annex is open to pickleball players from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday. Scheduled play is from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays. When entering the facility, check in at the security office. Courts are in the two gyms. No charge for Y members. Cost for non-members is $3 per session or $20 per month. All skill levels.
RUNNING
BBO Road Race
The 38th annual BBO road race is 2 p.m. Saturday, March 12 in Columbus Grove. Registration the day of the race begins at noon in Columbus Grove’s high school gymnasium. Awards will be given for age groups for men’s and women’s groups. Each runner receives a coupon for a bowl of “hobo stew,” and T-shirts are for sale while supplies last. Registration is $25 with a Dry-fit shirt and $15 without a shirt, and chip timing will be used this year. Contact Terry Schnipke at 419-659-4331 or register online at http://j.mp/1SEDj1y. Proceeds benefit Columbus Grove cross country.
Krystal’s “Byrne” Rubber Run
The Ottoville Mother’s Club and Krystal Byrne’s family will sponsor a 5K run/walk March 26 at the Ottoville Parish Center, Ottoville. Registration begins at 8 a.m., with the 5K run/walk starting at 10 a.m. and the quarter-mile fun run/walk starting at 11 a.m. People are encouraged to pre-register by March 15 to get a T-shirt and early-bird registration prices. Pick up forms at the Ottoville post office or go online at itsyourrace.com and searching for “Krystal’s Byrne Rubber Run” to register online. The event will also include a lunch stand, silent auction, bake sale and 50/50 drawing in honor of Byrne, who died from cancer recently.
Glass City Marathon
The Mercy Health Glass City Marathon in April 24 in Toledo. Normal and late registration is available until April 23, with no registrations allowed on race day. Register online at glasscitymarathon.org.
Mutt Run 5K
The Holy Hounds 4-H Club will sponsor the fourth annual Mutt Run 5K and craft show on April 24 at the Putnam County Fairgrounds. Race day registration begins at 9 a.m., with the race starting at 10 a.m. Cost is $25 with a shirt or $20 with no shirt, and all race-day registrations are $30, with no shirt guaranteed. Dogs are optional. Send registrations to Holy Hounds, 8025 Robinson Road, Fort Jennings, OH 45844. Deadline is April 8. There are also sponsorship or vendor opportunities available by emailing [email protected].
5K for Kate Benroth
The 5K for Kate Benroth, raising money to support her medical needs and to support research for Batten disease, is 10 a.m. May 7 at the Vaughnsville Community Center, 115 E. Findlay St., Vaughnsville. A 5K run/walk starts and finishes in the parking lot. Pre-registration is $25 with a T-shirt and $20 without, with race-day registration at $25. Awards will be given for age divisions. There is also a 1-mile fun walk for $5 per person for people 5 years old and older pre-registered or $6 on race day, with T-shirts costing $8. There will also be an exercise class at 10 a.m. for $10 per person, with Beth Casper instructing. Pre-registration entries must be postmarked by April 20, with race-day registrations from 9 to 9:45 a.m. that day. Mail entries to Ellie or Brock Benroth, 15846 Road 5, Columbus Grove, OH 45830 or call 419-236-7387 or email [email protected]. The form is available online at holdingontokate.com or on Facebook.
SOCCER
Lima
The Lima YMCA spring soccer league has registration through March 27, with practices beginning March 31 and games starting April 16 for 4-year-olds to sixth grade. Cost is $25 for YMCA members and $50 for non-members. Contact Alicia Bell at 419-223-6045 ext. 114 or [email protected] for details.
Bluffton
Bluffton Family Recreation has registration for spring U-6 soccer. Games take place from April 4 to May 5 at BFR, 215 Snider Road, Bluffton, Registration ends March 30. Cost is $50 per player for BFR members and $60 for non-members. Contact BFR at 419-358-4150 or http://www.bfronline.net.
SOFTBALL
Cairo
The Cairo men’s softball league is accepting teams for the 2016 season. The league will be split into upper and lower divisions, with a maximum of six upper and eight lower teams. All games will be played on Monday nights, starting in May. For details, text Doug Austin at 419-230-4264 or email [email protected].
Elida
BYAA will be having registration for all girls in grades kindergarten to sixth grade that live in or attend school in the Elida Schools district. Registration times will be 9 a.m. to noon March 12 at Elida Elementary School. For additional information and to print off the registration form go to elidabyaa.com or contact John Sackinger at 419-203-7580.
TRACK & FIELD
Elida
BYAA will be having registration for all boys and girls in grades kindergarten to sixth grade that live in or attend school in the Elida Schools district. Registration times will be 9 a.m. to noon March 5 and 12 and 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. March 9 and 10 at Elida Elementary School. For additional information and to print off the registration form go to elidabyaa.com or contact Brandon Blaine at 419-233-4014.
Lima
There will be a preseason information meeting for the Lima Striders 2016 at 6 p.m. March 14 at Bradfield Community Center, 550 S. Collett St., Lima. The group seeks male and female athletes between the ages of 5 and 18 within Allen County and beyond. The Striders have had 11 national champions and more than 30 all-Americans. Practice begins March 21. If you have questions, call administrator and head coach Chris Jackson at 419-371-6198.
WEIGHTLIFTING
Lima
The Lima YMCA’s 18th annual T0uch-N-Go Bench Press Challenge and raw meet for teens, men, women and masters starts at 11 a.m. April 23. Registration is until April 23, with weigh-ins from 6 to 8 p.m. April 22 and 8 to 9:30 a.m. April 23. Fee is $30 per individual (with $15 for each additional division) or $40 for a team. For details, contact Alicia Bell at 419-223-6045 ext. 114 or email [email protected].
VOLLEYBALL
Bluffton
Bluffton Family Recreation accepts registrations for a fourth to sixth grade volleyball camp, planned April 9 to May 14. Players will be assessed and then grouped onto teams. Each team practices once a week and finishes the week with a Saturday game at BFR, 215 Snider Road, Bluffton, Register online at bfronline.net. Cost is $50 per camper, or $10 with a membership. Registration ends April 2.
