SOFTBALL

Team 5th at Okla. tourney

The Arizona Suncats are making a habit of making the national championships.

The Glendale area softball club qualified for the ASA national tournament for the third straight year last week when it took fifth place at the ASA Hall of Fame Tournament in Broken Arrow, Okla.

The top eight teams from the Hall of Fame Tournament qualified for nationals, and the Suncats had to do it the hard way n through the loser's bracket.

In what turned out to be the longest game in tournament history n 12 innings and more than three hours n the Suncats lost in the second round. The team then was forced to win three games later in the day to secure the national spot.

"It was quite a tournament," Suncats coach David Healey said. "We had to go through the loser's bracket and win three games just to secure fifth place."

The 14-and-under team will leave next week for Columbus, Ga., to play in nationals, which are set for July 29 through Aug. 4.

The team took 33rd place last year and placed 17th the previous year in the 12-and-under division.

As a warm up to the nationals, the team won the Phoenix Metro Championships last week against five other teams in its age group.

GOLF

Pair plays in Australia

Ironwood High School golfers Joseph O'Donnell and Ryan Maddux were part of a contingent of seven golfers who traveled to Australia last week for the Australia Down Under tournament.

The two Eagles golfers, who will be juniors this fall, were nominated by Ironwood coach Johnny Williams and Cottonwood Mingus coach John Uidenich through International Sports Specialists, Inc. (ISSI).

"Basically, the boys were recognized at their (high school) region tournament last year," O'Donnell's mother, Sherrana, said. "They were chosen on their game, but more on their character, integrity and their grades."

The golfers played in Gold Coast, Australia, and stayed in Sydney from July 9 through 15. The pair then made a stop in Hawaii on its way back to Arizona.

SOCCER

CISCO holds registration

CISCO club soccer is holding open registration at Sports Authority in Glendale during August.

The club is looking for players born between 1991 and 1996 to develop their skills.

Representatives will be at Sports Authority, 7630 W. Bell Road, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Aug. 3, 10 and 17.

Call the club's information line at (602) 271-0500.

Saguaros offer vouchers

Glendale is one of three blood donation sites for the Arizona Sahuaros and United Blood Services drive.

Donors who visit the United Blood Services location in Glendale, 5905 W. Bell Road, Ste. 5, through the end of July will receive two vouchers for free admission to an upcoming Sahuaros home game.

The vouchers can be used for games July 20 or Aug. 3 at Phoenix's Grand Canyon University, 3300 W. Camelback Road.

Call Amanda Myers for information at (602) 956-0211.

LITTLE LEAGUE BASEBALL

Mtn. View hosts title game

Mountain View Little League hosted the prestigious Tournament of Champions in late June as the Village Meadows Cardinals topped the Thunderbird Diamondbacks, 6-1.

The single-elimination tournament, which featured the champions from 17 local Little Leagues, ended with Village Meadows wrapping up an undefeated season (19-0-1). Thunderbird finished at 20-4.