Area sports calendar 9/30/04

Basketball

Optimist basketball: The Jackson Optimist boys basketball program will begin its 55th year. Registration is 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Oct. 9 at Main Street Fitness in Jackson. Program open to boys in grades 3 to 7. Forms also available to mail by Oct. 18 at the Chamber of Commerce, city and regional libraries and SEMO Specialties and Sports. Info: Ken Schaper, 204-7029, or Mike Cracraft, 243-8810.

Men's league: The Perryville Parks and Recreation Department will offer a men's basketball league, beginning on Nov. 10. The league will play on Wednesday nights at the Perry Park Center. Team captain's meeting set for 8 p.m. Oct. 12 at the Perry Park Center to discuss fees, schedules, rules. Info: Brian Roth, 547-7275.

Golf

Benefit tournament: The Community Counseling Center Foundation's fifth annual Benefit Golf Tournament will be 12:30 p.m. Oct. 8 at Cape Girardeau Country Club. The event is an 18-hole, four-person shamble to benefit the Community Counseling Center, a not-for-profit provider of mental health care. Fee is $100 per player. Info: Co-chairs John Harding or John Grimm, 335-3316, or Larry Essner at the Community Counseling Center, 334-1100.

CFS tournament: The inaugural CFS Golf Tournament, hosted by the Jackson Church of Christ, is scheduled for Oct. 9 at Cape Jaycee Municipal Golf Course. Shotgun start at 9 a.m. for the four-person scramble. Fee is $65 per person and $260 per team.

Running

Freedom of Speech run: The Southeast Missouri State University departments of communications and English will offer the second annual Freedom of Speech 5-kilometer run and mile walk Saturday. Both events begin at 9:30 a.m. at the Show Me Center south parking lot. Registration will open at 8 a.m. Fee is $15 the day of the race. Children 12-and-under are free. Info and registration form: freespeechrun.org.

Softball

Players sought: The Heartland Pride Select girls softball program is seeking players to fill positions on 14-and-under, 16-and-under and possibly 18-and-under teams. Program is planning to play winter ball in St. Louis. Info: Terry McLard, 335-9109 or 335-1295 or terry_mclard@hotmail.com.

Swimming

Clinic: Olympian Chris Thompson, a bronze-medal winner at the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney, Australia, will conduct a swimming clinic 2 to 5 p.m. Sunday at Central Municipal Pool. The clinic will be hosted by the Gators Swim Team and coach Steve Franklin. The fee is $20.

Volleyball

Coed adult league: The Perryville Parks and Recreation Department will offer a coed adult volleyball league at the Perry Park Center. Two divisions will be offered: Easy/over will play on Mondays beginning Nov. 8 and intermediate will play on Tuesdays beginning Nov. 9. Team representatives are required to attend a meeting 7 p.m. Oct. 12 at the Perry Park Center to discuss fees, schedules, rules. Info: Brian Roth, 547-7275.

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