Semi-pro football exhibition game to benefit local sports programs

The NorCal Wild Dogs, a tackle football team made up of players ages 18 to 57, will battle the Woodland Wolfpack in an exhibition game at Justin-Siena High School on Jan. 26. Kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m.

The Wild Dogs’ roster includes eight current coaches and several former players from Justin-Siena, Napa and Vintage high schools, as well as players from other Bay Area semi-pro squads such as the NorCal Lawmen and Gladiators. The game will be played by college rules, with 15-minute quarters.

Tickets are $5 for adults and $2 for kids under age 12, and are available at the gate only. All proceeds will be donated to local sports programs.

Mason joins Crush Volleyball Club

The Crush Volleyball Club has announced a partnership with Neil Mason, owner and club director of Team Complete Athlete, TCA Volleyball Club director and Complete Athlete Inc. CEO. Mason will work closely with the Crush Volleyball Club staff.

The Crush Volleyball Club hopes to draw from Mason’s success in running junior volleyball clubs in Southern California, Texas, Georgia and Maryland. The Crush Volleyball Club has been recognized as a training organization.

Mason has two National Open Championships under his belt. Outside of TCA, Mason recently spent time coaching the USA Youth National A2 Team in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. He was also the head coach of the Junior National Team Holiday Camp at the Olympic Training Center in Chula Vista, Calif., where he worked closely with Manny Johnson, further cementing this partnership. His long list of accomplishments has taken him all over the country coaching camps in the states of Hawaii, Texas, Maryland, Georgia, Southern and Northern California and even in Canada. Mason also serves as a consultant to many club directors across the country that seeks to improve their clubs to model the TCA Way.

As part of the agreement, Mason has agreed to work with Crush athletes and coaches in a variety of facets, including on court skills training and off the court goal setting and leadership workshops. Mason will be available periodically throughout the year for camps, clinics and private lessons to all Crush families.

For more information about the Crush Volleyball Club, visit www.crushvbc.com.

North Bay Umpires Association needs baseball, softball umpires

The North Bay Umpires Association needs high school baseball and softball umpires for the upcoming season. The area includes Vallejo, Benicia, Cordelia, Napa, St. Helena, Fairfield, Vacaville and Dixon. The association will provide training. If interested, call Roi Hammond (baseball) at 342-6022 or John Shepherd (softball) at 552-6318./Register

Napa Golf Course lesson programs offered in the spring

Napa Golf Course at Kennedy Park will offer a spring lesson schedule designed for couples, juniors and women. The course is still offering free golf for children under 16 years of age when accompanied by a full paying adult.

• Couples golf Saturday’s is a clinic designed for players of all caliber that would like to learn the game of golf with their husband, or wife, or significant other in a casual setting. Students should have some experience but it is not required. The fee is $150 per couple. The five sessions will include fundamentals of golf and on-course instruction. All classes are one hour in duration and classes are limited to the first four couples. It runs Feb. 23 to March 22, April 5 to May 3, and May 17 to June 21. To register, call the Napa Golf Course pro shop at 255-4333.

• A junior “rookies” spring break camp offers classes for juniors from the ages of 6 to 11 that have no or a limited knowledge of the game of golf. The focus is to make the game fun, while giving students the basic fundamentals of the modern golf swing. It is recommended that students bring their own clubs, but a limited amount of clubs will be available for use. The cost is $99. It runs from March 24 to 28. To register, call the Napa Golf Course pro shop at 255-4333.

• A juniors “next level” after-school clinic will be targeting the intermediate junior, ages 14 to 17, that would like to improve to a more competitive level. Course management and strategy, advanced instruction, and on course training on etiquette  will be emphasized while building on a strong fundamental base. Students will have the opportunity to play golf on the course depending on their grasp of the game. It runs from Feb. 7-Mar. 6 and the cost is $110. To register, call the Napa Golf Course pro shop at 255-4333.

• A ladies night out clinic for those 18 and over has been the most popular clinic at Napa Golf Course. Attendees will enjoy a more relaxing atmosphere of learning. This class is for the beginner or the novice that is looking to improve their game. It runs March 3 to 31, April 14 to May 12, and  May 19 to June 16. To register, call the Napa Golf Course pro shop at 255-4333.

• A ladies Sunday clinic is designed to assist participants to further their knowledge and skills and concentrate on the actual playing of the game. Participants must have completed a “Ladies Night Out” clinic or have a knowledge of the game that is above the beginner level and own a set of golf clubs. It runs March 2-30, April 13 to May 11, and May 25 to June 22. To register, call the Napa Golf Course pro shop at 255-4333./Register

Vintage High crab and pasta feed Jan. 19

The 30th annual Vintage High School Athletic Boosters crab and pasta feed is Jan. 19, starting at 6 p.m. in the Chardonnay Hall at Napa Valley Expo. This event benefits the athletic programs at Vintage High School.

The all-you-can-eat dinner is at 7 p.m. and will include salad, pasta, crab and Sciambra Bakery French bread. Napa Valley wine and Starbucks coffee will be included with dinner. No corkage fee will be charged to those who bring their own beverage.

There will be a silent auction, live auction and decadent dessert auction. The Brian Cline Band will provide entertainment from 9 p.m. to midnight. You must be 21 or older to attend.

Tickets are $50 per person and available at Napa Community Bank at the corner of Trancas Street and Big Ranch Road, The Bank of Napa in Redwood Plaza; and the Vintage High School office, 1375 Trower Ave.

For reserved seating or more information, call 255-5409 or 225-2085 or e-mail resaunders3@yahoo.com./Register

Nor-Cal Elite Softball summer tryouts Jan. 19

Nor-Cal Elite Softball summer tryouts will be held Jan. 19 at Lee Bell Park in Fairfield.

The 10-and-under age group will try out at 9 a.m., followed by the 12-and-under at 10 a.m., the 14-and-under at 11 a.m., and the 16’s &18’s at noon.

For more information, contact the following: 10-and-under Bob Cameron at 425-6453, 12-and-under Billy Mitchell at 864-4102, 14-and-under Chuck Turner at 426-2245, 16-and-under Liz Sauerwein at 592-1014, and 18-and-under Bob Cameron at 425-6453./Register

California Haze girls fastpitch softball tryouts Jan. 19

The California Haze girls fastpitch softball organization will hold tryouts for its summer 14-and-under team on Jan. 19 at Petaluma High School. Pitchers and catchers try out at 11 a.m., followed by position players, who try out from noon to 3 p.m. Players are asked to arrive at least 15 minutes early for registration.

For more information, visit www.cal-haze.com or call (707) 792-1962./Register

Winter golf classes begin Jan. 22

Napa Valley Adult School is offering a new session of six-week golf classes for the new session beginning Jan. 22. All classes are held at the Vintners Golf Club in Yountville and are taught by golf professionals. Register in the school office at 1600 Lincoln Ave. Pre-registration is required and all fees must be paid prior to class. For exact days and time, visit www.adulted.nvusd.k12.ca.us or call 253-3594 for more information.

Choose from several six-week sessions starting Jan. 22, from 5 to 6 p.m. The cost for each entire six-week session is $125. The basic class meets Tuesday or Thursday evening; improving your game meets Wednesday evenings.

The basics of golf covers the swing, grip, weight transfer, putting, short game, rules, etiquette, and other topics. Clubs are provided at classroom sessions.

Improving your game picks up where the basic class ends; it’s a review of the basics, short game techniques, bunker play, full swing, error correction and audio visual analysis. Bring your clubs for the first session./Register

Napa Community T-Ball sign-ups start Jan. 22

Napa Community T-Ball, a beginning baseball program for boys and girls whose birthdays fall between July 1, 1999 and May 1, 2003, will be held this month at Hopewell Baptist Church, 3755 Linda Vista Ave. Sign-ups are Jan. 22 and 25, from 6 to 9 p.m., and Jan. 26, from 9 a.m. to noon. The registration fee is $40 ($20 for each additional child). The late registration sign-up is Feb. 2, from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m., at Hopewell Baptist Church and the late fee is $55. The fee includes a T-shirt, hat, pictures and trophies. New players need to bring a copy of their birth certificate. Players need to also provide emergency and doctor’s phone numbers. Picture Day is April 7.

The season runs from April 19 to June 7. For more information, call 259-0344./Register

Girls fastpitch softball sign-ups Jan. 25

The Napa Valley Girls Fastpitch Association will conduct a late registration for the 2008 softball season on Jan. 25, from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at Round Table Pizza on Solano Avenue. Managers, coaches and executive board members will be on hand to help with registration and answer questions. Each new player to the league needs to submit a photocopy of her birth certificate for age verification and league records.

The NVGFA has two divisions of play: the major division for players 13 to 15 years of age and the senior division for players 15 to 18 years of age. Girls are age-eligible to participate in the league if their birthday is between Dec. 1, 1989 and Dec. 1, 1994, or if she is a current high school student during the 2007-08 school year.

Softball experience is not required.

The NVGFA teams begin practice after April 1. The regular season begins at the end of May and continues through July. Teams play an average of 12 to 15 regular season games and have the opportunity to play up to eight playoff and championship games. 

The 2008 season registration fee is $80 per player and $50 per sibling. Questions or information regarding registration or the league may be directed to vice president/registration chairperson Glenn Johnson at 649-8473, or president Wendy Brady at 254-1990./Register

Babe Ruth/Cal Ripken baseball sign-ups continue Jan. 26

The next round of sign-up dates have been set for January to play in the spring Babe Ruth/Cal Ripken baseball season. All sign-ups will be held at Replay Sports in the Grapeyard shopping Center on Jefferson Street. A player’s age on April 30 is their playing age for the 2008 season.

Sign-ups continue Jan. 26, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.; and Jan. 30, from 5 to 7 p.m.

The cost is $90 for rookies (ages 6 to 8), $120 for minors (ages 9 and 10) and majors (ages 11 and 12), $160 for players ages 13 to 15, and $200 for players ages 16 to 18.

New players need to bring proof of age. For more information, contact league registrar Don Ramey at 486-2106 or league president Larry Baracco at 363-2923./Register

California Tornadoes softball tryouts Jan. 26

The California Tornadoes fastpitch traveling softball team will hold tryouts for the 14-and-under team on Jan. 26 at Allen Witt Park, 1741 W. Texas Street in Fairfield. It will he held on Field 1 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. For more information, contact Rick Payne at 732-3026./Register

Napa Valley Express Softball tryouts Jan. 26-27

Napa Valley Express Softball will be holding tryouts for its 14-and-under team for the 2008 summer season. This try-out will be held Jan. 26 and 27 at the Vintage High School varsity field. Check-in is at 9:30 a.m. and will begin at 10 a.m. and last until approximately 12:30 p.m. Pitchers and catchers will be asked to stay after for approximately one hour. In case of a rain-out, tryouts will be moved to the following weekend (Feb. 2 and 3) at the same times.

All players under the age of 18 must be accompanied by a parent/guardian or they will not be allowed to try out.

For more information, visit napavalleyexpress.org or call Doug Egbert at 310-1886 or Dave Price at 255-6050./Register

Crush Volleyball Club’s Sunday clinics resume Jan. 27

The Crush Volleyball Club will resume its Sunday clinics on Jan. 27 at Napa High School’s Messner Gym. It goes from 2 to 4 p.m. for middle school players (no experience necessary) and from 4 to 6 p.m. for high school aged players (no experience necessary). The cost is $30 per session ($25 if you sign up for four or more). These clinics are designed to reinforce and introduce the skills needed to play high level volleyball. All clinics will include coaches from the Crush Volleyball Club based in Napa.

For more information, call Manny Johnson at 280-3934, go to www.crushvbc.com, or e-mail crushvbc@hotmail.com./Register

USA Boxing Championships Feb. 1-3 in San Francisco

The University of San Francisco will host the 2008 USA Boxing Championships, Feb. 1-3 in Hagan Gym (222 Stanyan St.) on the USF campus. The event will showcase elite boxers from Northern California as they fight for their place in the national competition.

Competition runs Feb. 1 at 7 p.m, Feb. 2 at 2 p.m., and Feb. 3 at noon.

The best boxing athletes from across Northern California will be competing to qualify for the regional finals towards the quest of the national tournament.

Tickets can be purchased at the door on the day of the event: $10 for students, $25 for general admission and $50 for ringside. For more information, call Angelo Merino at (415) 422-2773 or Candy Lopez at (408) 806-2455./Register

Crab feed to benefit Justin-Siena Braves set for Feb. 2

The 23rd annual Justin-Siena High School crab feed, which has a “Hooray for Hollywood” theme, is set for Feb. 2 on campus at the school at 4026 Maher St. in Napa. The event is open only to adults age 21 and over and includes all-you-can-eat crab and pasta, a no-host bar, live music and night club dancing, and entertainment that will include bringing the “Rat Pack Back” with appearances by “Frank Sinatra” and “Dean Martin.” The evening will also feature important fund-raising activities such as a raffle and live auction.

Registration opens at 6 p.m., dinner starts at 7 p.m., and dancing goes from 9 p.m. to midnight. Tickets available for $55 per person can be purchased by calling the Justin-Siena crab feed hotline at 255-0950, extension 669. Reserved seating is available for tickets purchased in quantities of eight at one time (purchased at the same time to seat one complete table).

Proceeds benefit the Justin-Siena athletic department. For more information, contact Christina Mitchell at Justin-Siena at 255-0950, extension 606 or e-mail mitchellc@justin-siena.com./Register

KNBR 680/Giants 2008 Winter FanFest set for Feb. 9

The KNBR 680/Giants Winter FanFest presented by the Scottsdale Convention & Visitors Bureau will take place at AT&T Park on Feb. 9, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Admission to the FanFest and parking in Giants Lot A is free.

This year’s FanFest at AT&T Park will feature the KNBR live broadcast stage at home plate, which will provide more fans the opportunity to watch the broadcast from any Lower Box or Club Level seat in the ballpark. The broadcast will also be carried live on the high-definition Mitsubishi Electric Diamond Vision scoreboard in center field as well as on the multitude of HD flat panel screens located throughout the ballpark.

Fans will have greater access to the ballpark than in the past, with the opportunity to go “behind the scenes” with self-guided tours of both the Giants and visitors clubhouses, batting cages, dugouts and press box. There will be two levels of interactive games and activities, a Kids Zone and access to the field’s warning track.

Giants manager Bruce Bochy and many of his players and coaches, including the newest Giant, Aaron Rowand, and teammates Barry Zito, Matt Cain, Tim Lincecum, Dave Roberts, Brian Wilson, Kevin Frandsen and Dan Ortmeier, are just a handful of the current Giants who are scheduled to sign autographs, pose for photos and participate in Q&A sessions throughout FanFest. In addition, Giants broadcasters will be in attendance along with all of the KNBR 680 radio personalities.

The Giants and KNBR will also welcome a number of Giants alumni to FanFest as the season-long celebration begins to commemorate the Giants 50th anniversary in San Francisco.

Giants six-game packages for the 2008 season will be on sale, which include tickets to the Dodgers and A’s series and select fireworks nights, along with season tickets and group tickets. Giants individual game tickets will go on sale March 8.

For more information on the Winter FanFest, go to sfgiants.com or knbr.com./Register

Napa High crab and pasta feed Feb. 23

Napa High will hold its annual Sports Booster Club crab and pasta feed on Saturday, Feb. 23 from 6 p.m. until midnight at Chardonnay Hall at the Napa Expo Fairgrounds. Proceeds benefit all Indians athletic programs.

Cost is $50 per person for open seating or $100 per person for VIP reserved. For tickets, call Napa athletic director Brian King at 253-3840 between 9:30 a.m. and 2 p.m., Monday through Friday.

For auction or donation information, call Wendy Kelham at 287-4533. For crab feed program advertising, call Bob Yanover at 257-8300. For more information, visit the sports booster section at www.napahighathletics.com, where information will be updated soon./Register

Napa Saints fundraiser at SaberCats game March 15

The Arena Football League’s San Jose SaberCats will donate to the Napa Saints youth football program one-half of sales of tickets bought by those who say they are supporting the Napa Saints at their 7:30 p.m. game on March 15 against the Arizona Rattlers at San Jose’s HP Pavilion.

The event is part of the Cats in the Community Fundraiser Program and is designed to benefit Little League or Pop Warner teams, high school athletic booster clubs, and any other non-profit or charitable organizations. In addition to donating more from tickets sales this year, the SaberCats have also expanded the number of seating options available at the Arena — excluding Sideline Club seats.

For more information, e-mail Nancie Cameron at ninerchic@aol.com./Register

Crusher Golf Classic scheduled April 25

The Vintage High School Athletic Booster Club has scheduled the 2008 Bill Nunes Memorial Crusher Golf Classic for Friday, April 25, at Silverado Resort.

To register or for more information, call Teresa Peterson at 337-4585 or Dave Shipp at 299-2552./Register

Napa High needs head track and field coach

Napa High School has an opening for a head track and field coach for the 2008 season. This paid position begins in February and ends in mid-May. The coach will be responsible for both the boys and girls teams.

To apply, contact the Napa Valley Unified School District’s Human Resources Dept., at 253-3885. Any questions, e-mail athletic director Brian King at bking@nvusd.k12.ca.us, or call 253-3840./Register

Napa High needs head badminton coach

Napa High School has an opening for a head badminton coach for the 2008 season. It’s a paid position. To apply, contact the Napa Valley Unified School District’s human resources Dept., at 253-3885. E-mail questions to athletic director Brian King at bking@nvusd.k12.ca.us or call 253-3840./Register

Vintage High needs head track and field coach

Vintage High School has an opening for a head track and field coach for the 2008 season. The coach will be responsible for both the boys and girls team. It’s a paid position. To apply, contact the Napa Valley Unified School District’s human resources dept., at 253-3885./Register

Volleyball open gym on Wednesdays

Free open gym volleyball is offered on a first-come first-serve basis every Wednesday starting at 7:30 p.m. at Napa Christian, located at the corner of Pine and Montgomery streets. The program is available to players of high school age and older, both men and women. For more information, call (415) 644-2005./Register

Free baseball camps and lessons

“Play It Like A Pro” baseball camps and lessons is offering free baseball camps and lessons. This is an opportunity to work with former professional Dan Parker for free. Parker is a former member of the Houston Astros organization.

To sign up, call (925) 325-2954 or e-mail playitlikeapro@yahoo.com./Register

Junior golf sessions at Vintner’s Golf Club on Saturdays

The Vintner’s Golf Club in Yountville is offering junior golf sessions every Saturday. Sessions, open to all ages and all skill levels, run from 12:30 to 2:30 p.m. and 3 to 5 p.m.

The cost is $25 per player per session.

Sessions will cover golf instruction for all skill levels, golf etiquette, general golf rules, daily contests and skills challenges.

Advance reservations are required, and players need to check in 10 minutes prior to a lesson at the driving range.

To sign up, or for more information, contact Jeff Dennis at 738-8276./Register