I just finished watching the Little League World Series. I have seen some amazing baseball. It is hard to imagine that these are twelve and thirteen year old youngsters. They emulate their heroes and their champions. They adopt the mannerisms of the great stars of the game. Every now and then, though, their youthfulness comes out. They revert to their true age and play like twelve and thirteen year old kids. When that happens, one sees errors. One sees batting mistakes, base running errors, and blown calls by the umpires. But I have also witnessed some of the most entertaining baseball I have ever seen. I’m torn as I watch, though. On the one hand I enjoy watching the little kids play their hearts out and on the other hand it breaks my heart when I see one of them make a mistake that ultimately costs them a game. It invariably leads some of them to tears. Such is life and such is Little League baseball. Whoever said that there is no crying in baseball surely didn’t mean to include Little League.

The community has a new youth flag football league coming to Oro Valley.  The new league is called Prime Time Athletics, and will be an NFL Flag Football League that provides an opportunity for children between the ages of 5 and 14.

March 30, 2005 - The big leaguers aren't the only players using the spring weather in Arizona to ready themselves for the upcoming baseball season. Throughout the Northwest, thousands of little leaguers are dusting off the batting gloves and breaking out the pine tar.

Maybe it was a good thing Ironwood Ridge baseball coach Jason Hisey didn't throw pitching aces Brandon Matthews and Kyle Petty against Sunnyside in a playoff tuneup for both teams last Tuesday.

For the last 35 years the Arizona Opera League-Tucson has been opening to the public some of the most striking homes in the region, all to benefit of the Arizona Opera and its art education programs.

June 22, 2005 - Kirk Walters sat behind the bench at St. Gregory's High School, folding all of his 6-foot, 11-inch frame into the narrow passage separating the players from the fans, to take in Day 2 of Tucson's premier summer hoops league program.

The League of Women Voters of Greater Tucson will discuss the “Quality of Life in Southern Arizona” from 10 a.m. – noon, March 16, at the Joel D. Valdez Main Library, 101 N. Stone Ave. 

Three professional baseball teams from Mexico’s Winter League will be playing this fall at Kino Stadium, 2500 E. Ajo Way in Tucson.

Pima County Sheriff's Office deputies have arrested a man following a Little League game where witnesses said he yelled at some of the baseball players, attempted to start a fight and had a confrontation with a 16-year-old girl.

I write this column with little joy. Major League Spring Training in Pima County is dead.

A new detachment of the Marine Corps League is forming in Marana.

An upstart youth football organization, borne from the merger of two existing leagues, plans to offer competitive, flag and cheer divisions without the traditional time and fundraising needs this fall.

July 20, 2005 - With the Frontier All-Stars down to their final strike in the championship game of the 9- and 10-year-olds' Arizona District Five Little League Tournament on July 14 at Udall Park, 7200 E. Tanque Verde, a wry smile came across Jacob Matthews' face.

Dec. 29, 2004 - AHEAD OF THE GAME: Pack Attack

No charges were filed against two dads apparently involved in an altercation during a CDO Little League game on April 28 at James Kreigh Park.

The 2011 Little League West Region Junior Softball Tournament will begin on Thursday, Aug. 4 in Marana. 

World Cup soccer has gripped "futbol" fans across the planet, and in America.

Three all-star teams from the Canyon del Oro Little League competed in their District 5 tournaments against teams from a dozen leagues across the Tucson region north of Speedway.

July 19, 2006 - Arizona District 5 Little League wrapped up its All-Star baseball and softball tournaments on July 15 and if this year's champions are any indication, the future of baseball in the area is bright.