Registration is open until Monday, June 30, for Showtime Sportz and the city of Sedona’s youth baseball league for kids ages 5 to 8. The program offers T-ball for ages 5 and 6 and baseball for ages 7 and 8.

“The idea of doing something with baseball has been floating around for a year or two. Me and the city have been going back and forth on it; we finally came to an agreement to give it a shot,” Showtime Sportz owner Bruce Jurecki said. “But we’re really excited to bring this option for our kids to play ball.”

Jurecki said that the weekly time commitment for kids will include one to two practices and one Wednesday evening game each week at Posse Grounds Park, although games may be played on multiple nights of the week depending on the number of kids who register.

“Showtime Sportz is about providing a platform for kids to get out and play sports,” Jurecki said. “Sports provide a structure for kids to get out and meet people, get out and grow within a sport … For this young age, just getting them out there is the most important thing. The biggest jump in skills we see is from year one to year two for kids and for coaches. The biggest growth is that second year; they come back and they already know what they’re getting into, they understand the rules of the game.”

The t-ball season will consist of six games. Registration is $95, or $85 per additional sibling, and includes a uniform. Players will need to provide their own glove, cleats and bats.

Registration for the baseball program is $135, or $125 for additional siblings. The season will include eight regular games, and all teams will make the single-elimination playoffs. A uniform is included, but players must provide their own gloves, cleats and bats. There will be an additional all-star game, as well as team and individual awards.

Player evaluations for the upcoming baseball season will take place on Monday, July 7, at the Posse Grounds Park baseball field. Kids should bring their baseball gloves and arrive ready to play. T-ball evaluations will run from 5 to 6 p.m., followed by baseball evaluations from 6:15 to 7:15 p.m. Parents will be notified about team placement and practice schedules by the end of July.

Jurecki said the league requires a minimum of four teams with between 12 and 15 players on each team, and that they are still looking for volunteer coaches.

Games are scheduled to begin on Wednesday, Aug. 20, and conclude on Wednesday, Oct. 22. For more information and registration, visit showtimesportz.com or contact Bruce Jurecki at (928) 254-8869.

A “reprehensible” Westchester County youth basketball coach was charged with molesting a young girl on at least two occasions over a five-month period, prosecutors said Thursday.

Dwayne Murray, 62, who coached the Mount Vernon Junior Knights basketball team, was ordered held without bail after being hit with a felony charge of sexual conduct against a child, Westchester District Attorney Susan Cacace said at a press briefing.

Cacace said Murray made “some admissions” concerning the alleged abuse.

“It is alleged that between Oct. 1, 2023, and March 1, 2023, Murray engaged in two or more acts of sexual conduct with a child who is less than 13 years old, including one act of oral sexual conduct,” she said.

“There is no crime we take more seriously than offenses committed against children, especially offenses of a sexual nature.”

Cacace said authorities got a tip about the alleged abuse on April 12 and launched an investigation.

Police seized Murray’s phone and electronic devices — and found that “the defendant had exchanged text messages with the victim in which he discussed performing oral sex on the victim.”

The disgraced coach was arrested and arraigned in Mount Vernon City Court on Wednesday.

The shocking arrest came after Murray posted a six-minute video on Facebook claiming the allegations were “absolutely, completely false,” according to a report by lohud.com.

Cacace on Thursday would not reveal if the young victim played on Murray’s team or where the alleged sexual abuse took place.

The Junior Knights are part of the suburban city’s storied basketball program.

Posted May 15, 2025 in Press Releases

BASEBALL AND SOFTBALL EQUIPMENT DONATIONS FOR LOCAL YOUTH TEAMS
Greater Cleveland Sports Commission is hosting several youth-focused initiatives in 2025

Cleveland, Ohio – May 15, 2025 – Greater Cleveland Sports Commission is hosting a new and gently used baseball and softball equipment drive to source equipment to support the City of Cleveland Recreation and local baseball leagues. The goal of this initiative is to remove barriers to participation by equipping Cleveland’s youth with new and gently used gear and support local baseball and softball leagues that further advance the game within under resourced communities with Cleveland and surrounding neighborhoods.

The equipment will be given to participants at the “Next Up” Youth Education through Sports (YES) baseball and softball clinic on Friday, May 30 at League Park. Equipment drop offs will take place at the following events:

Supporters can also purchase equipment via this Amazon wish list.

Suggested items to donate:

• Gloves (fielding and batting)
• Aluminum and wood bats (all sizes)
• Catchers gear (youth and adult)
• Umpires gear
• Batting helmets (all sizes; 5 years or newer)
• Baseballs (little league and t-ball sizes)
• Softballs (12”)
• Batting tees

GCSC has partnered with Cleveland Guardians minor league affiliates, Akron RubberDucks (Double-A) and Lake County Captains (Single-A) to have equipment donation bins in the team’s clubhouses to collect equipment from players throughout the month of May.

In addition to equipment donations, GCSC has committed to purchasing one dozen new baseballs for each team in the leagues that will be participating in the “Next Up” Youth Baseball Clinic on May 30, to support a successful 2025 season. And, the Mid-American Conference has donated 35 cases of baseballs (12 each).

NFL owners will discuss a proposal to allow players under contract to participate in flag football when the sport makes its Olympic debut in 2028 in Los Angeles.

The league released a proposed resolution on Thursday on the issue that will be considered next week by owners at the spring meetings in Minnesota.

If the resolution is approved by at least 24 of the 32 owners, the league would be allowed to negotiate with the NFL Players Association, Olympic officials and national governing bodies on the specifics of letting NFL players participate.

The NFL has been making a big push into flag football in hopes of increasing youth participation and opportunities for women in the sport. The league played a major role in making sure the Los Angeles Olympics would be the first with flag football with events for both men and women.

Several star players, including Kansas City quarterback Patrick Mahomes and Miami receiver Tyreek Hill, have expressed interest in the past in participating in the Olympics.

The proposal would allow only one player per NFL team to be selected by a country for the Olympics in addition to each team’s designated international player.

It also provides for injury protection and salary cap credit in case of any injuries and requires minimum standards for medical staffs and field surfaces.

The 2028 Games will be held from July 14-30. Training camps would typically open for teams that summer in the final week of July based on the current league schedule.

Reporting by The Associated Press.

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CBS Sports Network will once again televise the finals of each division of the event, which features more than $120,000 in scholarships for youth bowlers from across the country.

As an added bonus this year, the finals of both the U12 and U15 divisions of the USA Bowling National Championships will be contested and taped for television in an arena setting at the Resch Center on July 13, the same day as the live telecast of the Professional Women’s Bowling Association 10th Anniversary Open.

The U12 division finals of the USA Bowling National Championships will air on CBSSN Tuesday, July 15, at 7 p.m. Eastern and be followed by the finals of the U15 division on Tuesday, July 22, also at 7 p.m. Eastern.

The winning team in each age-based division at each regional qualifier earned a spot at the national event, which will take place as a prelude to the 2025 Junior Gold Championships.

The qualifying teams in the U12 division are as follows:

• Upper Midwest Region – Cousin Crew
• Lower Great Lakes Region – Dem Midwest Boyz
• Northeast Region – DKJ Pro Shop
• Coastal South Region – YBAM! Rising
• South Central Region – No Lane No Gain
• Atlantic East Region – Lane Damage
• Heartland Region – Northern Illinois Misplitz
• Pacific Region – Homestead
• South Region – The Beast 2.0
• Mountain Region – Sleeping Giant Odd Ballz
• New England Region – CT Crash Out
• Southeast Region – Buffaloe Lanes Boardwalkers
• Southwest Region – Fantastic Four
• Upper Great Lakes Region – Clams
• Midwest Region – Strike Squad

Patrick Waters, a former USA Bowling competitor in both the U12 and U15 divisions, is now the head coach of YBAM Rising, this year’s U12 Coastal South Region champions.

Waters, 19, was able to apply lessons he learned as a competitor to help coach his current team.

“Having competed in this event as a youth bowler, I gained insight on what the bowlers are thinking and feeling – mainly how to bowl well under pressure,” Waters said. “Being able to understand, guide and overcome specific emotions has helped tremendously when we were both doing incredibly well and sometimes struggling a bit. The most rewarding part is seeing how they all work together and have fun achieving their collective goal.”

It turns out that coaching is a generational pastime in the Waters family, as Patrick’s dad Ryan was the head coach of the 2024 U12 USA Bowling national champions.

“The biggest thing that has driven my passion for this tournament has been my father,” Waters said. “He has guided me through every regional event, tournament and league I have competed in. He also shared coaching tips for this specific tournament. Everything he has done has led me to where I am now.”

 The qualifying teams in the U15 division are as follows:

• Upper Midwest Region – Minnesota Ducks
• Lower Great Lakes Region – Wii Sports Elite
• Northeast Region – DKJ Pro Shop
• Coastal South Region – Going For It
• South Central Region – Perfect Match
• Atlantic East Region – Spare Parts Pro Shop
• Heartland Region – ISST Fab 5
• Pacific Region – Starlight Strikers
• South Region – The Avengers
• Mountain Region – Rocky Mountain Fierce 5
• New England Region – Fantastic 4
• Southeast Region – We > Me
• Southwest Region – Nine Hands
• Mideast Region – Keystone Strikers
• Upper Great Lakes Region – Great Lake Muskies
• Midwest Region – ICT All Stars

Dave Kline Jr. has been a coach in the USA Bowling program for six years, and his team won the U12 title in 2022. This year, he’s coaching a U15 team – DKJ Pro Shop – that won the Northeast Region championship. Kline was asked what has kept him coming back to coach in the program for all these years.

“First and foremost, it’s the kids and the passion they have for the sport,” Kline said. “Seeing their commitment to the sport, watching them develop their skills and sportsmanship and being a part of their growth as both bowlers and individuals is incredibly rewarding. I also really value the camaraderie and community within USA Bowling. The coaches, parents and volunteers all share a genuine love for the sport and a commitment to supporting these young athletes. Finally, there’s just an electric energy at Nationals. The competition is fierce, but supportive, and it’s a blast watching them get all pumped, especially when they come through in the clutch.”

In addition to the U15 team he coaches, DKJ Pro Shop, of which he is owner/operator, Kline also supports a U12 team that qualified for Nationals this year.

“It’s really my love for the sport and a desire to give back,” Kline said when asked about supporting two teams in the USA Bowling program. “I’ve been fortunate to be involved with USA Bowling for several years now, and I’ve seen firsthand the positive impact it has on young bowlers. My son, Donaven, is bowling with our U15 team, so I’m obviously committed to coaching the older team. The opportunity arose to support the DKJ Pro Shop U12 team at local and national events, and since this team consists of two athletes that I provide personal coaching to, I wanted to build a team around them. Ultimately, I’m just passionate about fostering the next generation of bowlers and helping them succeed both on and off the lanes.”

Qualifying and match-play rounds in the USA Bowling National Championships will take place at Revs Bowl Bar and Grill in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, on July 9 and 10, respectively.

 

The top two teams in each division will advance to the finals on July 13 at the Resch Center.

More information about USA Bowling can be found at bowl.com/youth/usa-bowling.

 

“When available for bystanders to use, these AEDs save lives,” said McCormac. “Days after training in the use of the defibrillator and CPR, Davis High School staff revived a teacher who’d collapsed. They managed to get his heart beating before an ambulance reached the school.”

City Editor Sean P. Thomas contributed to this story.